Easter tree
Comments(14)
I have never made an Easter tree before. In fact I didn’t know about them until I saw one at Carol’s house. She had made it for her grandchildren to enjoy. And she loved it too.
A few weeks ago I chatted to Nicky who tends Anne Mary’s garden.
“I always make an Easter tree. I used to pretend that it was for the children but now they’ve grown up I’ve realised that it was always for me.”
Nicky added that if you leave the twigs in water they will eventually develop roots and you can plant these to make new hedges or trees for free.
Then I read this wonderful post on a good blog – finding simplicity that I have been enjoying recently.
I love the Norwegian tradition of cutting birch twigs and bringing Spring into the house a few days before Easter Sunday. The buds should unfurl into bright green leaves within a snatch of days. Put the vase somewhere warm a few days before the festival.
My tree doesn’t have the traditional Norwegian coloured feathers. The branches are beech rather than birch. But it was fun collecting the twigs and it’s the perfect opportunity to show off my friend Tessa’s present of delicate, decorative eggs. I’m already impatient for the leaves to appear and also to find our large box of Easter decorations. Lost and cheeping soundlessly somewhere in the cottage.
A favourite present at Cottage Smallholder is a magazine subscription. Danny gets PCPro and it lives in the loo. I love Country Living for its idyllic dreamy content and great photography. We use the Magazine Group site for the cheapest possible deals. Click here
Harvesting bags
R.I.P. Alfonso and Massimo. Could you eat your own chickens?
Belly of Pork with Morello cherries recipe
Dead fish stink
Biodynamic gardening update: July 2010
A grand day out
Pamela on 
dantom on 
Shereen on 
Claire on 
Lara on 
Brian Wood on 
Catrin on 
Amanda on 
Carol on 
Bib on 
fn on 
I’m so pleased to have inspired you
Unfortunately I’m not able to get out at the moment but my partner’s coming up on Friday for a week so he’ll find me some twigs, I’m sure.
Yours look stunning already, even without their leaves!
A tree with eggs and coloured feathers – I know two furry felines who would think this was a treat made just for them
Celia
unfortunatley being cat breeders a tree like that wouldnt stand a chance in our house!! very pretty tho and a wonderfull idea if you have young children… i used to love painting eggs for easter when i was a little boy!
I hardly do anything for Easter, but I like the twig idea. I keep meaning to do things like paint eggs and give them as presents, but they remain, just that – an idea. I’m going to make an effort next year.
Fiona? You can’t avoid that rammel in your barn forever. Go on, take a few photos and post them up.
yay for easter trees! my mum always does one too, we learnt the idea from some german friends of ours, and they are so bright and pretty! i’ve never done one here in italy, but now i want to!
happy easter weekend to you!
I started doing an easter tree when we lived in Holland- I use the cuttings from pruning the dogwood bushes in the garden,lovely!
Quote: ‘It was fun collecting the twigs’ . . . oh Fi, how I smiled. A neighbour’s 120ft Cypress tree was blown over during the gales into our garden earlier this month. A team of professional Tree Surgeons removed it (plus 2 others brought down at the same time). We have spent countless hours collecting twigs and debris from borders, paths and gravel areas, during the past week . . . I wouldn’t have called it FUN, and I certainly have no intention of bedecking the inside of the house with twigs!!!
Hi Sharon J
I am delighted with my Easter tree. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hi Magic Cochin
Inca managed to get onto the table but miraculously the tree survived!
Hi Stephen
Yes this would be a wonderful project to do with children. I loved painting eggs when I was a child too.
Hi Sally
I know the feeling. It’s all a question of time.
The little tree didn’t take long to make as I had the decorations to hand.
Hi Amalee Issa
Maybe I’ll do some photos over the Easter weekend. You are beating me down!
Hi nÃ
Happy Easter to you to nà . Thanks for dropping by.
Hi Kate(uk)
Dogwood cuttings would look superb!
Hi Mildred
Poor you. The tree must have done so much damage and made such a mess. I do hope that you get straight soon.
Hello!! Lovely to be here again. We did an Easter tree too this year. I bought a box of small wooden decorations before I went in. They were supposed to be a nice distraction/something for the boys to do while I was away. As I was fortunate enough to come home on Good Friday it was a team effort. I hung the last one on the tree and my heart literally sang as I was there to be part of it.
Thanks so much for the inspiration for the easter tree. I hadn’t heard of them before you mentioned it and I’ve absolutely loved making mine from some lilac branches. I just looked at your picture again and we have the same yellow felt chick hanging on ours too – great taste!! Hope you had a good easter.
[...] 26, 2008 The Coming And Going Of Life Posted by plumsource under Countryside, Life, tropical fish I loved making our easter tree.I hadn’t heard of them before but came across the idea at the cottage small holder blog. I gather it’s a Norweigan and German tradition. Find yourself some budding twigs, bring the little bit of spring into your house and decorate with easter fancies. Putting them in water makes the shoots open up. I remembered we had some ideal twigs hanging around after felling one of our lilacs so am pleased to be able to give these branches another lease of life. Didn’t get round to blowing and painting the eggs with natural food dyes (beetroot, onion skins, oh and bright blue food colouring from morrisons!) but there’s only so many hours in the day to be an earth mother. [...]
Hi Amanda
Welcome back from hospital!
I know the feeling, it’s horrid to miss out on a family tradition. Even if it’s one in the making.
So pleased that you are up and running (albeit in the stratosphere again!).
Hi Plumsource
D and I love our Easter Tree. Still just in bud but that’s fine.
D said this evening
“I love it because it’s exquisite and doesn’t take up the space of a Christmas tree.”
This is a fresh sprit. A Christmas tree is a totally different animal.
Thank you for this beautiful idea. I am new to your wonderful site. Have spent the morning blowing and painting egs with my girls, the dough for our hot cross buns is rising and we are now decorating our first tree. I have used fuschia twigs, do you think they will be good? Either way we are having a lovely time. Thank you