Pruning

I pruned the corkscrew hazel tree this week, it was starting to get in the way of the pathway to our front door. What a curious plant it is, the branches twisting and curling all over the place.I was loath to chop the cuttings up and discard them. Instead I pulled away the few remaining leaves and used the branches as a place to hang some decorations. All the small catkins had formed and I shall miss seeing them in the spring, but the pruning was necessary, as was removal of some straight suckers at the base.

One of my oranges, still green, had fallen from the tree in the conservatory so it was sliced up to be used as a decoration. (War baby, nothing wasted!) Battering winds and rain are due so I doubt these decorations will last for long.

Most of the deciduous leaves are now on the ground, just the odd splash of colour hangs on here and there.

The garden looks messy and unkempt but I still like to be out there when the weather permits, even if it's only for a brief walk around. There is always something to see; buds are forming on the camellia bushes, what a lovely promise of things to come.

But really it's the weather for being inside. Another branch of twisted hazel decorates the kitchen.

The orange slices echo the colour of the maple tree outside.

The Christmas tree is still outside, the serious decorating doesn't start in our house until much nearer Christmas Day.