January 11, 2025
Jane Powell
As the new year begins and I watch the snow fall, I am also taking a moment to be
grateful. In honor of 2025, here are a few of my thoughts for January. They are
big and small, but all are important to acknowledge as I begin a new year.
- Houseplants. They let me garden through the winter months.
- Grow lamps. The lamps provide light in the dark days of winter, allowing
them to continue to grow indoors. They come in all shapes and sizes and
can be an inexpensive way to keep indoor plants healthy. - Spritzer bottles. With indoor heat drying out the soil, a quick, daily spritz
makes plants happy – and let’s be honest – spritzing is fun. - Indoor cactus plants. The pink blooms brighten my day, and luckily, the
plants grow bigger and healthier every year. - My favorite chair. It’s big and just the right size for the pup and me to
snuggle in with our favorite blanket. - Garden catalogs.
- Garden books and journals. They teach me new ideas and possibilities and
let me track patterns in my own gardens. - Books about the moon cycles. Llewellyn’s is my favorite.
- Daydreaming.
- Hot tea with honey.
- Warm socks.
- Thick, creamy hand lotion.
- Snowdrops. They will be here soon.
- Hellebore anticipation. They are beginning to naturalize in my garden bed,
but I do add a new plant every year. - Mondo grass. It has been a consistent green border for my front bed
through the winter weather. Same with lamb’s ear. - Snow. The moisture of the snow has alleviated the summer drought.
Although there may be damage from last summer, the snow will melt into
the ground and provide water for roots to survive until spring rains. - Snow plows. Living “on a big hill,” I love the scraping sound and rumble of
the truck as the plows come up the hill. - Trees and brush thickets. Right past the fence, nature has created
protection for wildlife. They seek shelter during storms, strong winds, and
hot summer days. For better or worse, this is their home. - The silly squirrel who visits every day. I’m not sure where he finds his daily
nuts, but he brings them to my deck railing each morning and enjoys his
breakfast while watching as I scurry around the kitchen. - Vegetable soup. The bubbling heavy green pot, given to me by a friend, filled with vegetables and lentils, is a favorite cold-weather meal.
- Dried Herbs. With a little work, the summer garden provides herbs year-
round. - Creamy oatmeal sweetened with homemade lemon curd.
- Good health. Never to be taken for granted and always a work in progress.
- The little house on a big hill. With a cozy fire, full pantry, and the familiarity
of years, this is my home. - Friends and family. They fill the house, the garden, and my life with
laughter and joy.
New Year cheers to each of us as we enter each month with daydreams and plans
for making the days, weeks, and months of 2025 something to remember.