The Month is February, the Year is 2021 and I See A Brighter Light Ahead
Helleborus ‘Cinnamon Snow’, from author’s garden, Feb 1, 2021
I See A Brighter Light Ahead
It was hard to belt out Auld Lang Syne with feeling when there was no one with whom to celebrate the New Year. Such was the Year of The Beast!
Not only on New Year’s Eve but on nearly every other reason when, in normal times, friends and family would revel in their company. The words, made popular by Scottish poet Robert Burns, is “For the sake of Old (Auld) Times”. Seems to me that the demise of 2020 should have been toasted everywhere. Finally, the year 2021.
However, for me, January has given Susan and I a whole lot of things to celebrate. My adopted country and my adopted state provided bundles of glorious light in the elections. I am not naïve, I don’t expect those who stormed our democracy in January to ever see the same light I see, but to me and millions of others, we have many more reasons to celebrate.
But not only have those events provided reasons for hope, we are halfway home.The vaccines will bring us further. In mid-January, we received our first shot of the Pfizer vaccine. When you read this, hopefully we will have received our second. Not for a minute will I take off my mask around strangers, but the light at the end of the tunnel is brightening, by this fall, we may be hugging our grandkids and joining others on real garden treks. I have three garden talks, that are going virtual in the next month or so, and I for one will be glad never to have to say the word “zoom” again.
I hope I have not bored you to death about how Covid has shown truths too long brushed aside. How Covid has revealed the need for people to play in the dirt, to plant a tomato, to learn what a succulent is, and to revel in the simple joy of watching seeds emerge. I can’t wait to see Covid fade away, but I don’t think our fortune at choosing “The Garden” as a hobby or as a career will ever fade away. We always have something to look forward to, and we are hooked.
Speaking of being hooked…
Can you believe I have resurrected my old love of African violets. I was so nerd-like in my twenties that I actually belonged to the African Violet of the Month Club. As the damn things kept piling up, my wife quickly realized her choice for a husband needed serious questioning. However, I recently bought a few for my indoor garden (no Clubbing allowed), and must say they are significantly better than those I remember. If Covid is keeping us in, might as well garden inside. You can see my thoughts on these on my App and on my YouTube page. People reading this letter are no different than any others but we have one thing in common that many others do not; we always have something to look forward to.
While there may be snow on the ground and bitter winter winds outside, spring will come and we might want to try a few new plants for the garden. I have talked about many of my favorite plants on my YouTube channel, you won’t run out of ideas if you follow me there.
Must Haves…
For today’s newsletter, here are a few more of my must haves. If possible, shop locally, the Independent Garden Centers are equipped for social distancing and need your support far more than Amazon. However, if online is your only option, many of my recommended online sources are on my App.
Oriental/Asiatic lilies: I can’t be without them! Easy to find, easy to garden with and oh my, they provide such pleasure in the spring and summer.
Hellebores: I have been singing the praises of the new ‘Frost Kiss’ series for some time. Spectacular season-long foliage, fabulous flowers, no deer pressure and shade tolerant.
Baptisias: Native, persistent, beautiful in flower, interesting fruit and available in many handsome colors. If my garden were larger, I would have a dozen. As it is, I plan on buying two more.
Gerbera daisies: One of the best choices for flowers on the deck and patio. I love the Garvinea series, but many fine ones are now available. Annual in much of the country, but often perennial south of zone 7.
Clematis: My garden is so small it is already stuffed with plants. So I go vertical. I have planted climbing roses, black-eyed Susan vines, moonflowers and trumpet vine. However, the easiest and prettiest for me is clematis. I have my favorites, but love them all.
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Award Winning.
Gold: Publisher/Producer: Book (Technical/Reference)
Herbaceous Perennial Plants, Stipes Publishing LLC
Gold: Writing: Book (Technical/Reference)
Herbaceous Perennial Plants; A Treatise on their Identification, Culture and Garden Attributes, Fourth Edition, Dr. Allan M. Armitage
Silver: Publisher/Producer: Book (Technical/Reference)
Herbaceous Perennial Plants, Stipes Publishing LLC
Silver: Writing: Book (Technical/Reference)
Herbaceous Perennial Plants; A Treatise on their Identification, Culture and Garden Attributes, Fourth Edition, Dr. Allan M. Armitage
The “bible” of perennial books; this is a must-have reference to the world of herbaceous perennial plants. The book provides easy-to-read information for over 500 genera, species and cultivars used in the gardening and landscape trade. Changes in taxonomy, detailed information on morphology, and Dr. A.s thoughts on perennials, gardening in the South and North, along with many other topics make this an important book for professionals and gardeners alike.
Available in both softbound & hardbound, For people who will be using this book “a great deal”, hardbound is highly recommended. Make sure you check softbound or hardbound.
1092 p