Winter
Sleeping Borders
I didn't have a good excuse for not getting bulbs since the temperatures were still in the fifties, so bought a couple of bags at the last minute and planted daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses before the wind brought the first snow flurries.
It's been the hottest year yet, and the next one promises to be warmer still, so I'm expecting to see hellebores in bloom in a couple of months.
The garden looks beautiful in its dormant state, thanks to the mild and humid weather that has kept everything vibrant green.
The sun is shrouded by thick clouds, and that is just as well. Its light would be too harsh for this state of peaceful repose.
As I wander the garden path half hidden by the soft fog of the morning, I realize I really like December.
It's not fall anymore, but it doesn't feel like winter either: it's an entirely different season, gentle and enveloped in soothing mist.
The winter garden holds a unique tranquility that extends beyond silence, a gentle and comforting peace.
Armchair Gardening
I'm daydreaming next year's garden, which is a crucial gardening responsibility.
You can't have a satisfying result without a plan.
The latter falls to the wayside, of course, the second one steps inside a plant nursery at the beginning of the season.
Its extensive selection holds the temptation of surprising choices and getting distracted by whatever varieties nature favored that year, which always look their best.
The coneflowers and daisies didn't last as long as expected, so they'll need to be replaced. I'm hopeful that some of the baby perennials I planted last spring and deemed lost will prove me wrong.
I have healthy carpets of violets and lily of the valley that naturalized in my garden skipping the year they were planted as proof that happens.
I need to clear the ground around the small lilacs, the lemon balm tends to get invasive. With extra space from the short-lived perennials, I'm considering planting another rose.
The rest is Chef's Choice, and I'm actually looking forward to the surprise.
The Scent of Summer
Scent holds a powerful connection to our seasonal nostalgia.
The scents of summer bring back memories - the aroma of freshly cut grass, the refreshing scent of mint on a hot afternoon, the earthy fragrance of plantain lilies after rain, the sweet smell of heliotrope, the captivating aroma of evening stock, and the intense clove scent of pinks.