TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON

T o E very t hingThere is a Se

When I was a kid I would listen to my dad’s old record albums - Neil Diamond, The Carpenters, Captain and Tennille, The Byrds….all the greats from the 60’s and 70’s. (I’m dating myself but let’s just say I’m a “seasoned” gardener.) Often, I’m reminded of the lyrics of a song by The Byrds:

Toeverything(turn,turn,turn) There isa season(turn,turn,turn) Anda time to everypurpose,underheaven A time to be born,a time to die A time to plant,a time to reap A time to kill,a timetoheal A time to laugh, a time to weep

Translate it however you wish but for me it reminds me of the garden. I think that we often forget about the four seasons we are blessed with in suburban Chicagoland. We hurry up and rush spring, we jump right into summer, and then all of sudden it’s fall so it’s time to put the garden to bed and think about the holidays. But we can’t forget winter in the garden. It’s a time to observe, to reflect, to remember what the garden gave us the past three seasons – sometimes we laugh…sometimes we weep! Sure, we aren’t outside much flitting about the garden, but do you ever wander the garden after a freshly fallen snow? It’s so peaceful and clean and there is so much to observe. Tracks of the little birds that have visited the seed heads of your coneflower you left untrimmed. The quiet rustle of the grasses held frozen in time by the first frost. Little puffs of snow on the tips of the evergreens. The damage the rabbits have already done… I love winter in the garden. It gives me time to rest. Time to absorb all of the information thrown at me during the regular growing season (do you know how many NEW hydrangeas are coming out in 2023??? I need a week just to learn their names…). I also love the peacefulness and calm of winter. As my kids get older, we have less responsibilities with them and have more time to ourselves. My husband and I have always taken advantage of winter to catch up on projects, dream up new gardens, and make long wish lists of things we want to do in next year’s growing season (like turn the veggie garden into a perennial border…). I always make a list of things I need him to build – trellises, stakes, supports, and hopefully this year, an arbor for some fragrant honeysuckle for my hummingbird friends. Poor guy is a teacher who never gets a break in winter or the summers off.

Season

Winter also allows me to reflect on how many great people in our community that I have gotten to meet – sharing our love for the outdoors. I thank all of you for including me in your garden planning, sharing your stories of success and gaffes, and for wanting to help our local ecosystem however you can. Take a moment to enjoy the winter and all it brings. Stop and see us this winter and we’ll get you a cup of coffee and chat about plants! From my family and the Wasco Nursery family, Happy Holidays!

Meagan is the Senior Landscape Designer at Wasco Nursery in St. Charles. She can be reached at 630-584-4424 or design@wasconursery.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!