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CHRISTMAS STARS

 

The Sirio Lamp by Slide

'This luminous star broadcasts a sweet and sensual light. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use, you can place it on the floor (or on a furniture), or use it as a suspension (thanks to the metalic cable). Ideal for create a lounge and contemporary ambiance in your garden, terrasse, living room... You can also use Sirio as a stool. Very resistant and light. You can change the atmosphere as you like and get a coloured lighting, putting a coloured bulb inside.'

www.madeindesign.co..uk    £204.05

http://www.madeindesign.co.uk/prod-Sirio-Slide-refsdetf080-rose.html

CHUCKS ON THE BALCONY

   

Reading the article by Tessa Boase, in this Saturday's Daily Telegraph, 'We're all farmers now' is enough to make your hair curl. The biggest worry coming from the article is concerning what Tessa sees as the big issue for the coming years 'food security'

She writes " We have a food system that keeps nothing in stock and everything constantly on the move in trucks, responding to computerised signals when supplies are running low. It is known as 'just in time'  system. A lorry drivers strike, a volatile situation in the Middle East, an oil blockade - all or any of these could sabotage the process that puts food on our shelves."

One way round the above is helping to produce our own food or at least some of our food. In her article, Tessa explains how Community Supported Agriculture is a possible way forward. This is when like minded local people support the production of local food either practically such as chicken keeping groups where groups share the cost of upkeep and then share the eggs, or financiallyly such as supporting organic veg box schemes.

 

The 'eglu' chicken ark from www.omlet.co.uk

So perhaps its not so crazy to think about keeping chickens on your balcony. In the future it may be the only way urban dwellers will be able to enjoy fresh eggs or even eggs at all!

WINTER BEAUTY

 

Clematis urophylla Winter Beauty

We generally think of clematis as those great colourful summer flowers but there are quite a few very interesting winter flowering clematis, of which Winter Beauty is one of the best for container growing.

'Attractive foliage and masses of creamy-white bell-shaped flowers mark out this evergreen winter flowering climber as something special. Excellent for training against walls or trellis. This variety requires some shelter as not fully hardy. Container growing is recommended. Height: 5m (16ft). perennial.'

www.rhsplants.co.uk   £22.99

http://www.rhsplants.co.uk/plants/_/climbers/clematis/clematis-urophylla-winter-beauty/classid.2000012216/

THE FUTURE OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTING AT COVENT GARDEN

 

'Earlier this year, UVA won a commission to create a spectacular seasonal light display inside Covent Garden market. The results will be switched on later this month.

Shoppers will see 578 tubes suspended four metres above ground from the roof of the market building. Each 2m-long tube will contain a strip of 80 energy-efficient LEDs, each of which can be controlled by a computer. These will be programmed to create complex, colourful patterns of light that should ripple across the grid of tubes and mesmerise passers-by.'

This type of lighting is now available for domestic use including the 'Snowfall' from www.FDL.eu  These are LED tubes that give a realistic snowfall effect. Just checkout the website video.

YET MORE ON CONES

 

These stylish wall cones from www.europlanters.com are available in a wide range of colour finishes.

They are made in glass reinforced plastic making them strong, watertight, lightweight and frostproof.

350mm Diameter  400mm High

http://www.europlanters.com/grp/grp.htm

URBAN ORCHARDS

 

More and more people are growing vegatables in the smallest of spaces with great success. Short term crops provide salads especially throughout the greater part of the year but to date few people have moved on to perennial crops including 'top fruit'.

Apples, pears, plums and cherries can now all be grown in containers as 'mini fruit' trees. These grow on 'special' roots that not only prevent the tree growing very big but also spurs it to produce large crops. They are provided by the nursery as 5' trees that soon grow to heavy cropping 7'-8' plants. Plant in a soil based compost such as John Innes No.3 in a 24"-30" diameter container. They must be watered well throughout the growing season so its worth setting up an automatic watering system such as Hozelock's Aquapod.( www.hozelock.com )

www.gardenbargains.com have an offer of their Mini Orchard Collection - 1x Apple Braeburn, 1x Pear Conference & 1x Plum Victoria for only £29.99 +SH&I

 

FALLEN APPLES

 

Modern sculptures for smaller gardens are always difficult to find - they need to be large enough to create a presence in the space without dominating it. The Fallen Apple sculpture from www.spottygiftboxes.co.uk fits the bill and is amusing with it.

'The sculptures are made from reconstituted stone and you can choose between a Bath or Portland stone finish

The apples are designed to remain outside all year round. They age naturally and over a time attract mosses and lichens from the locality which adds to their charm and helps them to blend into their surroundings.'

£425.00

http://www.spottygiftboxes.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=275&strPageHistory=related

NEW AGE CHRISTMAS WREATHS

 

This metal wreath with bow from www.worm.co.uk is a real change from twiggy circles and fading tinsel.

'Create your own Christmas wreath, either for the door or to hang in the garden as a Christmas treat for your feathered friends.
The wreath is extremely versatile with small trap door at the top so it can be filled with tiny pears, apples, small clementines or chinese lantern seed pods.
Made of metal with grey finish.'

 

£25.00

http://www.worm.co.uk/?gclid=CMft0JXMhpcCFQZ3MAod1Rgm9w

AUTOMATIC SPROUTING

 

Seed sprouting can be very tedious using the old fashions jar method. Regular water flushing is required and with todays busy lifestyle that is not always possible.

The Freshlife Sprouter from www.ukjuicers.com solves that problem.

'The Freshlife sprouter is easy to use and very economical to run. It features an automatic, timed sprinkling system to produce fresh, nutritious and tender living-foods. This delivers a continuous supply of fresh water, ensuring the sprouts are periodically rinsed even if you are out through the day. '

£79.00

http://www.ukjuicers.com/freshlife-automatic-sprouter

 

STICK LIGHT

 

Another great alternative to outdoor Christmas trees from www.outer-eden.co.uk

'Designed by Michael Young to create a unique lighting experience for outside. Lenticular body with circular detail.'

£400.00

http://www.outer-eden.co.uk/product_details.asp?c=123&d=3&p={CEA65826-FED7-4EE0-9BD2-80A74EF05166}