Skimmia Japonica - Number 1 plant for December

Every year, as Christmas gets closer I am reminded of the charms of this wonderful shrub, Skimmia japonica, so it was an obvious choice for my number 1 garden plant for December. There are loads of varieties, most of which are small or moderately sized bushes, ideal for containers. The one I love in my garden on the other-hand, is huge. I have no idea what variety it is but it is a fabulous addition to the garden. This time of year it is at its best, copious numbers of large red berries with large glossy evergreen leaves. A robust plant that can stand a generous prune in December for any number of festive arrangements for the house. It also has the most heady spicy scent, which gives it an additional Yule Tide tick in the box.

There are 4 species of Skimmia and all are found in Asia; all of the species having attractive berries, aromatic foliage and fragrant flowers.

The Skimmia species is a member of the Rutaceae family which we know better for giving us citrus fruit such as oranges, lemons, limes and Grapefruit.  Other members are as diverse as the bitter herb Rue(Ruta) and Zanthozylum which gives us Sichuan Pepper and Prickly Ash.  Many members of the family are edible and provide us with important fruit, spices and medicinal components. Skimmia is probably is the most important  of the strictly ornamental plants, even the birds don't seem to eat the berries.

 

 

Skimmia japonica and all its forms are easy plants to grow, I do absolutely nothing with mine, except chop it back to clear the path. Ideally they like fertile rich soil which is slightly acidic but tolerate clay soils quite well, we live in a chalky area and the plant still seems to thrive. They like a site which is well-drained but is well watered during the hot summers as they do not like drought conditions but again mine thrives in a sun scorched south facing garden. They prefer a site which is dappled or is more on the shady side or their leaves will yellow even in a strong winter sun. Mine being in an open sunny site suffers a little from yellowing but I quite like having the mixture of dark glossy green with the brighter yellow sun scorched leaves. As they are evergreen they will do best being in a location which is protected from drying winds especially in the winter season. It also looks stunning with a heavy winter frost.

Use Skimmia japonica as an accent, in a winter garden, for fragrance in the spring, along paths where you brush the aromatic foliage. Their colourful berries are bright winter interest and the foliage is not popular with pests. They work well as foundation plants especially when placed near entrances or windows. Skimmias are also popular in a woodland setting or in borders as they are very low maintenance and will need little care over their long life.

Read more about these wonderful plants here http://namethatplant.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/the-mysterious-skimmia/

 

Christmas Table Centre Piece using what you have at home

Christmas Table Centre Piece - A little bit of nature indoors

Hurrah! I have officially finished work for 2014! Work has been crazy busy for me the last few weeks, so now that I have finished I am left with this surreal end of term feeling. I have got a little bit of time to get Christmassy and get some home-made finishing touches underway. Having a fake tree, I always feel I am missing out on honouring the season and bringing a little bit of nature indoors. So every year I have a stab at creating an indoor arrangement, claiming I am going for the naturalistic look, to hide my obvious lack of flower arranging skills.

 

This year as well as my random flower arrangement, I have made a Christmas table centre piece (design courtesy of Kirsty Allsop). I'm not lucky enough to have any holly in the garden, mind you in my experience the pain of working with it, it isn't worth it anyway. So instead I used some of my Skimmia japonica, a wonderful sturdy shrub with waxy leaves and a generous crop of red berries. It also has a spicy scent and, probably by association, always reminds me of Christmas. I don't feel bad raiding this shrub because there are always loads of berries that don't seem to be touched, so I'm not depriving the local bird population of a meal. Even so I always feel I have to thank the plant. I don't know why but there are some plants, my bay tree being another, that I feel I have to thank when taking material, it must be my inner hippy!  So after making my pleases and thank-yous, I look for something additional to make the framework. Ivy is the perfect plant, with long flexible strands that can be easily woven together and I don't feel the urge to be that grateful and thank it, as it pulls half the rendering off my back wall during collection.

 

After gathering some additional bits and bobs from the craft box and rummaging for unused Christmas decorations, its time to get started.











1. Make a simple hoop shape by weaving the strands of Ivy

2. Weave in the skimma or plants of your choice to give a fuller shape and some colour. I have used some gold coloured florists wire but you could use common or garden green garden wire.

3. Space some clip on candle holders, I always think odd numbers look better. Then, because I like a little bit of extra bling, using acrylic gold paint, highlight the edges of some of the leaves, or use to pick out the veins in the Holly leaves. I decided against the raffia, as it is possibly a bit dodgy with naked flames but opted for a red Christmassy ribbon. I save any ribbons and decorations from chocolates and gift sets of smellies, that I might have been lucky enough to be given, for these sort of things.

4. When you are happy with the arrangement, add candles and a Christmas dinner!

Double Dove Sensitive Beauty Bars Fulfils Its Promises and more......

When I got the chance to try the Dove sensitive beauty bar I was thrilled. I have used the original beauty bar over the years and have always found it a great product, so was delighted to have the opportunity to try another Dove product free with Buzz Agent.

It's always very exciting to get samples to try, practically pouncing on the post man as he nervously hands over the parcels as I snatch them out of his hand. This ritual has been observed closely by my seven year old daughter who now shares my excitement, generally claiming what ever booty there is as half hers. So thankfully there were two bars of Dove in my package. So we have both extensively tested the Dove sensitive bar and it does live up to its promises.

We both have sensitive skin, my daughter more so perhaps. Dove cleans and even softens without leaving the tight dry feel of regular soap. I would imagine if you have exceptionally sensitive skin or suffer from eczema this product should still only be used with caution but for mildly sensitive skin it is definitely better than most regular soaps, so worth a try. But one of the other benefits is that it is a bar, it lasts a very long time, you don't get the wastage associated with shower gel escaping down the plug hole and you really only use what you need to use. I have got to say it has rekindled my love for soap in a bar which I haven't really used for years. So apart from being a very gentle cleanser it is also very good value.