January is the quietest month in the garden.
. . .But just because is looks quiet
doesn’t mean that nothing is happening.
The soil, open to the sky, absorbs the pure rainfall
while microorganisms convert tilled-under fodder
into usable nutrients for the next crop of plants.
The feasting earthworms tunnel along,
aerating the soil and preparing it to welcome
the seeds and bare roots to come.
~Rosalie Muller Wright
I’ve heard it said that “the color of springtime is in the flowers” whereas “the color of winter is in the imagination.” Thankfully I’ve got a good imagination, and when that fails, I have a large collection of photos to look back on because by the end of January my spirit is in dire need of a boost. A place I like to frequent also helps to keep my imagination alive and well. It’s a nursery, and this particular Dallas nursery not only has a great selection of flowers during the growing seasons, but year round it has all sorts of indoor plants too. In addition to the plants it has an oak cabinet with drawers full of fascinating seeds, racks of seed packets, shelves filled with gardening books, and an array of tools. So between the plant and seed catalogs that start arriving in the mail after Christmas and my visits to Nicholson-Hardie’s nursery, the “dream” is kept alive even when the under-the-surface busy but ravaged-atop January garden appears to be completely shut down. And it is this “stuff” of which gardener’s dreams are made that keeps my imagination churning and my head full of schemes, schemes that are the spice of a gardener’s life. What a blessing is our memory, our imagination, and our ability to dream; God is so good.
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving. ~Psalm 69:30 ✝
Sacred Touches 
Pingback: 260. The shortest day has passed, and whatever nastiness of weather we may look forward to in January and February, at least we notice that the days are getting longer. ~Vita Sackville-West | Sacred Touches
Your words are very encouraging for those of us waiting for Spring, waiting for the garden to wake…Love the photo.
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Oh, it’s coming. The waiting is the hard part. That’s why I try to find ways to keep the dream alive. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
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OOooo what a fun place to visit–eye candy for the soul of a gardner to be sure. Yes, color is something that truly is lacking—soon, soon my friend —hugs to you 🙂
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Oh yeh, you’d love this place and I’d love to take you there. Hugs to you too, Cookie. Natalie 🙂
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The color of winter is many fold. Just look at the flying color!
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Indeed it is. Blessings, Natalie
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Vita’s thought is the only thing that keeps me going…think I have to start building an ark if the rain continues. My beloved bulbs and plants will probably rot in the ground, oh dear!
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Wow, and we haven’t had a drop of rain since our ice storm last November. Wish you could send yours our way. Have a good week, Annette. Hugs, Natalie 🙂
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In another week or so I shall be sowing the first of the seeds.. the greenhouse keeps me going through February. I would love browsing through those oak drawers!
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It’s getting closer and closer to the growing time, isn’t it?! Have a great week, Jessica. Hugs, Natalie 🙂
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Wünsche dir eine glückliche schöne neue Woche.Liebe Grüße von mir Gislinde
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Ich wünsche Ihnen eine schöne Woche zu, Gislinde. Segen, Natalie
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My goodness Natalie you must be the happiest gardener I know. keep up the good work, spring will be here for you soon. 🙂
Cheers
Laurie.
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