I was born an optimist. I was probably born a gardener, too, though that didn’t manifest itself until after I could walk and talk. It is in my nature to look for signs of hope, especially in the natural world. Thankfully, those signs are almost always present, if you look carefully. As the New Year … Read more
Every year there is a moment in February when the urge to garden hits me with a vengeance. That moment has arrived. Now I have to decide what do to about it. This winter has given our part of the world weeks of mild, gray weather, followed by one bad snowstorm, followed by a short … Read more
It is one month since the winter solstice and the daylight is making its tentative return. The winter so far in my little corner of the world has been a succession of long gray days with an occasional dusting of snow to remind us of the season. Most days I am able to cast encouraging … Read more
It has taken an extra month this year, but the hellebores have finally come into their own. Over the past few days, I have made circuits of the garden, gently raking away the dead leaves that camouflage new growth and clipping away last year’s ratty old foliage to free the flowers. Newly liberated, they open … Read more
The winter solstice, now just past, is an annual event that has resonated with people in the Northern Hemisphere for thousands of years. Though the change is almost imperceptible, small fingers of light are beginning to unravel the edges of the fabric of winter darkness. The optimist in me rejoices. We haven’t yet celebrated the … Read more
