The Winter Solstice has passed, and our days are now beginning the long, slow process of lengthening. The darkest day is behind us.
Looking at the garden from a window, one would think that it is lying dormant. Frost covers the ground, the trees are sporting bare, gray branches, the grass hasn't needed mowing in a few weeks and the colors all around are muted. Left over perennials--still uncut, but brown and dead looking--definitely make the garden appear as if life has left. But if you go outside and wander through the garden, things are very much alive.
Bright green spikes of snow-drops, crocus and grape hyacinth have pushed up through the earth. Some of the early tulips and narcissus are showing themselves as well. The early bulbs are slowing working themselves into flowers. Buds are swelling on camellias and rhododendrons, tiny pale green leaves are opening up on hydrangeas, and the spidery blooms of witch hazels are unfurling some much needed colors.
Winter blooming plants such as sarcococca and winter jasmine are in full bloom though the blooms are small. My mahonia 'charity' has bright yellow sprays of flowers. The two Anna hummingbirds who have wintered over with us are no doubt getting some nourishment from this plant. (That and fighting over the feeder when it isn't frozen!) The little birds are actively flitting among the shrubs, the robins and juncos are finding food in the half frozen lawn, the eagles still soar overhead.
Life is very much happening in the garden, it's just a little more subtle and quiet this time of year. And it's a good reminder that even in the darkest days of our season, even when everything looks half dead, life is bubbling away very near the surface. We just have to look a little more closely.
Happy New Year!!
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