Wednesday, February 06, 2013

It's Oh So Quiet

Wednesday, February 06, 2013   Mark and Gaz   35 comments

It's oh so quiet, it's oh so still, it's oh so peaceful until...

Snowcone anyone?
As I found myself painting this trellis indoors recently (it's the way to go with the weather still too cold and wet to paint outdoors, plus it's only small) I also got to thinking how horticulturally quiet January has been. For us anyway, and more likely for a majority of gardeners in our region and anywhere else with a similar climate. Not really a surprise, it is winter after all and most plants are in dormancy and generally it has been too cold outside to spend lots of time in the garden.

Just the trellis, not the entire fence panel....
Our post rate last month has been more frequent than usual, certainly more when compared to January of last year. We have been using this quiet month to catch up with several blog posts that we never got the chance to write during the warmer months, plus we had more time to spend indoors and actually write them. But generally, garden wise and plant wise it has been quiet for us. 

Ohh what's happening here?? The clues are beyond the bowl of stones...
Not to say we haven't been busy in the garden, we carried on doing what we can do as long as the weather was ok enough to get stuck in, with the biggest exception being the weekend we had heavy snow fall. And when the thaw came we carried on as normal. Best to do as much as we can so that when better weather arrives we don't get overwhelmed with too long a list of things to do. Yet somehow, despite being busy it still felt so quiet, so peaceful, almost therapeutic.

Reminds me of a river bank, or a gravelly beach
Quiet moments are appreciated, even enjoyable in a serene sort of way. Quiet moments are needed, periods of mental rest that make you even more appreciative of manic moments when spring and summer finally arrives, when plants wake up and more blooms appear. When horticultural interests naturally rise again. Without quiet moments, you risk burning out, losing ones 'mojo' as some would say.

Tempting to dip your feet in, until you realise it's only 4C outside...
But January is now over and February can be quiet too, but not for us this year. February the ball starts rolling again and it won't be oh so quiet like how it was last month. Which makes me look back at January with fondness. I'm glad of quiet moments, it makes the anticipation of the coming months even sweeter...

Mark :-)

Posted in: exotic garden , thoughts , winter

35 comments :

  1. Sunray Gardens6 February 2013 at 23:55

    Hey I think it's a good thing to save some things you can post about during the Winter when so little is going on. I decided last summer to save my Hosta for this Winter. I get to see your gravel. Looks nice too.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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    1. Mark and Gaz7 February 2013 at 08:54

      Indeed Cher :) When not much is currently happening is nice to be able to pull out previous topics and places we never had the chance before.

      Delete
  2. Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)7 February 2013 at 00:32

    Can wait to find out what February will bring... :-)

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  3. gardenenvy7 February 2013 at 01:33

    I grew up in a region that was way too cold to do any gardening until April at least. Now in California I could garden year round, but I find myself too busy in December and somewhat lazy about in January...but I confess that I do love the break! Jeannine

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    1. Mark and Gaz7 February 2013 at 08:55

      Wow, garden all year :) It's nice to have a break indeed though!

      Delete
  4. organicgardendreams7 February 2013 at 02:16

    Hi Mark, I definitively can relate that you appreciate some quite time in the gardening season. For me here in Southern California it is exactly the opposite. January is one the the busiest months in terms of garden chores, since then my many roses need to be de-leaved, pruned, fertilized, and mulched. Despite that everything else needs to be cut back and tidied up. You can basically garden year round where I live and mostly I enjoy this very much, but sometimes I am longing for a quite time in the garden, too. But that wish disappears fast :-)!
    Christina

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    1. Mark and Gaz7 February 2013 at 08:56

      Hi Chrisitina, summer heat can get a bit much in your area so can imagine that while temps are still good in the 'winter' there and that's the best time to get stuck in :)

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  5. outlawgardener7 February 2013 at 02:34

    The break is nice and the gentle rhythm of seasonal change keeps us looking forward to the next thing.

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  6. HolleyGarden7 February 2013 at 15:20

    What a nice post. I need to remember to appreciate January. Soon all that quiet will give way to shouting hurrahs that spring has arrived!

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  7. Rosie, Perthshire Gardener and Photographer7 February 2013 at 20:43

    Oh it's only quiet when I get home to my own garden and then I relish those quiet months. I'm exhausted usually in January and February in the horticultural business as we are so busy getting ready for the new season.

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    1. Mark and Gaz7 February 2013 at 22:01

      Busy is really good Rosie, especially when it's about business. Glad to hear that your garden is also your sanctuary from the rigours of work :)

      Delete
  8. debsgarden7 February 2013 at 21:21

    It would be fun to have some of those snow cones here! January was a very busy month for me, with barely time for blogging. February will be the same. Quiet time is stolen, but necessary to prevent burnout, and I have learned not to worry about undone, or rather postponed, projects.

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    1. Mark and Gaz7 February 2013 at 22:02

      I think that's one of the keys of not burning out Debs, by not worrying too much about things that are not that essential and can wait :)

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  9. ricki7 February 2013 at 23:06

    That last shot of the blue-green rocks beneath the rippling water is tranquility personified...even if it did take a ton of work to create it. The time of rest and introspection is drawing to a close. Gardeners here are lining up on the starting line. Thanks for this moment of calm.

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    1. Mark and Gaz8 February 2013 at 09:01

      Thank you ricki :) It does feel calming looking at that little pool. Now that winter is at its tail end, exciting times ahead!

      Delete
  10. KL8 February 2013 at 00:06

    Hmm...I am wondering why Feb will not be quite as it is still freezing cold out there in London. Here in NJ, we are expecting a historic snow-storm tomorrow :-). So, February is still very quite for us. Will the stones go under the water in the pond?

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    1. Mark and Gaz8 February 2013 at 09:02

      Hi KL, the stones will be under the water in the little pool only, as a layer that will be seen through the clear water :)

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  11. David8 February 2013 at 04:24

    Yes, I agree. I would burn out if I gardened in the tropics for 12 months solid. It's nice to be allowed some down time. I consider it the month of garden dreams. :0) David

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    1. Mark and Gaz8 February 2013 at 09:03

      That's a great way of putting it David, totally agree! :)

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  12. Helen/patientgardener8 February 2013 at 20:52

    to be honest I am glad january was quiet as I have lots of decorating etc to do. I need one more weekend and then gardening starts - well I have two weekends on the trot with day long gardening talks. I can't wait. All we need now is the sun

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    1. Mark and Gaz9 February 2013 at 22:42

      Sounds like you had a busy and productive January Helen! We could do with more sun indeed, and warmer temps. Can't wait as well :)

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  13. David Marsden9 February 2013 at 17:07

    It has been oh so quiet hasn't it? But it's almost with a rising sense of panic that I realise how soon it's all going to be full on again! Can't wait mind you. Dave

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    1. Mark and Gaz9 February 2013 at 22:45

      We can relate to that feeling David. It's quiet then suddenly there's loads that needs doing in the garden. We sort of started doing some spring tidy up in the rest of the garden but there's still loads more to do, once spring arrives :)

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  14. Janet/Plantaliscious10 February 2013 at 15:50

    I love the rocks and gravel in the pond, very stylish and subtle. I agree about the need for quieter periods, if the whole year was like early Spring or Autumn we'd probably all be in straight jackets by now...

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    1. Mark and Gaz12 February 2013 at 17:08

      Breaks in between busy periods certainly does help Janet :)

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  15. Mr Paul10 February 2013 at 16:45

    I got out into the garden today and couldn't belive the amount of action going on. Lots of promise for the coming months.

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    1. Mark and Gaz12 February 2013 at 17:09

      Lots of spring activity already starting to show in our garden too, especially some irises which was nice to see :)

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  16. Anna10 February 2013 at 23:19

    It's good to have a breather :)

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  17. Owen13 February 2013 at 13:13

    Good morning guys!
    Is this your smaller water feature you were going to build? What are you going to put in thi sone? Or just keep it as a reflective pool?
    Hope your both well
    Owen

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    1. Mark and Gaz13 February 2013 at 15:15

      Hi Owen, it is yes. Just stones mainly but still thinking about whether to put a plant or two in there or not. Will be putting in a few goldfish too as its well filtered :)

      Delete
  18. Candice Suter.....Sweetstuff19 February 2013 at 00:44

    Now I can't wait for March! Brrrrr! What a bad winter for Sweetstuff!

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