IT WASN’T ONE OF THOSE “KA-POW!” YEARS in the garden, visually (well, unless you were my dear old rhubarb, above). In fact at many moments it was more “ka-bam!” (as in things crashing and burning, rather than showing off in bursts of glory). I’d lost 23 big shrubs and three trees in late 2011, in a freakish 18-inch October snow, so between that and the far-too-early, way-too-dry season of 2012, it was a challenge at times. But this is where my strong interest in the “why” of gardening—the science, and the miracles—comes in, so in the absence of big, colorful lilacs and the like, I set about looking for beauty in the details, in simpler, often-smaller things. A slideshow of the 2012 garden:
Click the first thumbnail to start the slides; navigate using the arrows on your keyboard, or the ones beside each caption. (Note: If you are zoomed in too much, or on a tiny device, you won’t see the captions beneath each image.)
Lovely slideshow — as I’m enjoying the beautiful snow covering my gardens, looking at these photos makes me so thankful that I live in this area, with its distinct seasons. How fortunate we are to watch the metamorphosis of our landscape each year. Happy New Year, Margaret, and best of luck with your beautiful new book.
Enjoy your newsletters, especially the slide shows. Gives me hope that spring will come again. Gc
Beautiful! And Happy New Year!! Am so looking forward to the arrival of your new book.
A lovely look back on what was a difficult year for so many reasons. We continue to garden and share, and now that it’s truly winter make soup and other good things. All the best to you, Margaret, in 2013. And Jack, too!
Love the year in review slideshow, Margaret. Have a happy, prosperous new year and may we all have a year where we look at the tiny miracles around us and recognize them for what they are.
Thank you for the recap in great photos. I don’t take enough . It was an interesting year, I had some of the best tomatoes ever though – hot and dry suited us in southern Vermont. Similar thoughts on lilacs and our apples weren’t great, my choices for pots on the porch were totally forgettable. But the days are getting longer and as you said the catalogs are beckoning ! Cheers to a happy, healthy, sane new year.
Dale
We have 4″ of snow cover now, but right before that hit I saw the tiny tips of my garlic crop peeking out from under its blanket of chipped leaves. Thanks for your slide show – reminders of so many magic moments. We should all slow down enough to absorb the beauty at our fingertips.
Thanks for sharing the slideshow. We lost only one, rather unhealthy tree in our rear yard to Hurricane Sandy. I, too had my very best tomatoes last summer. I also feel happy to have gotten a nice snow cover. It will help plants and even the water supply for next summer. I really want my witch hazel and winterberry plants to take off next year! I love seeing my red twig dogwood against the snow. It is simple joy to see beauty around.
Great pictures! I love the witchhazel, frogs and other critters. I am awed by your vegetables as well.
I always look forward to your messages, photos and all things garden on your website — thanks so much for sharing your journey with all of us! I’m a new Master Gardener and realize I have so much to learn. I love the Cissus discolor and grew one for the first time last summer. Any tips on this plant? Happy New Year and may we all take time to notice the small things in the garden. Is it spring yet?
Hi, Judy, and thanks for your nice note. I think I’d start with a small plant and even when it gets large make sure it’s in a plastic pot (like an old black plastic nursery container from a shrub or tree, hidden inside a clay one when outside on display, of course) — but so that it’s easy to move in an out in fall/summer. It gets big (and isn’t portable if it’s in a heavy pot).
These are great pictures and have a good year.
I enjoyed the slide show. Your blog is one of my favorites and I’ve learned so much from you. I’ve been gardening since I was a child, sometimes on a patio and othertimes on acreage but always love to watch something growing! After retirement I became a Master Gardener and I learned how much I still have to learn and it’s exciting. You inspire and also recommend such great plants. I’m in the same zone as you so I relish your suggestions and consequently have many ‘new’ plant family members. Thank you for what you do. Looking forward to your new book. Happy New Year, Margaret!
Enjoyed your slideshow, esp. the pix of the peeper! I’ve never seen one either but they sure sing their songs each year in my little pond. On Martha’s Vineyard they are called “pinkletinks” — love the name. Happy New Year to you.
Two weeks of pretty cold weather in Kansas has finally turned everything grey and brown, so your slideshow was most nourishing to my gardener’s heart. I loved the pictures of your efforts to save growing things from late frosts – my garden also sprouted buckets, tarps and sheets in April!
Hi, B Riggs. Yes, always some kind of “firedrill” or circus here at the ups and downs of the season. Funny to think of it now, when everything is finally frozen and under the snow at long last! See you soon.
Enjoyed your slide show. I always love visiting and reading your stories…very relaxing usually with a cup of tea in hand. We had an unusual year here as well with the arrival of early spring weather in March then a horrendous fall with hurricanes and nor’easters. Now we are settling into winter with just a brief passing of a snow flurry so far. Have a good New Year and I look forward to more.
Another great slideshow! Hopefully this year is a lot less weather wacky.
Hi, Stacy — and yes, please! :)
Has anyone figured out how to view the slide show in a large enuf format to include all the text. I’m not great w/ computer machinations so I’d appreciate some help. Thanks, the pix are really lovely…