I am delighted to see several crocuses blooming in the lawn in the first days of February, our last full month of winter. I checked my garden journal, which I will admit contains mostly sporadic notes these days, and discovered that the crocuses have been in bloom this time of the year for the last several years. It was a good reminder to me of the difference between being surprised because something unexpected happened and being delighted because something nice happened as expected. Like … [Read more...] about Delights of the winter garden
winter
On the eve of February, some crocuses
On the eve of February, the first crocus buds poked up from the ground in the back lawn and looked around for signs of Spring. I call these early buds the scouts. They appear first and presumably, if all is well, they will sound the all clear and then crocuses will begin to pop up throughout the back lawn. Today, the crocus scouts found it chilly but not unreasonably so. One can be fooled by warmer days in the middle of winter so I hope they tell the other flowers to wait a bit … [Read more...] about On the eve of February, some crocuses
Getting ready for… February!
Snowdrop bud I've heard some rumblings from a few people concerned about me getting bored as we begin to walk through that big valley of winter called February. No worries. I'm all set. Ready to go. I've got plans. I've got seed catalogs and books. I've got little snowdrops I check on daily when I am out filling up the bird feeders, which I do on a near daily basis. I've got ideas ping-ponging between my ears. One of the ideas I had a few weeks ago was to sell my house and garden and move to … [Read more...] about Getting ready for… February!
Traveling along through life at the speed of the garden
Camellia in the snow, shivering. Dear Reader, I'm traveling along through life at the speed of the garden. And when it is winter, the garden moves along kind of slow. Everything is more or less frozen in place and not much looks different from one day to the next, at least as far as the trees and other plants, like camellias are concerned. I guess if you watched intently, you might notice the compost bin is slowly sinking as way down in the unfrozen parts, micro-organisms and other … [Read more...] about Traveling along through life at the speed of the garden
Winter Interest on the Warm Side of the Windows
Last year's lily of the valley blooms Winter interest? You mean winter interest outside in the garden where it is now cold? I like to admire the "winter interest" in the garden while standing on the warm side of the windows. Though, when I look outside now at the garden, mostly what I see is "fall laziness". That's right, fall laziness. I didn't do as much fall clean up as I usually do so there are plenty of perennials still standing, many of them likely slinging their seeds all over … [Read more...] about Winter Interest on the Warm Side of the Windows
Dear Mother Nature, I would like some winter
Geranium foliage, late fall Dear Mother Nature, I would like some winter, please and thank you. I love my winter. I don't want my winter to be like fall or spring. Winter gives me the freedom to leave the garden for a bit and turn my attention to other activities like reading about gardening, napping and dreaming about gardening, and convincing myself it is too cold to be out in the garden doing any actual gardening. When the temperatures in early winter are record breaking … [Read more...] about Dear Mother Nature, I would like some winter
