Our Favourite Christmas Activities

For gardening enthusiasts and nature lovers, the Christmas season offers a beautiful opportunity to incorporate home-grown elements into holiday celebrations.

From DIY wreaths to decorations crafted from dried flowers and herbs. Here are some Christmas activities that can involve both adults and children.

Perfect for:
– Adults and Older Kids

What You’ll Need:
– Greenery from your garden (pine, holly, ivy, rosemary)
– A wreath frame
– Garden clippers
– Ribbon
– Floral wire
– Dried citrus slices, pinecones, berries (optional)

How to Do It:

Step 1: Collect fresh greenery from your garden. Choose branches and sprigs that have a lovely scent and festive look, like pine, eucalyptus, rosemary, or holly.

Step 2: Arrange the greenery in small bundles, securing each one with floral wire. Attach each bundle to the wreath frame, overlapping them as you go around to create a full wreath.

Step 3: Add decorative touches such as dried orange slices, pinecones, and ribbon bows.

Step 4: Hang your handmade wreath on the front door or use it as a centrepiece for a natural, garden-inspired holiday decoration.

Perfect for:
– All Ages (younger children with help)

What You’ll Need:
– Dried herbs (lavender, rosemary, sage)
– Dried flowers
– Natural twine or ribbon
-Glue
– Scissors
-Small ornaments or bells

How to Do It:

Step 1: Collect herbs and flowers from your garden a few weeks before the holiday and dry them by hanging them upside down in a cool, dry place.

Step 2: Once dried, use floral wire to shape small herb bundles or small wreaths. Decorate with dried flowers and tie with twine or ribbon.

Step 3: Create small bundles to hang on the Christmas tree or around the home. You can even add essential oils to enhance the scent for a beautiful, fragrant decoration.

Step 4: Get creative by adding other natural elements like cinnamon sticks or acorns to bring extra festive cheer.

Perfect for:
– All Ages (supervision for children in the kitchen)

What You’ll Need:
– Ingredients for cookies
– Herbs (such as rosemary, mint)
– Citrus zest
– Edible flowers
– Holiday cookie cutters

How to Do It:

Step 1: Choose a basic sugar cookie or shortbread recipe and add fresh herbs or edible flowers to the dough. For example, rosemary adds a savoury note, while mint is refreshing and holiday appropriate.

Step 2: Shape the cookies with festive cookie cutters and press gently to embed the herbs or flowers for a decorative, garden-inspired look.

Step 3: Bake as directed, then let cool. Optionally, dip cookies in white chocolate and sprinkle them with crushed dried herbs for extra flavour and decoration.

Step 4: Arrange the cookies on a festive plate or package them as edible gifts. They make a beautiful addition to a holiday dessert table.

Perfect for:
– All Ages

What You’ll Need:
– Pinecones
– Peanut butter (or vegetable shortening)
– Birdseed
Ribbon or string
– Garden clippers

How to Do It:

Step 1: Collect pinecones from your garden or nearby park. Make sure they’re open and dry.

Step 2: Use a butter knife to spread peanut butter or shortening into the crevices of each pinecone.

Step 3: Roll the pinecones in birdseed until fully covered.

Step 4: Tie a ribbon around the top and hang the bird feeders from branches outside. This doubles as an eco-friendly holiday decoration and a treat for local birds.

Perfect for:
– Adults and Children (older children may need assistance with sewing)

What You’ll Need:
– Dried herbs (lavender, rosemary, mint)
– Dried flower petals
– Essential oils
– Small cloth bags
– Needle and thread (if sewing by hand)

How to Do It:

Step 1: Gather dried herbs and flowers from your garden. Good options include lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus leaves, and rose petals.

Step 2: Place a small amount of herbs in each sachet bag and add a few drops of essential oil if desired to boost the fragrance.

Step 3: Sew or tie the sachet bags closed and decorate them with holiday ribbons or tags.

Step 4: Place the sachets around the home, on the Christmas tree, or give them as gifts. The natural fragrance will add a festive and calming aroma.

Perfect for:
– All Ages

What You’ll Need:
– Small pine branches
– Holly berries
– Twigs
– Small pinecones
– Clear ornaments
– Twine
– Glue
– Scissors

How to Do It:

Step 1: If you have clear ornaments, fill them with small pieces of garden clippings like mini pine branches, dried berries, and twigs. You can also add glitter or a small amount of fake snow for extra sparkle.

Step 2: For a rustic look, glue small garden finds like acorns, mini pinecones, or dried lavender onto the outside of plain ornaments.

Step 3: Attach twine or ribbon to hang them, then place the ornaments on your tree or give them as gifts. These natural ornaments bring the beauty of your garden into holiday decor.

Perfect for:
– Adults and Older Kids

What You’ll Need:
– Dried garden herbs (peppermint, chamomile, lemon balm)
– Dried edible flowers
– Tea bags
– Small jars or bags

How to Do It:

Step 1: Gather a selection of dried herbs and flowers from your garden. Consider mint, chamomile, lemon balm, lavender, and rose petals.

Step 2: Set up a blending station with small jars or bags, and let each person create their custom tea blend. Provide small labels to write the blend’s name and ingredients.

Step 3: Package each tea blend as a thoughtful holiday gift or keep them for cosy winter evenings.

Step 4: Optionally, make a batch of tea together and enjoy a warm holiday drink right after the blending session!

Perfect for:
– Adults (older kids can help with gathering items)

What You’ll Need:
– A large decorative bowl or tray
– Fresh greenery
– Garden clippings
– Pinecones
– Candles
– Holiday berries or holly

How to Do It:

Step 1: Collect garden greenery such as pine branches, ivy, or eucalyptus, and other natural elements like pinecones, berries, and small twigs.

Step 2: Arrange the items on a tray or in a bowl, placing larger pieces like pine branches first, then adding smaller elements for detail.

Step 3: Place a few candles or battery-operated lights within the greenery for an elegant glow.

Step 4: Display the centrepiece on a dining or coffee table to bring the garden indoors in a beautiful, festive way.

Perfect for:
– Adults (children can help with supervision)

What You’ll Need:
– Soy or beeswax
– Candle wicks
– Dried herbs (rosemary, lavender, peppermint)
– Essential oils
– Small glass jars
– Double boiler

How to Do It:

Step 1: Melt soy or beeswax in a double boiler over low heat. Once melted, add a few drops of essential oils to enhance the scent.

Step 2: Place a candle wick in the centre of each jar. To keep it in place, you can use a clothespin balanced across the top of the jar.

Step 3: Pour the melted wax into each jar, filling about halfway, and sprinkle in dried herbs for a decorative and aromatic touch.

Step 4: Let the candles cool completely before trimming the wick. These candles make lovely holiday gifts or add a garden-fresh scent to your home.

These gardening-inspired Christmas activities combine the beauty of nature with holiday cheer, providing a wonderful way to celebrate the season with a green thumb twist.

Enjoy creating lasting memories with family and friends, all while enjoying the fruits of your garden!

To see our full spectrum of gardening knowledge, click here!