It's becoming a tradition that we visit
RHS Harlow Carr in December. We like to visit several times during the year to see the seasonal changes in the gardens. In December I like to go for several reasons, one being the peace and quiet during such a busy time of year.
The last time we went we took the grandchildren during the school holidays. It was very busy. This time there were very few people there. We enjoyed the peace and quiet.
There was a magnificent Christmas tree just outside the reception area decorated with red baubles, dried oranges, pine cones and ribbons. I loved it. Outside some trees with white bark possibly silver birch, had silver baubles hanging from their branches.
The gardening staff were very busy tidying up the borders. The gardens were still very colourful even though most flowering plants have died back now. There was plenty of green from the evergreen foliage, golden and bronze from the dead seed heads and grasses which were still providing interest in the borders. The red and yellow stemmed dogwoods were really colourful. I have often thought I would like a dogwood in my garden but I would only have room for one plant and when I see them at Harlow Carr, a whole border full, they are so effective that I think maybe it wouldn't work in my garden. In another part of the gardens we saw the purple berried callicarpa. I have seen this in garden centres and thought the purple was too gaudy and unnatural looking, but here it looked great, so I am considering it as an addition to my garden for autumn colour.
In the woodland area perhaps because it was winter and there was no distraction from other plants (and children) we were more aware of interesting bark colour and twisty tree trunks. There were also the occasional Christmassy touches like some twiggy balls decorated with coloured ribbon and a big tree with huge coloured baubles hanging from its branches.
I'm wondering now whether to decorate my garden with baubles.
