All throughout the land, on this first Sunday of Advent, on this eve of the first predicted snowfall of the season, gardeners everywhere are scurrying around putting the last of the garden to be bed.
Hoses. Check. Disconnected and hauled into the garage.
Pots. Check. Hauled into the garage or covered to keep them from getting too wet and freezing and then cracking.
Veggie Garden. Check. Covered in leaves, along with the figs.
Bulbs. Check. Planted.
Hey, wait a dog-gone, tulip-picking minute! What are those narcissus leaves doing all sprouted like that? Do they think it’s spring? Are they planning to skip the winter? Don’t they know they are on the edge of the front walk and are likely to be under snow cover soon?
What shall we do? Will they die? Will they look awful in the spring? Will they bloom?
One question at a time.
We shall do nothing. (That’s the royal we.)
They will not die.
They will not look awful in the spring.
They will bloom just fine and look about like this.
Okay. Good to know.
But what about this foliage popping up all over the garden?
What about it?
These are columbine popping up and they, too, will weather the winter just fine. They’ll grow new leaves, and there will be columbine flowers all over the garden in the spring.
Trust me. This is not my first winter in the garden.
I’m going to just enjoy this different kind of holiday greenery until it is all covered in snow.
Then I’m going to enjoy that too!
Welcome to Winter!
Yes, welcome winter.
Sadly, the deer and or rabbits will nibble away all the greenery from my columbine and coral bells. It's just the way it is and I've given up trying to do anything about it.
I see you get the same questions that I often do. They often begin with "whatever shall I do about…" and my answer is usually "let it be".
Hoping we GET some snow. Hardly any last year and this is zone 5. The only good thing about it was that the evil voles couldn’t make their tunnels to the flower beds. ☹️
It’s been a warm early winter here in Montgomery, Al and I’ve been wondering about the daffodils that have grown and bloomed-will they give me a repeat performance this Spring? Reading this is very reassuring, thanks (only been gardening a few years). I spotted a carpenter bee about the narcissus yesterday and was wondering if she’s too late for hibernation as it’s going into the 20’s tonight.