Yes, we know the advent calendars have only just gone up, but as we’re into December proper we feel we can now utter the word ‘Christmas’…
Here’s a round up of some of our favourite ideas for Christmas gifts, all of which are likely to add a little contemporary and colourful style into your garden.
Clockwise from top left: Cacoon, Echoes Bird Bath, Location Map Pin, Cow Parsley/ Allium stakes
Part hanging chair, part tent, part hammock, the Cacoon isn’t exactly something you’ll be using in the darker months, but it looks very much like the kind of thing to be in high demand once the weather starts getting warmer.
This bird bath looks good enough to dive in, and the colourful glaze sets it apart from its more mundane cousins. You can find this – and lots of other wildlife-friendly things – at Wiggly Wigglers who have long stocked great products that support our birds, bugs and beyond.
This little place marker really tickled us here at beepalace HQ, and it’s typical of the creative approach to garden adornment that the good folks at My Visible Object have. They’re a small company that launched earlier this year and their tongue in cheek collection of plant markers, pegs and leaves have a super, modern feel to them.
Clockwise from top left: Speed Camera Bird Box, SkyPlanter, beepalace, London Terrariums
This Speed Camera Birdbox gave us all a chuckle here at beepalace, and is one of many quirky bird box designs from Buttercup Farm (who also do more conventional wild bird boxes, duck houses and other gardening equipment too).
The Sky Planter, an upside-down plant pot for inside the home, is undoubtedly striking. It’s also guaranteed to be a bit of a conversation starter. The thing is, it isn’t just a gimmick: these planters do work and their handy irrigation system means your plants are kept watered for up to as much as a fortnight – perfect for the more forgetful horticulturalist.
Here at beepalace, we think that just because something has a practical (and important) function, it doesn’t mean it can’t be beautiful as as well. Our solitary bee houses are made by a wonderful team of highly skilled potters in Stoke on Trent, once the heartland of the British ceramics industry. They’re a great way of injecting a splash of colour into your garden as well as providing shelter for our hardworking solitary bee population.
You may have noticed terrariums have crept back into fashion, and if you’re after a bit of gardening on those freezing, unappealing days of winter they’re a fun choice. For those that prefer experiences over things, places like London Terrariums offer brilliant courses teaching you everything you need to know to get started.
Clockwise from top left: Bunting, Seedball, Canvas Pail, Seville Cut Flower Collection, Bolga Baskets, Chair Hammock
Bunting continues to be a firm favourite for injecting a bit of retro cool into almost any event – the Glam Camping Company have a great version that reminds us a little of trips to the seaside…
Seedball are a company that we love, as much for their brilliant product as their ethos. Each little tin contains around 20 seedballs, ready for you to scatter wherever you’d like flowers to grow. Naturally we love the Bee Mix, but there are other options too.
The Carrier Company, based in North Norfolk, started life making sturdy canvas carriers, but now make other outdoor-friendly clothes and equipment too. This Gardener’s Pail is a nice alternative to more traditional trugs, and you’ll find plenty of other heirloom pieces on their website also.
Sarah Raven‘s eponymous website won best gardening brand this year and you don’t have to spent much time on her colourful website to work out why. Her seed collections are particularly good – this one is pollinator-friendly – and come with excellent instructions.
Bolga Baskets hail from Ghana and African Fabric are a company working with fair trade organisations to bring them to the UK. There are so many uses for them and they’re just so colourful we couldn’t help ourselves but include them in our listings here.
*If you’d like to purchase a beepalace for Christmas, please note that the last day for orders is December 16 to ensure we can get it to you in plenty of time.
