Nadolig Garddio a Mwy

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-Welcome to a special edition

-of Garddio A Mwy...

-..in which

-we look forward to Christmas.

-The garden isn't as colourful

-as when you were last with us.

-No, it's looking rather bare,

-but beneath the soil...

-..the spring bulbs are preparing

-for next year's show of colour.

-But Christmas is coming.

-I'll make a seasonal drink

-with apples from the orchard.

-Meinir sets about creating

-the perfect unusual gift.

-And my festive Welsh cakes

-go before a hungry panel of judges.

-Look at these roses.

-Incredibly, they're in bloom

-in the middle of December.

-They look so pretty.

-How do they do it,

-especially as it's so cold?

-New potatoes.

-It's our first try at growing them

-especially for Christmas Day.

-If you did the same,

-I hope you've been lucky.

-You needn't harvest them

-until Christmas morning.

-But I want to make sure

-that I have enough of them.

-You can either put your hand

-through this window here...

-..and just pick what you need...

-..or remove the entire plant,

-which is what I'm going to do.

-Right, let's see

-how many potatoes I have.

-I just gently loosen the leaves...

-..then lift the plant slowly.

-Then I'll pour the soil out.

-These are

-a little on the small side...

-I had hoped for a few more,

-to be honest.

-Luckily, I have more bags...

-..but there won't be enough

-for presents.

-But the table won't be bare

-over Christmas.

-There's enough produce...

-..including leeks

-and Romanesco broccoli.

-But I also want to gather items

-to create decorations.

-Flower heads that have run to seed

-will be sprayed gold or silver...

-..to make pretty decorations later,

-but first, we'll go over to Meinir.

-She's making something

-to keep us warm this Christmas.

-Mulled wine, hopefully!

-I don't know about mulled wine,

-but warm is an apt adjective...

-..for something I hope to make

-out of one of these today.

-An old washing machine.

-There's no reason

-why you can't sit outside...

-..and enjoy the garden

-during the winter.

-Unless it's windy

-with hail hammering down.

-It's not pleasant then.

-But if you have shelter,

-and a table and chairs...

-..you needn't spend a fortune

-on a garden heater.

-What you need is the drum

-from an old washing machine.

-If you don't have one,

-try ringing around your friends.

-Alternatively, you can buy

-a drum online for about 30.

-The first step is to work out...

-..how to dismantle

-an old washing machine.

-You will need quite a few tools.

-I'll start with the drill.

-That's the top removed.

-To remove the concrete,

-this ratchet set will be handy.

-Now that the top is off,

-some brute force is required.

-There must be an easier way.

-Ah, here we are.

-Hopefully, getting the drum out

-should be straightforward now.

-OK, let's get serious.

-Come on now.

-Yes!

-Keep this wheel because the drum

-will sit on it eventually.

-And there we have it.

-One steel drum, eventually,

-ready for a new life.

-The next step is to paint the drum.

-As you can see,

-I'm wearing overalls to do the job.

-I've also hung the drum

-to make it easier to paint.

-If you look down here...

-..I've kept the pulley system

-that rotated the drum as a stand.

-All I had to do

-was tighten the nut slightly.

-Right, paint.

-This is special

-heat-resistant paint.

-Spray it in an open space

-because the fumes are strong.

-That's it, I think.

-I'm happy with the way that looks,

-black all over.

-I'll let it dry...

-..then take it with me tonight

-to keep us warm at Pont y Twr.

-What better time than Christmas

-to plant nut trees?

-Back in October,

-I sought expert advice...

-..on planting a nut orchard...

-..and what trees would be

-best suited to this location.

-This is the variety that will fill

-most of this new orchard.

-It's a type of hazel,

-cobnut, hazelnut or filbert.

-This is a Kentish cob.

-I'll also plant purple filberts

-to give a variety of colour.

-The catkins are a bright purple

-and the nuts are reddish.

-Another variety is the Gunslebert.

-It fruits heavily and regularly,

-and produces fairly large nuts.

-If you do buy a nut tree...

-..this is a good example

-of what you should look for.

-It's about three years old,

-with a strong and tough trunk.

-The network of branches begins here,

-about four feet off the ground.

-This will be perfect.

-This orchard is going to be

-an extension of the garden...

-..so I want it to look nice.

-I'm planting bulbs under the trees.

-It'll be lovely to see the flowers

-and the bees here in the spring.

-But the orchard

-will also be working hard for us...

-..providing fresh nuts

-for the family.

-But I won't plant all these trees

-in one day by myself.

-John Purchase

-works for Coed Cymru...

-..and is an old hand

-at planting all kids of trees.

-OK, John.

-I think these are Kentish cobs,

-but I'm not sure how to plant them.

-Kentish cobs will come in early.

-They need a bit of shade

-and more sunshine.

-The prevailing wind

-is from over there.

-It will blow down the line.

-I know that these trees

-are pollinated by the wind.

-Wind is important,

-but not too much wind.

-If the wind is from there,

-put the Kentish cobs in the shade...

-..then the filberts,

-then the other one over here.

-What about the spacing?

-About four metres?

-About four metres?

-

-Four metres?

-OK, let's set them out.

-That's the first one.

-That's the first one.

-

-The first one goes there.

-What do you think? Is that OK?

-What do you think? Is that OK?

-

-Yes, fine.

-The first tree is about to go in.

-Would you suggest

-adding compost as well?

-A little bit,

-to give it a kick-start.

-That's important as well.

-You don't want any air pockets...

-..or frost can get in

-and kill the roots.

-Also, after bad weather,

-with strong winds...

-..come and press the soil down

-once again to keep the frost out.

-In that case, would you suggest

-keeping this bamboo in place?

-For the first winter,

-to make sure they're comfortable.

-How many are left?

-I'm not great at maths,

-but I think it's 29.

-Off we go.

-Off we go.

-

-Here's your spade!

-At Christmas, as we fill our homes

-will all kinds of greenery...

-..it's worth considering from

-where the tradition originates.

-It's certainly not a recent thing.

-It goes back thousands of years...

-..right back to the roots

-of our civilization, as it were.

-Take holly.

-You see this on Christmas cards.

-It's usually by fireplaces...

-..where evil spirits

-come into the house.

-Holly protects the family and

-animals from harm over Christmas.

-It's an old, old tradition.

-Green represents the continuation of

-life through the dark winter days.

-The red of the berries

-represents drops of blood...

-..the blood sacrifices

-of the old pagans.

-They sacrificed people

-as part of the ritual.

-Later, the church

-adopted that idea.

-The holly's prickly leaves

-represented the crown of thorns...

-..and the red berries

-represented Jesus' sacrifice.

-Yew trees are a very old symbol...

-..representing eternal life.

-Now, this tree is poisonous.

-That may be linked

-to the death of the old year.

-Local youths would come down here

-on New Year's Eve...

-..and listen to the wind

-among the branches...

-..listing the names of those

-who would die in the coming year.

-If you carry

-a piece of yew wood with you...

-..it'll protect you

-from evil spirits...

-..and you won't

-fear the dark either.

-Then there's mistletoe.

-This has strong links

-with Christmas revelry.

-It's originally linked

-with the old festival of midwinter.

-The solstice,

-the old Roman feast of Saturnalia.

-The ancient Welsh

-had a similar festival...

-..to mark the shortest day

-and so on.

-Everything was turned on its head.

-The day became longer

-instead of shorter.

-Nothing is as perverse

-as this plant.

-It grows on trees,

-not from the ground.

-It grows downwards, not upwards,

-and the berries are white.

-How different can you get?

-Plants have played a major part in

-Christmas festivities for centuries.

-No matter what green plants

-you have decorating your home...

-..there are long traditions

-behind each and every one of them.

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-Welcome back.

-I love decorating.

-It's starting to look

-like Christmas here now.

-Anyone home?

-Oh, hiya. Are you OK?

-Oh, hiya. Are you OK?

-

-Good, thanks.

-I've brought you

-a Christmas present.

-Wow! Thanks. What is it?

-What do you mean, what is it?

-It's a fire drum

-to keep us warm tonight.

-Brill. Thank you!

-But I need firewood to light it.

-You'll find some

-at the side of the house.

-Where shall I put this?

-We gathered these apples

-back in October.

-I really hope

-that they are alright...

-..because I'm relying on them

-to make a warm festive drink.

-They haven't gone soft,

-and this one looks lovely.

-Spicy apple juice.

-It's lovely to think that all these

-apples came from the orchard.

-We've stored them in the dark cellar

-for a couple of months.

-I wrapped some of them in tissue,

-and it has worked well.

-Now, this is the fun part.

-The apples must be battered

-to release the juice.

-Cutting them with a knife won't do.

-They look ready to go in.

-I'll get five litres of juice,

-but it takes some effort.

-If it gets too hard to turn...

-..leave it for five minutes

-and it'll be easier.

-The first drips of juice,

-and I'm very excited.

-Look at that colour.

-I'll add some festive flavours.

-Orange and lemon zest,

-grated ginger, cloves...

-..two cinnamon sticks

-and star anise.

-Children and adults

-can enjoy this warm drink.

-If it's too sour,

-sweeten it with a little honey.

-The smell coming from this saucepan

-is wonderful.

-Hopefully, it tastes even better.

-That needs to stew

-for about 15 minutes...

-..and it'll be ready

-to warm us on a cold night.

-But don't think that gardeners

-huddle up over winter.

-There are lots of plants

-at your local garden centre...

-..crying out

-to be taken home and tended.

-Tips From The Nursery

-Christmas is upon us once again, and

-plants like these make handy gifts.

-This is an indica azalea.

-It doesn't need much water...

-..but when you do water it,

-place the pot in a bowl of water.

-..for about 30 minutes,

-then stand it on a draining board.

-Then put it back

-in the spot where it looks best.

-On this bench are plants

-that are especially for Christmas.

-These are Poinsettias,

-which are fairly hardy plants.

-But they do come with some problems.

-They don't like a lot of water.

-When you do water them,

-put the pot under the tap.

-Give it quite a good soaking

-and let it stand for 30 minutes...

-..then put it back where it was.

-Before you water it again,

-check the compost with your finger.

-If it's moist, let it be.

-If it's very dry, then water it.

-The new fire drum has been lit.

-Before our guests arrive...

-..the next step is to prepare

-a striking table decoration.

-I'm going to take advantage

-of Meinir's presence.

-I do have a job for you.

-Can you put some cloves into this

-in a nice pattern?

-I can do that.

-I'll place these candles

-into this old pallet.

-We have lots of pine cones,

-so I'll start with those...

-..then add sprigs of yew.

-This shouts out Christmas to me.

-Evergreen skimmia leaves

-also deserve a place.

-It's nice to use things

-from the garden.

-Is everything from the garden?

-Yes, apart from the oranges.

-They've come from far away.

-This is a festive Buxus

-with striking dark purple berries.

-It has a lovely citrus aroma.

-There are so many dried items

-from the garden that we can use.

-Flower heads and so on.

-Flower heads and so on.

-

-Sedum is lovely, isn't it?

-I wanted to do something

-interesting with this moss.

-Everyone has moss

-in their garden somewhere.

-I'm making baubles

-with a little wire.

-Remember, either buy the moss

-or gather it from your garden.

-Don't pick it

-out in the countryside.

-And there it is, a moss ball.

-And there it is, a moss ball.

-

-Pretty.

-Very pretty.

-I don't think mine

-will look like a ball.

-Is that OK?

-Is that OK?

-

-That's perfect.

-It's so pretty.

-Finally, a garland

-made with wire and crab apples.

-A simple idea

-for a festive table decoration.

-Very pretty.

-As well as providing

-decorative plants...

-..the garden

-can also help with gifts.

-A lettuce that is past its best

-and some leaves and ferns...

-..are the basis for a fun afternoon

-making cards and labels.

-Herbs also make lovely

-and aromatic decorations.

-Or as a special gift,

-how about a hamper of home produce?

-After planting

-all those nut trees this morning...

-..I'm looking forward to next year

-and my first crop of nuts already.

-But for tonight's recipe,

-I've had to use shop-bought nuts.

-I'm giving Welsh cakes

-a Christmassy twist.

-Sift 250g of self-raising flour.

-Add 125g butter and a pinch of salt.

-Rub until the mixture

-resembles breadcrumbs.

-I could use a food processor...

-..but out here,

-I like doing it by hand.

-Next, add 75g sugar,

-100g hazelnuts...

-..100g dried cranberries

-and the zest of one orange...

-..and mix well.

-Then add one small beaten egg

-to bind everything together.

-Mix well once again.

-Add a little milk

-if the mix doesn't form a dough.

-When the dough is ready,

-roll it out and cut the cakes.

-Don't waste any dough.

-Roll any scraps out again.

-I'm moving quickly here

-in case the griddle is too hot.

-These need

-two or three minutes to cook.

-After all my hard work,

-I don't want them to burn.

-There we are.

-I'm happy with those.

-They've cooked well.

-Some have burnt, but never mind.

-While resisting the temptation

-to eat them while they're warm...

-..I'm going to make them look

-a little bit more Christmassy.

-I'll dredge them

-with icing sugar...

-..and garnish loosely with rosemary

-and fresh cranberries.

-They look much prettier now.

-Even better, the icing sugar

-is hiding the scorch marks!

-The rosemary smells wonderful

-with the warm cakes.

-We'll see what the guests think.

-Right, who wants

-a Christmassy Welsh cake?

-What could be better than a festive

-gathering with family and friends?

-I'm certainly feeling festive,

-and I hope you are too.

-Until next year, merry Christmas!

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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