So I’ve reached the end of my #52Garlands Challenge! And here is Garland Number 52 just in time for Christmas which brings me full circle! It contains Conifer, Pine, Star Jasmine, Ivy and Holly with Teasels and Cones.
2 years ago I made a Christmas Wreath for my front door from cuttings and prunings from mine and others’ gardens! In mid January it was still up and looking good and I was reluctant to take it down as I loved having something on my front door.So #52Garlands was born. I thought I would try and have an ever-changing Garland on my door show-casing the plants and flowers of interest at that point. 10 weeks in I realised I’d set a steep challenge!
So over 100 weeks later I have reached the final Garland (not curtain – that’s something else entirely!) I’ve fallen back in love with shrubs as they have been the stalwart of my Garlands, the variety of the their foliage is astounding and they have helped me create some of the most simplistic and elegant garlands or the most OTT Garlands! I’ve taken to looking at (and in) hedgerows, and I mean really looking! I’ve slowed down and focused in on the beautiful detail of leaves, seeds, berries and petals and realised the most intricate details that I have never noticed before. I’ve reconnected with the Seasons; Spring has always been a favourite time of year for me, but the colours of Autumn and the decay that happens in Winter have both opened my eyes to what is truly beautiful.
Favourite plants that have featured include Hawthorn, Buddleia, Ivy, Cornflower, Mock Orange and trees such as Field Maple and Oak.
And then who would have guessed that others have loved my Garlands too, loved seeing them and have been inspired to make their own. And then even more surprisingly my Garlands have spawned a new sideline for me! Last Christmas I taught 71 people to make their own Christmas Garlands and this year that number is looking closer to 130! I’ve loved meeting people and helping making their own, some of whom haven’t made anything since School, who claim to not be creative and who end up creating something beautiful in their own style and way and something homemade for Christmas. How lucky am I?
And so feeling very blessed I decided that I couldn’t let Garland 52 go without a trace! So this Sunday: 3rd December I am putting Garland 52 up for Auction on my Facebook Page to raise fund for Us in a Bus, a local Charity who are very dear to my heart.
AUCTION RULES
The Auction will take place on my Facebook Page. At 9pm on Sunday 3rd December I will make a post of the Garland and you have until 9pm on Monday 4th December to make your bid. You bid by making a comment on the thread below my post of an amount in £ and you can bid more than once. The Winner is the person who makes the highest bid and I will then contact that person to arrange payment and collection. I will deliver the Garland to any address within a 5 mile radius of Redhill otherwise the Winner does need to arrange collection.
You can see all my Garlands at #52Garlands on Pinterest.
My little girl went back to school today in new shoes. She hasn’t mentioned school all Summer, but as we walked there today she talked about being nervous and excited and how that was making her tummy feel funny. She held my hand as we walked and talked and when we got there she bounced into the classroom!
I feel a bit nervous and excited too today as it was a first day for me too! For the last 6 years I have been juggling 2 jobs. As well as being The Girl who Gardens I’ve been working part-time as a marketer and fundraiser for a wonderful local charity called Us in a Bus who find a way to make conversations with people who find communicating with other people challenging.
Over the last year it has become increasingly clear that I couldn’t (and didn’t want to) do it all! So after much thinking and conversations with family, friends and strangers on holiday (!) I recently handed in my notice at Us in a Bus so I can focus my time on being Renée AKA The Girl who Gardens and Renée AKA Mum!
So today I do feel nervous and excited as it’s the 1st day proper that I haven’t gone to work for someone else, I’ve gone to work for me!! So although there isn’t any massive changes in what I’m offering, there is more opportunity for me to develop my ideas and help more families make their dream gardens come to life!
My lovely friend Sarah has helped me to create a logo, so you may well see some changes to how I look online and now I have more time I am aiming to create more advice and tips and resources for you to use.
Wish me luck and keep in touch! As one of the things I learned from my 6 years at Us in a Bus is how important conversations and connections are to me.
Renée
x
My colleagues at Us in a Bus bought me this wonderful present and I hope I can use it for a while longer this Autumn as a place to sit and create some exciting ideas that I have brewing in my head!
I was really proud to be asked to collaborate with other creative professionals on a styled wedding photoshoot in the Autumn of 2016. It took place in woodland in Surrey with the theme ‘Frost on the Leaves’. The group wanted to explore the beauty of a late English Autumn, a magical time of coloured leaves and silver frost. I was asked to contribute one of my Garlands and created one made of Star Jasmine, Ivy, Copper Beech and Hypericum which was used as a table decoration.
It was fascinating to be involved in the process and so enjoyable to see the beautiful items created and then brought together. I definitely have my eye on the shoes!!
You can see photos of the shoot here from the day and details of all the collaborators who contributed:
Although its been drizzling most of the day here in Surrey today, it definitely feels like Spring is in the air. The Snowdrops are out, the Daffs and Crocus are coming and I saw a Robin collecting material for its next today.
But the main reason I know Spring is on the way is the flurry of enquiries I’ve had in the past 5 days. Warm weather at the weekend has definitely woken people up out of their Winter slumber!
Folk are starting to dream about Summer and what they want to be doing in their gardens . . . and when they look outside it looks pretty bleak and as far away from their dreams as possible. If this sounds like you and you want to turn that bleakness into reality it sounds similar you need a Spring Garden Hoedown with me! Here’s what happens:
We stand in your garden with a cuppa and talk anything garden related! Book me for a minimum of an hour and we can cover design, planting, gardening good practice and techniques.
I’ve talked through the following with clients: reshaping beds, moving plants, lawn care, planting suggestions, planting & pruning techniques and where to put the sun lounger!
£45 per hour (+ expenses if further afield than 5 miles radius of Redhill)
Email me at renee.canter@uwclub.net to book a slot before Easter!
I have been working with the team at Space&Matter over the last year on a project in Hampstead. They have renovated a mews house from top to bottom and wanted some input on planting for a small courtyard and living wall on the roof terrace. It was a challenging site but it was great to go back this month to see how the planting is settling in and developing and to discuss maintenance with the homeowner. You can see more of this beautiful project at their website.
