There are many things to love about this time off year. It's time to kick back and savor the splendor of the harvest; the brilliance of the fresh snow; and the smell of winter squash baking. This week, I'm planting paperwhites in small pebbles, geraniums fill every window, and the Cymbidium orchid is in full bloom. Gardening is clearly a year round love affair.
In Vermont, it was a late fall, with only a light frost in October that took out the tender tomatoes and beans. The hardier annuals such as calendula, anise hyssop and ground hugging nasturtiums thrived until the end of the month, producing flowers for the bees. Snow fell early, freezing the soil before I could plant all of the bulbs. A lesson to remember for next year.
As the garden comes to a close, it's a good time to reflect on the success and failures, make notes and possibly plan out a new garden design. I'm excited to announce a new program: Kitchen Garden Design Workshop in my Vermont garden. If you are considering changing up your garden, simplifying the design or making a new addition to your edible landscape, this workshop is for you.
If this sounds like something you'd like to try, contact me and I'll send along details. You can also learn from my on-line design class in the comfort of your own home. To make the most of this quieter season, here's a quote from Roman philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero, "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."
As Always,
Ellen Ecker Ogden
www.ellenogden.com
Author and Lecturer
