Part 2: Inside Our Garden-Inspired French Cottage Christmas Tour

A Garden-Dressed Holiday Welcome at Old Castle Cottage

Stepping outside, the holiday magic continues as the garden transforms into a cozy winter welcome. I wanted to share the containers, wreaths, and foraged arrangements because they perfectly capture the Old Castle Cottage holiday style: garden-inspired, budget-friendly, and always rooted in nature.

The first items greeting you at the front door are the matching vintage winter planters that frame the entryway. Using a mix of foraged greenery and a few fresh stems from Trader Joe’s, these containers come to life with layers of blue-tinged cedar, long-needle pine, magnolia leaves, dried hydrangeas, foraged cones, and birch branches, I also purchased blueberries and faux pears but you can use what you have on hand.

I love how they add a cottage feel and tie beautifully into my indoor holiday palette. These planters prove that you can create lush, timeless arrangements without spending a fortune all it takes is a walk around the property and a creative eye.

To complement the planters, a Trader Joe’s cedar garland drapes over the doorway. This year I added dried hydrangeas, lichen covered branches and dried alliums creating a seamless transition from the outdoor garden to the French cottage charm in.

On the front door hangs a beautiful magnolia wreath from Jackson & Perkins, chosen intentionally to echo the magnolia woven throughout my indoor décor. The rich caramel-backed magnolia leaves, cedar sprigs, and blue frosted pinecones make it the perfect bridge between the natural winter garden and the cozy cottage rooms inside. 

These wreaths also make incredible holiday gifts, They arrive fresh, beautifully packaged, and ready to hang. Perfect for neighbors, teachers, hostess gifts, and anyone who loves timeless garden-inspired decor. Use code OLDCASTLE15 for 15% off.  

Let’s head to the parterre garden which is one of my favorite spots to sit drink hot coco and watch the birds.  On the outdoor table, I created one of my favorite seasonal touches, a homemade birdseed holiday house, displayed on a glass cake stand and surrounded by a fresh winter wreath. It makes the sweetest woodland centerpiece and keeps our winter birds happy all season long.

Birdseed Holiday House Tutorial

You’ll need:

• Graham crackers – I used a Trader Joe’s gingerbread house kit 
• Royal icing – If comes in the kit 
• Birdseed mix (sunflower, millet, oats)- I used songbird mix and oats 
• Peanut butter (organic) – I used Teddi 
• Cornmeal 
• Dried berries or cranberries
• Rosemary sprigs
• A base (cake stand or wood slice)

Instructions:

1. The first thing I do is frost all the pieces with peanut butter.  I mix the peanut butter with cornmeal for a thicker texture but you don’t have to.
2. Press birdseed into the icing, covering all surfaces.
3. Assemble the birdhouse using royal icing or if you prefer a hot glue gun.  Birds can’t have sugar so use icing sparingly 
4. Add decorative touches like cranberries, oats, and rosemary sprigs. 
5. Place the house on your stand and surround it with fresh greenery or a small wreath.
6. Set outdoors and watch as birds discover their winter treat! Please make sure temperatures are below 50 you don’t want peanut butter to melt .

It’s fun, charming, and makes a perfect gift for nature lovers. I also have linked here some of my favorite gifts for our bird loving friends. 

Beside the centerpiece sits the Jackson & Perkins tabletop Christmas tree, decorated with simple pinecone birdseed ornaments that add to the woodland theme. I love these trees to use inside and out and they make perfect gifts.  If you remember I used them inside in Santa’s woodland cabin. I also ordered for a Christmas gift for an elderly friend who doesn’t put up a tree. 

While the parterre is softly rimmed with lights for the season, the true showstopper in my opinion remains the large garden urn filled with winter greenery, berries, magnolia, birch branches, dried Iris seedheads and dried hydrangeas these were all foraged or purchased from Trader Joe’s. The lights simply highlight the garden’s natural structure, giving it a quiet winter glow without overwhelming its cottage charm. 

This year I added a new garden gate which was one of my favorite additions in 2025.  On the garden gate door hangs another gorgeous Jackson & Perkins wreath, bursting with magnolia, pinecones, evergreens, and berries. It adds a brilliant pop of color against the white barn-style door and ties the entire outdoor palette together. These make beautiful gifts, They are long lasting, elegant, and full of natural texture that suits any home.

Thank you for strolling  through the small outdoor holiday garden touches with me here at Old Castle cottage.  I am so grateful you are here. I hope these simple, garden gathered ideas bring warmth and creativity to your own outdoor spaces this holiday season.