It's been cold in the garden lately. February was a mix of rain and snow with lots of chilly days and nights you had to put on plenty of layers to brave the cold!  But today is different. There's a warm breeze and the sun is shining brightly! And the crocus, whose blooms have remained tightly closed against the cold,have opened in all their golden glory! Could it be - is the spring really coming? We shall see but for now we'll enjoy the first garden blooms and dream...

It's hard to believe that we are already halfway through winter here in the Northern hemisphere. Candlemas marks the cross quarter day when the light of the sun continues to grow as we leave the dark days of winter behind .. We are being born again into the light! Some cultures celebrate by lighting candles and placing them all over the house to signify the return of the sun. Here in the garden, many of the bulbs are starting to pop out of the ground and the roses are forming little red leaf buds, ready to sprout as soon as the days become warmer. This morning I spotted something yellow in the garden and lo'n behold, a bright sunny daffodill had blessed us with her early beauty! The light has returned!!!

It's a New Year and what an amazing year it will be! With so much changing on the Planet, whether we're speaking of climate change or the various social movements around the world in response to women's equality, racial equality, gender fluidity or the importance of new thinking in regards to Animal and Earth rights, all will find a bigger voice in 2019! It's only just begun, so let's create a bigger world with love. Here in the Northern hemisphere where I live, it's wintertime and the season to go inward and dream and plan for our own personal New Year. We can look to Mother Nature as she is doing the same thing as her plants and insects slowly return to the soil to nourish next year's growth. It's all connected and what is created - whether through us or through Nature, will become our future. So in the quiet days of winter dream well my fellow gardeners, as out of the womb of darkness comes the light of creation. And let that light shine!!!

What an amazing season it has been! Despite the adversity of heat,wind and smoke, the garden continued to shine for a good long season. We are truly blessed and now the garden can rest in Winter's silence. So here are the last splashes of the Fall season-enjoy!

The days are crisp and the skies are blue and the sun's rays are radiant in a clear autumn sky. Most of the fruit has been picked except for grapes ripening on the vine,while the vegetables are still going strong! Many of the garden flowers such as Salvias and Asters will shine with a fall bloom that will take us clear into winter. And the Runner Beans have created beautiful walls of color in the garden, which will soon grow into long pods awaiting a November harvest. The sweet season of fall is upon us and life is good.