Countdown to Halloween - Autumnal Themes for your Garden

 

With Halloween only 6 days away, it’s time to create an Autumnal theme to your outdoor Planters. Think Autumn colour and group planted designs together with pumpkins and for that seasonal look that continues to grow in popularity.

 

Welcome and embrace the Season – it’s what we’re so good at!



Cute small Artificial Pumpkins to place near to your Planters

Realistic little Pumpkins that you can re-use again and again!!

 

 

These attractive Maple Leaf Sprays in various shades of brown and red are most popular. 

 

The dark, wet, cold and rainy days combined with gloomy reporting from the media on the economy have produced some unexpected results when it comes to Spring Flowers – they are in great demand! People want something to brighten their mood and cheer themselves up and spring flowers with their glorious colours and lovely forms are just what the doctor ordered for this Autumn.

 

This beautiful Chinese Lantern Spray is just what the doctor ordered.



It is important to mention everybody's favourite, the Anemone.  Anemone, is a genus of about 120 species of flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the temperate zones. It is closely related to Pulsatilla ('Pasque flower') and Hepatica. Some botanists include both of these genera within Anemone.There are some beautiful colours to lift ones spirits.  They are just gorgeous with their large clear heads of flowers.

 

 



Anemonies are available in an array of colours and varieties

Orchidaceae is a diverse and widespread family of flowering plants with blooms that are often colorful and often fragrant, commonly known as the orchid family. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species.

This artificial Phalaenopsis Orchid Flower Stem (Moth Orchid) with vibrant coral flowers is as realistic as the real thing.

The advantages of Artificial Plants are endless.  There is no need for sunlight, absolutely no maintenance is required, they will look good all year round, and they don't attract insects.  Just sit back and enjoy their effect in the Planter of your choice!  There are many varieties on the market today, cubed ones, troughs, tall vase planters, the galvansied variety and loads more!

These plastic Trough Planters are ideal for both indoors and out.

Happy Halloween from All of us at

Smashing Conkers

I was taking my son to a riding lesson at the weekend and to my great delight I saw a familiar part of my childhood on the grassy ground and under a horsechesnut tree - a polished, shiny brown conker gleaming from inside its prickly and spiky shell.   This year’s long, hot and dry summer has led to a cracking crop of bigger and shinier conkers.  I have memories as a child climbing up the trees at the local park and shaking the braches until the conkers came crashing to the ground.  I am sure many people remember the same experience?

For kids who adore this traditional game to play in the playground at school, its good news for them!  The game is played by two players, each with their own conker threaded onto a longish piece of string, they take turns hitting each other's conker until one breaks.  The hardest conkers usually win.  Hardening conkers is often done by keeping them for up to a year, by briefly baking them, soaking or boiling them in vinegar, or even painting them with clear nail polish.  It is incredible the lengths some people go to in order to win a simple conker game!!!  There is some uncertainty of the origins of the name. The name may come from the dialect word conker, meaning "hard nut" (perhaps related to French 'conque’ meaning a conch, as the game was originally played using snail shells and small bits of string.  The name may also be influenced by the verb conquer, as earlier games involving shells and hazelnuts has also been called 'conquerors'.

Due to the incredibly dry summer, the Horse Chesnut tree has clearly enjoyed these perfect weather conditions.  This time last year was wet and miserable and the conkers from memory were poor to say the least.  The conkers were shrivelled up and not as large as in previous years.  Many trees were also damaged last year with the leaves attacked by leaf eating larvae and bacteria and as a result the trees became damaged and the crop not as big, shiny or good looking.

The game grew in popularity in the 20th century, and spread beyond England.  The first recorded game of Conkers using Horse Chestnuts was on the Isle of Wight as far back as 1848.  In 1965 the World Conker Championships were set up in Ashton (near Oundle) Northamptonshire, England, and still take place on the second Sunday of October each year. In 2004, an audience of 5,000 turned up to watch more than 500 competitors from all over the world.  This year’s world conker  championships will go ahead at the Shuckburgh Arms in Southwick, near Oundle, Peterborough in Britain.  Let's see what this year's championships bring?

 

 

 

Autumn Conker Picks great for Autumnal Decoration ideas this Autumn

 

 

There are some fabulous Autumnal decoration ideas on the market today, Garlands to enhance your Autumn displays, decorative leaves and fruit picks to add a touch of colour to your creations.

 



Fabric Autumn Leaves to enhance Autumn Displays

Autumn Leaf Garlands and Autumn Sprays

Autumnal Foliage is wonderful this time of year.  Its great to select some colourful tones such as oranges, reds and yellows and mix it with decorative foliage such as Lonicera with its beautiful terracotta leaf foliage.

Terracotta Lonicera Foliage Spray to add a 'touch of Autumn' to oyur home or garden this Autumn.

Candle Candy for your home this Christmas

 

 Great Ideas to decorate your Christmas Candles

 

Beautiful Pine Cone Design Pillar Candle

 Want great ideas to decorate a candle?

“Love Candy cane wrapped candles, love garland wrapped candles, love Candle Ring decor to look Christmassey? Nice idea.”

“Close up of Candle Ring decor”

 

 

 

 

This Candle Ring Decoration with realistic artificial red berries and leaves is the perfect solution to dress your candles.

 

“Christmas decorating”

“Christmas Candle idea”

“Xmas candles...Candy cane candles...Cute candle decor...With white candles...Candle is adorable...Candle decor...easy decor...Cute for candles...Table decor...Candle idea...Pine Cone Candles”

 

This Candle Ring Decoration with artificial spruce foliage, mistletoe, silver glitter apples, pale green orchid flowers and other various plants is the perfect solution to dress your candles.

 

Or simply with Artificial Red Berries

This Candle Ring Decoration with realistic artificial berries and glitter snow is the perfect solution to dress your candles. 

 

 

This Candle Ring Decoration with artificial pine foliage, pine cones, artificial silver berries and silver glitter is the perfect solution to dress your candles.   

 

 

“Christmas decorating”

“Christmas Candle idea”

“Xmas candles...Candy cane candles...Cute candle decor...With white candles...Candle is adorable...Candle decor...easy decor...Cute for candles...Table decor...Candle Rings...Candle idea...Pine Cone Candles”

 

 

 

Fabulous Christmas Candle Candy with this great solution all in one!

 

Festive Decor with Christmas Foliage, Garlands and fantastic Pine Cone Picks are great ways to enhance your dining table or your home.

 

This delightful Christmas Goodies Basket with a mixture of Christmas Tree decorations, Bow and Candle candy is perfect for adding a touch of 'Christmas' to your home or even a Winter themed event.  

Happy Christmas from all of us at

 

There are many Festive Garlands, Decorations, Holly and Mistletoe available on the market today and you cancreate your very own stocking of Festive Foliage to hang on your mantelpiece.

 

 

Foliage and Flowers for Christmas 

 

There is a Christmas Competition to win all of this on FaceBook, so like UKGD on Facebook, share with your friends and Enter Now!