Please, dear birds, can I have a bit of my holly ?

morganlefay

Sorry, I'm new on this forum, so hope this hasn't been asked before: I have a nice holly tree which is currently gleaming and sparkling in the sun, covered in red berries and just lovely. But I know that come Dec 24th when I'd like just a few sprigs to decorate the pud and a few for the house all the berries will be gone. OF COURSE I know the birds' need is much greater than mine, but I think I might be allowed a handful of sprigs. Last year I picked a few early on (Nov, I think) and put them in the cool, in a bucket of water but by Xmas day they had got all wizened and the leaves dried up. Does anyone know how I might preserve just a few sprigs for Dec 25th (I really don't want to put a net on the tree - I think that's not kind to the birds) Any ideas most gratefully received........

Lotus-eater

Why don't you net a small area of the tree, that way you and the birds both get what you want.

baz_chaz

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Why don't you net a small area of the tree, that way you and the birds both get what you want.

Thats pretty much what we do, if you have a couple of branches that are quite handy loosly tie it up in a bundle and put a carrot or onion sack over it

kippers

Funnily enough I read this in a magazine yesterday...it says to pick the holly with berries on and put them into a bucket of moist compost and leave until christmas and the berries should still be there.

I don't know if it works but the magazine says it does