January: The sun is low on most January days, but my hopes are high. When I walk the garden during the winter, I hope to find solace in Nature. As I look around, the trees, void of leaves, show me structure and strength. They make me feel stronger with every step I take.

January is also an excellent time to look back on your gardening year and to plan for the year ahead. Walk around your garden and take photos. Seeing your garden through the lens is telling, and looking at these pictures can help you see where you may want to make changes. Your mind can block out clutter to give a more settled view. Take a picture of your garden areas as they are now, and notice what clutter can be changed and accept or hide what can’t. Even better, photograph your garden each month as a photo journal of what is blooming and when.

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The Back 40 (ft) North to South—Picked up bagged leaves from streets to add here

The Back 40 (ft) South to North

Gazebo Corner—Picked up the chestnuts and raked leaves into beds.

The Epimedium Patch—Picked up the chestnuts and raked leaves into beds.

The Wildflower Patch Extension—I’m not hopeful the epimediums the rabbits ate to a nub will return.

The Wildflower Patch—This area is coming along.

The Southside

The Ostrich Fern Garden—It doesn’t look like much now, but wait til spring!

The Front Fountain Garden—The Japanese Glass Floats are stealing the show!

The Blackberry Patch with Chimney Swift Tower

The Food Forest Extension

The Front Beds

The Parterre—I’m happy with these beds as annuals. I don’t have to think!

Rock Garden

The Raspberry Patch

The Pollinator Garden—The transplants from the NC State Fair that make up this redo are doing fone.

The Blackberry Patch

The North Side—This is looking gorgeous!

The Girl’s Garden

The Wildlife Pond

Mixed Border, North to South

Mixed Border, South to North.

SNAKES: WONDERING WHAT SNAKE IS IN YOUR BACKYARD? CLICK HERE FOR AN EASY ID.

GLOSSARY

Until soon,

Helen

#WeCanAllBeeBetter!