Christmas with Gardens Illustrated
Let Gardens Illustrated guide you through the Christmas season with ideas for gardening gifts, recipes and decorations
This wreath made from honesty is an eye-catching natural Christmas decoration
Bex Partridge offers this elegant but easy way to create a wreath using honesty seedheads
The Christmas treat that's grown in a bog and harvested underwater: discover the surprising story of this festive fruit
Plant ecologist Ken Thompson on the remarkable cranberry plant and it's tricky way of harvesting underwater
The best gardening gifts: top gift ideas for gardeners in 2025
Here's our selection of fantastic gardening gifts in 2025, tailor-made to suit the gardener in your life.
Win the top 14 gardening books of the year
Closed on: January 31, 2025
How to make your own outdoor Christmas lights using natural materials foraged from the garden
Make your own outdoor Christmas lights for the garden this year with one of these enchanting designs. Words and styling Kristy Ramage, photography Andrew Montgomery
Ideas for decorating the table for Christmas
Brighten up your Christmas table with these natural festive arrangements using evergreens and winter-flowering shrubs. Here's two simple examples to make yourself. Words and styling Bea Andrews, photography Andrew Montgomery
Things to do at Christmas
Best UK gardens open for Boxing Day walks
Many UK gardens are open this festive season, so why not work off your Christmas indulgence between Boxing Day and New Year with a winter walk at one of these 13 great open gardens?
The most inspiring winter garden walks
It may be cold outside but you can still visit beautiful gardens over the winter months. Here's our top picks of UK open gardens to visit for a refreshing winter walk
21 top Christmas garden light shows and trails
Here are our top picks for the best Christmas light shows and illuminated trails in gardens across the UK, to enjoy with friends and family during this festive season
Gardening events and shows in 2025
All the big names in one place. Here's our guide to the gardening calendar's biggest and best gardening events for the year ahead
Christmas recipes
Christmas biscuits recipe: a festive treat with hazelnuts
Learn how to make these tasty party delicacies made with foraged nuts. Recipes Lia Leendertz, photographs Jason Ingram, styling Clare Gardner-Medwin
Damson pastries recipe
Satisfy a sweet tooth over Christmas and learn how to make our twist on these tasty party delicacies originally from South America. Recipes Lia Leendertz. Photographs Jason Ingram. Styling Clare Gardner-Medwin
Membrillo: Quince cheese paste
Discover what is membrillo, and the best membrillo recipe for making quince paste. Words by Lia Leendertz, photos by Jason Ingram, styling by Niki Goss
Mulled sloe and champagne cocktails - a perfect Christmas treat from the hedgerows
Our recipe for a classic Christmas champagne recipe using berries from the garden. Recipe Lia Leendertz, photographs Jason Ingram, styling Clare Gardner-Medwin
Gardening Christmas gifts
Last minute Christmas gifts: gardening memberships and subscriptions for 2024
Looking for a Christmas gift for a gardener after the last Christmas post delivery date? We've got the best gardening membership and subscription gifts you can still buy and gift in time for Christmas
The best fire pits for outdoor entertaining
Choose a stylish fire pit for your garden and enjoy sitting out long into the night
The best hori hori knives for easy weeding, digging and transplanting
Want a hori hori knife but don’t know where to start? Here are the best hori hori knives you can buy today.
Best gins with botanicals for 2024
The Gardens Illustrated team has rounded up the best botanical gins on the market.
28 gifts for plant lovers: a 2024 guide
We've collated our ultimate list of great gifts for plant lovers for 2024.
Beautiful outdoor Christmas decoration ideas for a winter wonderland in 2024
Bring the festive spirit to your garden with our selection of the best outdoor Christmas decorations.
Best outdoor blankets and throws: waterproof picnic rugs and cosy comforters
Keep warm and cosy in your garden with our picks of the best outdoor blankets and throws. Perfect for lounging on in the sun, or wrapping up tight when the temperature drops
Decorating ideas
Beautiful outdoor Christmas decoration ideas for a winter wonderland in 2024
Bring the festive spirit to your garden with our selection of the best outdoor Christmas decorations.
Make your own Christmas decorations from your garden
Festive ideas and inspiration for stylish Christmas decorations such as baubles and garlands, easily handmade at home using foraged and natural materials from the garden
The best natural Christmas decorations to shop this year
We've found all the most beautiful baubles, wreaths and home décor to browse this year - made with paper, wood, metal and other natural materials.
Decorations | Christmas cloud with dried florals
Give your home some festive flair this Christmas with this natural mantelpiece decoration ideas from the team behind Verde Flower Co. Words Caroline Beck and Roisin Taylor. Photographs Andrew Montgomery
Festive | Make your own Christmas wreath
Learn how to make a homemade Christmas wreath from scratch with our ideas using natural materials including succulents, evergreens and seedheads
How to make a dried flower Christmas wreath hoop
Weave some seasonal flora into your Christmas decor with this flowers-on-tulle wreath hoop by artist Olga Prinku. Words Sonya Patel Ellis Photos Andrew Montgomery
More from Gardens Illustrated at Christmas
Great flowers and plants for the garden in December picked by head gardeners
The best December flowers and foliage from winter interest plants chosen for structure, colour and texture in the garden. Photographs Jason Ingram
Make your own floral advent calendar
Gardens Illustrated has joined together with The Herbarium Project to show you how to make an Advent calendar for Christmas. Words Sonya Patel Ellis and photography Andrew Montgomery
Ideas for decorating the table for Christmas
Brighten up your Christmas table with these natural festive arrangements using evergreens and winter-flowering shrubs. Here's two simple examples to make yourself. Words and styling Bea Andrews, photography Andrew Montgomery
Stop the needles falling and the droop: here's how to care for your Christmas tree so it's happy for longer
You invest in a Christmas tree and bring it into your home over the festive season. Make sure it's as happy as possible so it last for as long as possible
Think Christmas trees are wasteful? You can rent a living Christmas tree - here's how
Renting a Christmas tree is becoming more and more popular, here we talk you through the process and help you find a local supplier.
Sustainable Christmas trees: real or fake, what's the best tree to buy?
What is the most eco-friendly Christmas tree option – a real tree, or an artificial one? We investigate the pros and cons of each
How to grow hyacinths: a guide to this easy-to-grow bulb
Bring a splash of bright colour to your home or garden by trying easy-to-grow hyacinths. Grow them indoors and you'll have cheering flowers in the winter. In the garden they are a sure sign of spring.
How to make a hazel ball with ivy berries for a great natural Christmas decoration
Ivy is one of the best plants to grow in the garden for year-round interest. This natural Christmas decoration celebrates its architectural berries.
Make a moss and berry hanging chandelier for natural decorations at Christmas
Made with moss, berries and flowers foraged from the garden are simple materials that make a big impact when paired together to make a festive chandelier.
Alternatives to a Christmas tree
Looking for an alternative to a cut Christmas tree? Here are some attractive conifers that you can grow outdoors in pots all year round, then bring indoors for the festive season
