Stepping into another New Year feels like stepping into a whole new world of possibility. There's something magical about the quiet stillness of Winter that allows us to take a step back and reflect on the last year's lessons, and daydream about the next year with a childlike playfulness. Personally, some of my best understandings, realizations, and ideas all come from the dark of Winter.
Reflecting back on this past year, I see patterns in the changing seasonal weather. At the Nursery, we took on a huge project erecting shade structures and expanded our watering system to combat our hotter drier summers with more intense sun. Life can be hard for plants before they get in the ground, and it was a joy to see the young, tender plants thrive with more ease by being kept just a little cooler. However, this shift with the shade and water also created more chores: it turns out the grasses and weeds around the edges of the nursery enjoyed the protection and extra water, too! I think instead of a Win/ Win, I'll call this one a Win/Learn.
That's a fun part about working with plants, though... it's always an act of learning. Gardens are laboratories for experimental minds. Take a moment to reflect on the past year in your garden. What worked well? What didn’t? Did the summer heat push plants to their limits? Did unexpected pests challenge your patience? Every obstacle is another opportunity to learn. This year, consider how you might adapt your approach to create a space that’s more resilient, abundant, and joyful.
While an extensive shade structure makes more sense for the Nursery than a home garden, you might be looking for a little more protection from heat and direct sun for some of your plants, too. Maybe your garden design could benefit from a combination of edible and ornamental plants, or maybe you have an area that naturally gets more shade and has been underutilized. Maybe this year, a little more mulch will go a long way in keeping your plants insulated.
Whatever adjustments you realize your garden needs for the upcoming year, remember: Gardens often reflect their caretakers. When we invest time, creativity, and care, our gardens flourish. They become not just places to grow our food and flowers, but sanctuaries that mirror our personal growth. What do you want your garden to say about you this year? Perhaps it’s a space for experimentation, a haven for wildlife, or simply a quiet retreat where you can reconnect with yourself.
As you spend this time of winter reflecting and mapping out your garden dreams for the coming year, remember that no garden is ever truly finished. Gardens evolve, just as we do. This season, let’s dream big. Let’s plant with intention and care, and create gardens that aren’t just a reflection of our hopes but also a testament to our resilience and adaptability.
Here’s to a year of growth, learning, and blooming—both in the garden and beyond.