Even in winter, our gardens need attention

December brings a calmness to the garden. Plants look a little rough but there is still plenty of activity if you quiet yourself and observe. Birds are foraging, frogs and insects are looking for the best locations to hibernate. A rogue yellow ranunculus is blooming, confused by the warm weather, and my hearty fuchsias continue to bloom. Garden tasks change to less planting and more preparation for winter. Now I focus on storm-proofing branches, turning off irrigation, and mulching. It’s time to organize, clean, sharpen and oil tools. It’s also an excellent opportunity to plan for next year and strengthen the garden’s biodiversity.

At the recent member event at the Orcas Historical Museum, we had the chance to solve a mystery and it was so fun to relate the activity to gardening. As gardeners, we are natural detectives. Planning and maintaining a garden require constant analysis of what is happening in the environment. As gardening detectives, we are inherently research-oriented, patient, and make decisions on its care based on observation. So first, I must walk around the garden to assess success and needed change.

As I learn, I make better decisions. This plant needs more sunlight. That plant needs more room. These roses need more air circulation. Another plant doesn’t like a wet soil and needs better drainage. I need more plants that bloom during the shoulder seasons to support the pollinators. Wouldn’t it be nice to have more winter color in the garden?

Wintertime offers a gift of time to put some thought into the garden and research how to enhance the wonderful environment you already have. I decided I needed more natives as pictured above. And of course, seed starting is just around the corner and that’s always magical.