This week in your Massachusetts garden & landscape

There is so much more to write about, e.g., effects of the recent spell of frigid weather on plants in the landscape, care of holiday plants, selecting seeds and plants for the new growing season.  However, this is the one time of the year when I move gardening, albeit briefly, to the backburner so that I might focus most of my time and attention on family and friends.  It is a time to reflect on what is most important.

In that vein, the most poignant moment of the holiday season for me occurred ten years ago.  Our grandson – three and a half years old at the time – was playing Santa Claus.  Donning a Santa hat and carrying a sack (pillow case) filled with Christmas presents (foam blocks), he proceeded to hand out a block….uh, Christmas present, to each person in the room.  When asked why he gave only one present, he replied “You don’t need a lot of stuff to be happy.”

• Don’t throw away seed catalogs received in the mail, even if you intend to save on ever-increasing shipping and handling costs by shopping at your local garden center.  I use seed and plant catalogs as mini-encyclopedias to help in compiling my seed and plants lists for the upcoming year.  The pictures and descriptions are quite useful.

• Be daring; instead of getting traditional poinsettias with red bracts, buy some of the newer varieties such ‘Merry White’ with large white bracts, ‘Ruby Frost’ with creamy white bracts with ruby red margins and veins, or ‘Strawberries N’ Cream’ with holly-shaped bracts of mid pink, pale pink and cream. That’s life on the wild side for me.

• Go over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house.  Along the way, gather pine cones, seed pods and colorful fruits to adorn grandma’s wreaths.

Have a happy holiday and a very Merry Christmas!

 

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