Season’s greetings fellow gardeners,

“This morning is the coldest of the year since January”, spouts the TV weatherman this December 7th. Practically in the same breath, he forecasts temperatures reaching maybe 60 degrees in just a few days. Welcome to New England, right? A little sunshiney warm-up may feel like a nice reprieve to us, but not so much to plants. Freezing and thawing are detrimental to root systems and cause them to heave. Add that to overall drought conditions this year, and we have a potential recipe for stress and damage. With climate crisis upon us, we need to be evermore vigilant and adaptive.

*Judy’s row of garlic mulched 6” deep with straw.*

Tomorrow I will be applying a winter coat of 6” of straw to my garlic while the ground is good and cold. Also to be covered are some newly planted native perennials plus a few other plants that have suffered winter injury in the past. What this mulching accomplishes is a mediation of that freeze-thaw cycle, and doing this as the soil is freezing up helps it to stay that way.

I had mentioned in my November blog how important it is to keep plants well watered before winter’s onset. Before the last couple of rainfalls, I had been diligently watering, as it had been extremely dry. Plants transpire moisture (especially evergreens) all winter and can’t replace that moisture once the ground freezes. Several good soakings give plants a real boost. (Another hint*- applying an anti-desiccant such as Wilt Stop or Wilt Pruf when temperatures are above 40 degrees can also help alleviate moisture loss). For me, though, it’s the mulch applied where needed that puts my mind at ease and makes me feel confident that I’ve given everybody the best chance of making it through the winter. One more benefit? The deer and rabbits don’t see what’s underneath and tend to leave things alone. That is if they don’t remember from previous experience and paw through to reach my creeping phlox and low-growing euonymus. Well, just as this particular afternoon wanes, I approach the latter few uncovered clumps and notice that they have already been chewed. So far it’s rabbits- I know from their telltale droppings. But soon it will be deer. Aahh! On goes the Repels-All granules, the Vole Scram, plus a spray of Liquid Fence deer and rabbit repellent. On top of that, the straw mulch, and then more Repels-All granules. I’m gonna WIN!

Depending on snow conditions (and if there is unfrozen terrain in places), you will likely find me weeding in December, raking (it’s never done), and taming brush. (Yes, you’ve caught Gene chop-sawing some of that rather large brush for firewood 🤭🤫). Much as I hate short days, I guess they’re good for me. I have to concede. But the pull is still strong. Where are those tomatoes going next spring?…

Yes, it’s time to come inside- warm my backside against the woodstove- exchange a hot toddy for a cold beer once in a while. And for a few brief shining moments, Judith, just let go of the guilt surrounding all things neglected by spending all your time outside. It’ll all be there tomorrow, so goes the saying. Indeed it will.

So as I turn inward this and every holiday season, I reflect upon my blessings. Here on Nuthatch Knoll alone, I have spent 40 years creating gardens and diverse landscapes that have invited multitudes of wildlife. I have spent 45 wonder-filled years with Gene building a house, raising a beautiful daughter (dual effort for sure!), building a business, and now transitioning that business to a new generation within the family. I survived 3 strokes earlier this year and am still going strong for an old gal. I am profoundly lucky. So I shall make a pact to hug the ones I love more often, and I hope you will too. Be thankful for every kindness that comes your way, and give away your own kindness multi-fold in return. I figure that’s the way to make it through these times and all times.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanza one and all!

That’s it for now.

Judy

2024 December Musings

Nashua Farmers’ Exchange