Festive flora
A kiss beneath the mistletoe
The Druids believed mistletoe (Viscum album) was sacred and would bring bad luck if it touched the ground, while the ancient Romans believed it was a symbol of fertility. Add the two together, which could be why we kiss beneath the mistletoe today. Evergreen and covered in tiny white berries from winter to spring, in truth, mistletoe is rather like that tiresome guest at the Christmas party … very happy to be indulged by its host (hawthorn, apple, poplar, lime or conifer trees) but giving nothing in return!
Sprigs of holly
Nothing says Christmas quite like sprigs of holly (Ilex aquifolium). Still, this beautiful evergreen with its vivid red berries was banned from churches for many years when Christianity came to Europe due to its association with pagan winter solstice celebrations. Using holly to decorate our homes at Christmas is a centuries-old tradition while decorating fir trees wasn’t popular until the 1840s. Although widely regarded as a symbol of Christianity — the sharp leaves depicting Christ’s crown of thorns and the red berries his blood — holly was also revered by the Druids, who placed it in their hair and beards to ward off evil. As holly leaves act like mini lightning conductors, our gardens at Threave are an excellent place to be in a storm, with their collection of over 70 different types!
Wreaths of ivy
Flowering from September to November and bearing fruit from November to January, ivy (Hedera helix) is a traditional component of wreath making. It symbolises everlasting life, hence the circle of the wreath. The belief that it ‘strangles’ trees is misplaced as it causes no harm and supports a multitude of insect and bird life. Little hairs on its stems allow ivy to cling to surfaces as it climbs (as high as 30m), while its subspecies — hibernica — prefers to spread along the ground.
Christmas roses
A misnomer if ever there was one, the Christmas rose (Hellebore niger) is a member of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) but earned its festive name thanks to delicate white flowers that bloom over winter. The story goes that the Christmas rose sprang from the tears of a young girl, weeping because she didn’t have a gift for the baby Jesus.
Red poinsettias
Native to Mexico, the ‘flor de Nochebuena’ or ‘Christmas Eve flower’ is not a flower at all but a plant whose leaves change colour following a period of darkness. The association of poinsettia (Euphorbia pucherrima) with Christmas dates to a 16th-century Mexican legend, like the Christmas rose, about a young girl who couldn’t afford to buy a gift to mark Christ’s birth. An angel told her to gather weeds to lay at the church altar, and miraculously, they burst into radiant colour.
Sloes a-ripening
From September to December, blackthorn bushes are heavy with plump, dark purple sloes (Prunus spinose), perfect for that festive treat, sloe gin. One tradition dictates that you prick each sloe with a silver pin to release its juices; another that sloes should be picked after the first frost, which splits their skins and releases their juices. However, if you’re short of time — or a silver pin — pop them in the freezer for a similar result. You’ll need about 500g of sloes, 250g of sugar and 70cl of gin combined in an air-tight jar or bottle. Store in a cool place and give your sloe gin a good shake every day for the first week to release the flavours of the berries.
Daphne a-blooming
As we move from the vivid reds and russets of autumn, our gardens can become a little dull during the dark winter months. If you’re looking for a splash of colour, invite a member of the Daphne family to join you this Christmas. One of the earliest to bloom is the fragrant Daphne bholua ‘Darjeeling’, which will reward you with white blooms tinged with blush pink from November to February.
Crab apples a-falling
Associated with love and marriage and a symbol of fertility, it’s no surprise that the crab apple tree (Malus sylvestris) is one of mistletoe’s favourite hosts. In spring, the trees produce sweet-scented blossoms, which the bees love, developing into small yellowish-green fruits that can be harvested from July to December. Homemade crab apple jelly is delicious with baked camembert, and the tree’s pinkish wood makes sweetly scented firewood, too, as the ancient Celts knew well.
Rowans reddening
The rowan tree (Sorbus acucupaira) – also known as the mountain ash – bursts into glorious colour as autumn arrives. Found growing wild in abundance in the Scottish Highlands, these trees are also a familiar sight near houses, farms and churchyards, as the red berries were believed to ward off evil. They certainly make a wicked jelly! A great alternative to cranberry or redcurrant jelly with your festive meal, remember to use an equal quantity of crab apples or Bramley apple cores to provide the pectin your jelly needs to set.
Viburnum a-blossoming
Along with Daphne, members of the Viburnum family add a welcome array of colours to your winter garden. Our favourite is Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’, which bears beautifully rounded clusters of deep pink buds, opening into delightfully fragrant flowers from November to March. Hardy and low maintenance, a gentle prune in the early spring, after flowering, is all that’s required.
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