CATEGORIES
All things must pass
When George Harrison first saw the famous Topiary Garden at Friar Park, it was a tangled jungle of overgrown yews. The work he began has been continued by his wife, Olivia, and, now, the display is back to its full glory, finds Charles Quest-Ritson
And that's an unwrap
A diamond-encrusted tortoise, a humble pencil case and a cursed jewel: Felicity Day unwraps some of the best and worst presents given in literature
A guide to modern table manners
Formal dining is no longer the minefield it once was. Annunciata Elwes identifies points of etiquette that have been dispatched, retained, revised and added
Not for the faint-arted
The forthcoming London Art Week is so packed with exceptional works, from a melancholic Landseer landscape to a bold painting of children by Joaquín Sorolla, that collectors will need exceptional stamina to see it all
Doing a sterling job
The contents of your silver drawer deserve closer inspection, believes Christopher Wilson, as he explores the precious metal's desirability through the ages
Cuba's greatest hits
Por Larrañaga dates back to 1834, making it one of the oldest Cuban cigar brands, but it's not a name you hear requested much in cigar-smoking circles. That is now changing, with a new edition arriving in time for the festive season
I'm berry fond of you
Holly-a symbol of eternal life-thrives throughout even the harshest of winters, says Lia Leendertz, as she explains how to make the most of its scarlet-red berries when decorating your home for Christmas
The stuff of salvation
Forever wed to onion for a tasty stuffing, the versatile sage leaf was also once used to wash 'the secret parts of man or woman'
The scents that came in from the cold
Fragranced plants may be harder to come across in winter months, says Lia Leendertz, but a little effort will reap deliciously sweet-smelling rewards both inside and outside the home
Present danger
AS most of the garden settles into a state of restful melancholy, there are a few plants that are stirring themselves towards an unseasonal flamboyance.
Going full tilt
Warped, twisted and wonderfully wonky, who can fail to be intrigued by the quirky glory of Britain's medieval buildings? Rob Crossan explores the asymmetrical charm of the crooked house
Better to have loved and listed
It seems odd to pay an insurance premium for listed buildings.
Wood you rather
Meticulously executed programmes of restoration and renovation have left three medieval masterpieces well equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century
Raise your glass
Restoration jobs may be keeping the craft alive, but why aren't we commissioning new stained glass? Mary Miers immerses herself in a world saturated in colour
He who pays the piper
Learning a language is one thing, getting to grips with a pig in a poke is another altogether. Octavia Pollock explores some of our best idioms
Hitting the sweet spot
How did an imported Eastern delicacy become a favourite of our Tudor monarchs and an enduring British Christmas staple? Matthew Dennison discovers why so many of us love marzipan
What to serve when
Village drinks? Teenage gatherings? Carol singers? Christmas and Boxing Day lunch? Wine savant Nicola Arcedeckne-Butler MW has a wine for every festive occasion
Well, isn't that just the icing on the biscuit?
Gin and tonics, first-aid assistance and hugs are all on the menu at Biscuiteers, where there is always a reason to biscuit'
I'll have a side of drama, please
Tableside cooking is nothing new, but modern-day diners have forgotten how fun it can be, says Tom Parker Bowles, who makes his case for its renaissance
Glory of the garden
Flower farmer and florist Rachel Siegfried uses woody plants and perennials to bring colour to late-season arrangements, three of which she has made for COUNTRY LIFE
Mastered in every detail
The stories of Henry James are full of descriptions of country houses. Jeremy Musson explores the messages these houses convey, with the help of specially commissioned drawings by Matthew Rice
Claus for celebration
Lights and turkeys and bells, oh my! Embrace the festive spirit with Amie Elizabeth White's A to Z of Christmas
County of contrasts
The Garden of England provides the ideal backdrop for three beautiful country homes
Time and tide wait for no avocet
On a lonely November day at Thames end, where the wildness of Nature is intensified by the closeness of our capital city, John Lewis-Stempel is happy to be accompanied only by the birds of the mudflats
Cure and simple
Flavoursome and flourishing, the British air-dried sausage offering is catching up with its Continental counterparts
As hard as nails
Known as ironwood thanks to its ability to blunt saws, the densely muscular hornbeam is often overlooked and frequently misidentified
Enjoy your winter greens
THE minor early-19th-century poet Thomas Hood is best known for writing ‘I remember, I remember, the house where I was born’, listing roses, violets, lilac and lilies. Less well-known is his gloomy November poem, which begins:
Devoted to daphne
The bewitching scent of daphnes hangs heavy in the winter air, making them an essential plant at this time of year
Betty, Belle and other stories
leaves the city behind to go wild in Exmoor in a Land Rover Defender
The devil is in the detail
Devil’s Dyke? Satan did it. The Devil’s Shovelful? Guess who. The Devil’s Punch Bowl? Actually that one was giants. recounts some imaginative explanations for our ancient monuments