• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Carol J. Michel

Award winner author of gardening humor books

  • About
    • Contact
  • Blog
  • Books
    • Shop
    • Gardening Humor
    • Children’s Books
    • New – The Halloween Hare
  • Social
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
  • The Gardenangelists Podcast
  • Gardening Humor
  • Children’s
  • All Books

May Dreams Gardens

On a spring-like December day

December 3, 2012 By Carol Michel 8 Comments

Viola blooming in the winter lawn.

On a spring-like December day, when the high temperature was 63F, you can’t blame a gardener for chucking all other plans – plans for Christmas shopping, tree decorating, caroling, wassailing, egg nogging, decking the halls, addressing Christmas cards and writing her letter to Santa Claus and the Christmas Cottontail – so she could head out to the garden for some bonus gardening time.

After all, when Mother Nature presents us with a spring-like December day when she could present us with day that is quite wintry, it seems impolite and ungrateful not to go out to the garden for some extra gardening time.

I went out to my garden and found a viola blooming in the lawn.  I love to see these little flowers in my lawn and have some plans to try to get more of them to naturalize in the lawn next year. Stay tuned.

I was reminded that this is the early Christmas season when I saw the red and green of this geranium foliage.

Geranium x cantabrigiense ‘Biokovo’

I think these geraniums add more color to the garden in the late fall then they do when they are in full bloom in late spring.  Feel free to disagree.

Out in the backyard, I noticed how convenient it is for this rogue plant to still have green leaves on it.

Honeysuckle in the Viburnum

This makes it much easier to find this invasive interloper  and cut it out. You might be wondering if I cut this freeloading, fertilizer sucking shrub seedling out right after I took this picture.  Sadly, no.  I didn’t.  I’m not sure why not. But I will cut it out before the week is over.  I promise.

Out in the Vegetable Garden Cathedral, I put some chicken-wire fencing around the newly planted dwarf apple trees to keep the rabbits from gnawing on them this winter.

Rabbits – Do not eat the bark on the trees.

I have no idea of this fencing will keep hungry rabbits away from these trees. I’ll have to watch closely especially if we get some actual winter. If I find there are any teeth marks on these trunks, I’ll take swift action.

On a spring-like December day, I also did some more weeding. The weeding never ends. I don’t ever expect it to end. If you know how to put an end to weeding once and for all, you could make a lot of money selling your method to people like me who feel like they are constantly weeding, or if not constantly weeding at least staring at the weeds wondering why there are so many of them. 

Or maybe the answer is in my new-to-me book?

Secrets of Successful Gardening by R. Sudell

There’s only one way to find out.  If winter ever arrives, and there are no more spring-like December days calling me out to the garden, I’ll have some time to read through this book and see what secrets it reveals… maybe secrets about weeds.


*****


Don’t forget to celebrate all things fertilizer on International Fertilizer Day – 12-12-12. It only comes along once every 100 years.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: gardening, winter

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. ProfessorRoush says

    December 3, 2012 at 3:39 am

    I had my own spring-like December day yesterday….and I cleaned the front beds like spring was tomorrow and winter was behind. Maybe no winter this year, but I'll still hope for spring.

    Reply
  2. Heidi/IN woodland garden says

    December 3, 2012 at 1:36 pm

    I was lovin' it too and changed my plans for Christmas doing stuff, too! Got leaves chopped with the wood chipper and then put into my raised vegetable beds and attacked the invasive grass I ignorantly planted 3 years ago, which survives multiple applications of weed/grass killer.
    I see the honeysuckle still green all over our woods and wonder when I'll ever have time to dig it all out. Working in small batches doesn't seem to make a dent. What ever will you do today (Monday) when the temp reaches 70*, I wonder?

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    December 3, 2012 at 2:08 pm

    Must go check to see if some of those sweet little violas have come in my yard.

    Reply
  4. Rose says

    December 3, 2012 at 2:36 pm

    We've had these spring-like days, too, and I keep thinking I should finish up some garden chores, but I've been stringing up Christmas lights outside instead. If you find out a secret to cut down on weeding, I hope you'll share it–that would be the best Christmas present ever!

    Reply
  5. Cindy, MCOK says

    December 3, 2012 at 2:58 pm

    Our temperatures have been 15 to 18 degrees above normal and I am NOT HAPPY. It's going to be one of those non-winters here, I fear. Did I say that I am NOT HAPPY???!!!

    Reply
  6. Gardenbug says

    December 3, 2012 at 5:45 pm

    I need to put the chicken wire much higher because our snow drifts up to a yard high and the ****** bunnies can reach very high! I also put those ugly white tree coils on my young trees to keep mice from nibbling at their bases. My rabbits even munch on roses… Just sayin'. Hope all goes well for both of us!

    I'm enjoying today with its surprise sunshine and 47 degrees (F). Hope you are too!

    Reply
  7. redbrickbuilding says

    December 3, 2012 at 6:11 pm

    We are having a spring-like day in Boston today too (57 degrees, sunny and little wind). I was lured into the garden too, first to measure a bed I want to rework over the winter, then to cut back some straggly perennial foliage. I discovered some treasures too: another iris bud about to open and some tiny leaves buried under all the dead silver mound foliage. I was cheered to see buds on the lilacs and magnolia. What small, precious delights.

    Reply
  8. Helen Malandrakis says

    December 3, 2012 at 10:13 pm

    It's been a great day! My scabiosa is still pretty. I wonder how long it will hang in1

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Updates from Carol Michel

* indicates required
Email Preferences

Categories

  • Blog (3,148)
  • Internal (2)

Blog Tags

annuals Blogging books bulbs dr. hortfreud embrace fairies fall family flowers fruits garden bloggers bloom day garden bloggers book club garden design gardeners gardening gardening geek gardens hoes holidays hortense hoelove houseplants humor indoor gardening insects lawn letters to gardening friends perennials rabbits reviews Secrets seeds shrubs spring tools trees vegetable garden vegetable gardening vegetables weather weeding weeds when a gardener wildflower wednesday winter

The Gardenangelists Podcast with Dee Nash

Gardenangelists Podcast

Footer

Gardenangelists Podcast with Dee Nash

Gardenangelists Podcast

Connect

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • maydreams icon

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Books
  • May Dreams Gardens
  • Podcast

Updates from Carol Michel

* indicates required
Email Preferences

Sign up for my new substack newsletter

Copyright © 2023 · CarolJMichel.com · Sitemap · Privacy Policy

Book purchase links are affiliate links and Carol earns a small commission if you make a purchase.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT