Winters Grip

It's mid March, a week ago we had a couple of warm days evocative of spring - the birds were singing, the snow was melting, dripping off the roofs, puddling on the sidewalks and then wham! Overnight the temperature dropped causing flash freezing, the roads became as slick as a skating rink and the next day we were back in winter's grip with blowing snow causing whiteouts and temperatures so cold one dared not venture out of doors.

It has been a long and cold winter here in central Ontario and I for one will be glad when spring finally decides to come. Until then I will have to continue to dream of spring and nature's re-emergence. Just looking at floral photos like this fuchsia give me hope that spring truly is just around the corner.

"Whether we look, or whether we listen,
We hear life murmur, or see it glisten;
Every clod feels a stir of might,
An instinct within it that reaches and towers,
And groping blindly above it for light,
Climbs to a soul in grass and flowers;
The flush of life may well be seen
Thrilling back over hills and valleys."

James Russell Lowell (1819-1891)
from "The Vision of Sir Launfal"

Book Review - "My Natural History" by Liz Primeau

"The garden is not the place for control freaks and perfectionists, and yet I know that in may callow youth I tried to make mine conform. I used to wish for the time when it would be finished, when it would reach the perfection I envisioned. Now I know it's going to be different every year, and I will have had less to do with how it looks than I'd hoped, beyond setting out the basic plan and guiding and maintaining the plants."

Liz Primeau

With the temperature outside dipping below -20º C, venturing outdoors results in nipped fingers and toes. So I opted for staying indoors and cozying up to the fireplace with a hot cup of tea and a good book. I do like winter for the opportunity it affords to get caught up on my garden reading. And so I settled down to read “My Natural History, The Evolution of a Gardener” by Liz Primeau, a fellow garden writer.

I enjoyed this chronology of Liz’s life and the role gardening has played in helping her to deal with the challenges life serves each one of us. The way in which digging in the soil, nuturing plants can act to nurture the soul and create a sanctuary of peaceful feelings. I can certainly relate to many of the gardening experiences Liz recounted such as the tomatillos that reseeded wantonly (who hasn’t planted something they later wished they hadn’t although it seemed like a good idea at the time). Liz’s tales of her battles with squirrels and raccoons had me chuckling as I too have a yard full of black squirrels who’s presence have me alternating between loving their antics and hating them digging my bulbs and last fall we too waged war to eradicate five raccoons from their happy home in our eaves.

Finally, as Liz and I are of the same vintage her “Six Stages of Gardening” hit home with me, and I’m sure others. When you’ve been gardening for a while, your concept of the garden matures and develops over time but is something that you must learn and experience. As Liz said, “…these stages echo the stages in our lives, from the desire for immediate gratification in our youth to the deeper and mellower pleasures of maturity.”

I found Liz’s memoir to be entertaining recap of her life’s connection to the garden and gardening sprinkled with garden history and floral references. Perfect reading for a wintry afternoon.

Liz Primeau’s book is available through Greystonebooks at www.greystonebooks.com

The Tranquility of the Chinese Garden

"So I will build my altar in the fields,

And the blue sky my fretted dome shall be,

And the sweet fragrance that the wild flower yields

Shall be the incense I will yeild to Thee."

S.T. Coleridge

It's one of those 'cloudy bright' days as my husband would say, the sun just barely shining through a film of gauzy clouds. The snow returned overnight, the gusty winds creating dramatic drifts of architectural sculptures and as I look out the window, our squirrels scamper in and out, over and under the drifts. It's been a long, cold winter and for some reason today I just began to dream about warmth and the return of the green landscape full of blooms and wildlife.

I was thinking about the garden and the cycles of life, remembering my trip last fall to the Chinese Garden in the heart of Portland, Oregon. Amid the hustle and bustle of downtown, shrouded by stone walls was an oasis of beauty and tranquility. I have now visited several Chinese gardens around the world and in each I find a special beauty in the simplicity of the plantings and the emphasis on the natural beauty of rock and water. And in this simplicity there comes a calm, a peacefulness that transcends time. Perhaps because Chinese gardens even today model those of the ancient past, a symbol of longevity and stability in an ever changing world. And yet as my reflective photo above shows the juxtaposition with the modern world of today. Sometimes I feel like the renowned author and illustrator Tash Tudor, who passed away last year, rooted in the past, straddling the abyss and yet being called to the future. But life as the seasons of the garden moves on and so must we. So today I will just enjoy the beauty and rest that has presented itself and continue to dream patiently about what is to come, remembering the ancient wisdom of this old proverb:

"Patience is a flower that grows not in everyone's garden."

The Essence of a Cottage Garden

Roses are the epitome of cottage gardening.

"What is the secret of the cottage garden's charm? Cottage gardeners are good to their plots, and the in the course of years they make them fertile ... But there is something more and it is the absence of any pretentious "plan", which lets the flowers tell their story to the heart."

William Robinson

I love this quote by William Robinson for it truly expresses the essence of the cottage garden. As I sit here watching big fluffy flakes of snow softly drift down to blanket by gardens I dream about my cottage garden sleeping quietly under its cozy quilt of white. Not only do I live in cottage country but I have always been drawn to the relaxed nature of a cottage garden. Perhaps that is why I have so many pictures of quaint English cottage gardens.

As Robinson says, the cottage garden lacks any prententious plan and although I do tell novice gardeners it is best to start out with a plan, my cottage garden has simply evolved over time. I guess my plan has always been in my head and not dedicated to paper. It is a loving collection of mostly common plants telling their story to the heart, since many of the plants came from friends gardens. I received them as gifts of love and when I walk around my garden and view the flowers I am instantly reminded of the relationships that I have with the gift giver or the occasion for which the plant was given.

I am not a plant collector but instead I love a variety of flowers, herbs, veggies and foliage that make up the style of a cottage garden. For me, a garden has to be not only pretty but productive. Aromas, textures, flavours and colours all combine in a delightful mix that is pleasing to the eye in an informal way. Each garden is a unique reflection of the gardener that created it and serves as a sanctuary, providing a restful respite for our daily cares.

Tips on Preparing for a New Garden Season

Winter in cottage country - the view from Huckleberry Rock in beautiful Muskoka.

Many years ago I developed a penned correspondence with a woman from the outskirts of New Orleans, Louisiana. When I wrote her about putting my gardens to bed, she wrote back saying, "You mean you don't garden all year round." Well, I had to explain to her that in the area I live, cottage country in central Ontario, come December our gardens are hidden under a blanket of white snow, enjoying a most welcome rest from the summer of heavy blooms. It is during this time that both plants and gardeners take a much needed break - rejuvenating themselves for the new garden season that is just around the corner.

While the garden sleeps, the gardener, even in a restful state, needs to be preparing for the new season so that no time is wasted when the good weather comes. If you haven't already started a list, now is the time. I like to start by listing the jobs I didn't get to last season - like digging up and rejuvenating the clump of Siberian iris that has developed a whole in the centre of the clump. What about that part sun/part shade lover that you planted in an area that's a little too shady. And don't forget jobs from the potting shed. I was a little too busy this fall to get my tools are cleaned and sharpened (that will jump to the top of the list when I can get access to the potting shed) along with a good cleaning and organizing of the shed (it seems just quite a few items were just shoved in at the last minute when the weather turned nasty instead of being returned to their rightful place).

If you've never kept a garden journal, it's never too late to start. A journal will help you remember all those tasks you want to do. You can also start planning your garden and keep track of weather conditions during the gardening season. If veggie gardening is your passion, a journal will also help you keep track of crop rotations. Remember to pair your written journal with a photo journal. It is a great help in reminding you what your summer garden looks like when it is covered in snow.

If you are considering changing your garden style or adding some new plant material, time to check out some garden books and seed catalogues. Garden books can provide you with inspiration and ideas if your garden is in need of a makeover. The seed and bulb catalogues can show you all the new plant varieties on offer. Come January you'll want to start ordering your seeds, especially if you plan on starting your plants indoors.

As I look out my window on the three feet of snow that is now covering my garden beds, I know that my plants are enjoying a well deserved, as am I, but for me it is a time to recharge my gardening spirit with my favouorite books dreaming of the new gardening season soon to be upon us.

"I love snow, and all the forms

Of the radiant frost;"

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

' Rarely, Comest Thou'

Perennials left standing capture the snow in fanciful patterns.