This is the solstice, the still point of the sun

This is the solstice, the still point
of the sun - Margaret Atwood

Happy winter solstice. I love these moments in the astrological calendar. Rather than living by numbers on a page, we look skyward. I find it reassuring to think about earth’s elliptical orbit in these cold, dark and rather damp months. I become obsessed with the sun, its colours, its morning fogginess, its low light. Earlier this week I pulled over on my drive to work to watch it coming up over Cranbourne Chase. Grimmy was playing The Sun by Emma-jane Thackeray (Jitwam & EJT Remix) on 6 Music. It was a vibe.

In this month’s newsletter I’m festively swapping my project section for a list of last minute Christmas present ideas. Mostly for gardeners, naturally. And the usual snippets from home. If you make it all the way to the end you’ll even find an extract from a Margaret Atwood poem.

Looking ahead to next year, the projects on my drawing board are challenging, varied - and glorious. From Highbury villas with enormous retaining walls to Tudor manors with listed barns and chalk streams, and a few new builds in between. I will continue to share more behind the scenes in this newsletter… so stay tuned.

Until then, thank you for reading. And thank you to all my wonderful clients, friends and collaborators for your support this year.

I wish you all a peaceful end to 2025, and look forward to more adventures together in 2026.

love, Tabi

A snap from our Them Outdoors Christmas lunch at the Grosvenor Arms in Hindon - as ever, it was a family affair. Lenny was even matching the decorations.

9 LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS PRESENT IDEAS

Photography workshop at Batcombe with Eva Nemeth

Eva is one of the best garden photographers working today and she’s leading this amazing day long course at Batcombe House in Somerset. It’s a double whammy because Batcombe House just happens to be owned by Libby Russell, a legendary garden designer. More course info here.

The Kindest Garden by Marian Boswall

Marian is a wonderful garden designer and friend and I pull this book off my shelf daily. It is full of practical and poetic ideas on how to work with your garden, and how to put regenerative practices into place no matter what sort of space you’re working with. Here’s a link to buy it on World of Books.

The coolest, chicest gardening gloves….

Ever considered gardening in second hand ladies driving gloves? I have stolen this iconic idea from Isabel Bannerman, as told to Clare Coulson in the FT last weekend. I just think that gardening in second hand leather gloves is the chicest thing I’ve ever heard and now it’s all I want for Christmas. Etsy has lots.

Tabi Jackson Gee X Kent Wildflower Seeds Wildflower Workshops

There is still time to book a personal wildflower workshop for that last minute Christmas present… or send this to someone as a somewhat unsubtle hint? Each 1 hour long online session, priced at £250, includes accessible follow-up notes tailored to your space, plus a wildflower gift pack featuring a personalised seed collection and Kent Seeds’ iconic Rethink Your Weeds cap as featured in Sunday Times Style. Email studio@tjg-gardens.com to book.

Pastoral Gardens by Clare Foster, photographed by Andrew Montgomery

Another book that I keep near my desk at all times. Partially for pictures, partially for Clare Foster’s brilliant write ups, and party for the excellent reflections on what it means to be a gardener today, by some of the world’s leading designers. A feast of a book that you’d struggle not to be inspired by - no matter your occupation.

Garden Museum Membership

I love going to the Garden Museum in Lambeth and so does every other garden designer I know. Their program perfectly balances design, art, history, culture and yes of course horticulture - and they always have great talks on. Gifting a membership gets you access to all these things and more.

The Great Garden Escape

Perfect for Londoners who dream of countryside escapes; book them a day ticket to The Newt in spring 2026. You get travel there and back, first class, obvs - and food and drinks and all the ingredients for a very merry day out.

Handmade Lamps and Lampshades

My clever sisters Hum London have just launched their first lamp collection. I would say this, but it really is perfect in every way. As well as lamps they also sell lampshades that brighten and charm the dreariest of days. If you’re not sure what to get the interiors lover in your life, you can even take a shortcut and plump for a gift voucher. Visit their website here.

Ice Cream, You Scream

And last but by no means least - I’m cooking Christmas lunch this year and instead of Christmas pudding we’re having ice cream! Not just any old ice cream; Brickells ice cream. Visit their website to order your own Christmas bundle - including cinnamon toast and mince pie flavours. Yum.

IN MY OWN GARDEN…

PYRUS CHANTICLEER

HOT TREES

We planted three Pyrus calleryana chanticleer in the trial beds in the walled garden the first spring we were here; they held their leaves until a couple of weeks ago and lit up the garden with their magnificent colour. Highly recommend for a small garden, and they also look great planted en masse.

GREEN + BLUE

CHRISTMAS TREES

Other winter garden colour comes in the form of some autumn crocuses and the jolly sign of rosemary starting to bloom - I love the pale blue of their flowers against the mellow green of their foliage, so much so that I bought velvet ribbon the same colour for our Christmas tree. Blue and green should always be seen.

FORAGING

TRAVELLER’S JOY

On a walk the other weekend I stumbled across a hillside covered in clematis, dog roses and teasels. A forager’s delight. Clematis vitalba - also known as travellers joy or old man’s beard - has fluffy seedheads on quite stiff vines, making it really easy to twist and turn into your own arrangements.

This is the solstice, the still point
of the sun, its cusp and midnight,
the year’s threshold
and unlocking, where the past
lets go of and becomes the future;
the place of caught breath, the door
of a vanished house left ajar.

Extract from “Shapechangers in Winter” by Margaret Atwood

PLEASE SHARE MY NEWSLETTER WITH ANYONE YOU THINK MIGHT ENJOY IT…

TABI JACKSON GEE