The winter solstice has happened, which means that as each day passes, the western hemisphere gains about one minute of daylight. Of course it will take some time before those daily gains make a difference in daily life. In January and February, storms often obscure the increased daylight, making it harder to pluck hope from … Read more
Winter is only one month old and even if the groundhog doesn’t see his shadow, it is going to be a long wait until spring. You can spend that time staying warm, perusing catalogs and tending the houseplants, but many of us miss being outside. “Outside” is not always congenial, due to seasonal drama provided … Read more
I have always envied gardeners who boast that they have something in bloom outdoors 365 days a year. In a cold winter climate that is just about impossible, unless you count the final fall flower remnants that somehow cling to blackened stems into January. I call that cheating and I won’t do it. At least … Read more
Winter can be beautiful, with bright clear mornings when the sun glints off fresh snow and the world looks pristine. Winter can also be ugly, with a succession of gray days interrupted only by the promise of mass transit delays and more snow shoveling. Either way, it helps—if only just a little—to have some color … Read more
I grew up in western New York State, where winters were long, snowy and frigid. But even under those conditions, gardeners loved their roses and did their best to safeguard them against winter’s worst. My father, who was a romantic and a rose lover, went through an impressive annual winter rose preparation ritual that required … Read more
