Christmas will soon be with us and the garden centre has a huge selection of all sorts of decorations, lights, and LED figures to brighten up your home.

Outside in the plant centre we have in stock our pot grown Christmas trees which are available in the following kinds. Norway Spruce the old traditional tree that most of us were brought up with, has short green sharp needles and an upright habit.

Blue or Serbian Spruce is very similar to the above but with a much nicer blue grey colour to the foliage. Fraser Fir has large bright green soft needles with a dense upright growth habit and finally Nordman Fir which again has large bright glossy green needles with a grey underside. It has a good horizontal branch structure which is excellent for displaying decorations.

Pot grown trees do however tend to be more expensive than cut ones but with proper care they can be reused in the home for several years and then planted out in the garden when they get too large. Always look carefully at the tree before you buy it. It should appear bright in colour with soft foliage and not dry or brittle as this would suggest that the tree has not been looked after correctly. The same applies to cut trees as dull dry brittle foliage would suggest that they have been cut for too long and will not last the Christmas season, so buy another one. Cut trees last better and give a pleasant smell when kept in a container with water. Ask when you buy your tree ask to have 5cm removed from the trunk so that the tree can soak up water when you get it home.

We will have available as cut trees this year Norway Spruce, Lodgepole Pine, and Nordman Fir. We will not be stocking Noble Fir as the quality is not as we would like. We also stock a wide range of plastic or wrought iron tree stands to suit.

Also out in the plant area we have sledges, snow shovels, grit and rock salt so buy now before the snow falls and there is nothing left.

Our usual selection of gift and houseplants for Christmas will be instore from around the 10th of December. From small single hyacinths to large wicker baskets of mixed flowering and foliage plants we will have something to suit any and every pocket. As usual we will have our great quality Scottish grown Poinsettias and Cyclamen for quality that lasts.

Once again as highlighted in last months article please don't forget to feed our feathered friends this winter. We stock all the different types of food you could need along with feeders and bulk bags from Tom Chambers and Laverock Farms, take a look on your next visit.

FROM ALL AT CHRISTIES OF FOCHABERS MAY WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.