2020 has been a year, that’s for sure. It has been hard, isolating, disappointing, and beyond. But observing nature has provided me some peace of mind. I’d like to say that almost every morning I make myself a cup of tea and sit by the window that looks out onto my garden. A little stone pathway winds through my front yard flanked by severa blue glazed pots and a few bird baths. I sit and watch the birds, listen to the wind, admire the plants. Finding time for that has helped me cope with the changes throughout this year.

I picked up a few new hobbies, including building 1:24 scale miniature settings. Making itty-bitty plants has been surprisingly fun. I’ll admit I have a bit of a tv addiction, but catching up with friends about what shows or movies we are watching may be the only new information I have to report! I am hopeful for a successful vaccine roll out and anticipate things improving, but I will remain patient.

Meanwhile, I’ve somewhat neglected my garden this fall and only recently started cleaning up. I still have 100 tulip bulbs sitting in my garage, man, I should definitely get to that before it starts raining again!

I do have some garden items I am getting excited about. During the winter, I scout through several seed catalogs and pick varieties of tomatoes, and other seeds I want to grow for this upcoming season. I definitely have some tried and true varieties, like Sungold (my favorite cherry tomato, so sweet and flavorful!). I also special ordered a rose through Sky Nursery in Shoreline (I have gone there every rose season to get one new variety). Her name is Koko Loko. Described by Week’s Roses “So unusual…it looks good enough to eat…or maybe drink in this case. The cocoa is creamy like latte. But the latte goes loco to finish all lavender! You just can't imagine a milky chocolate-colored bud would mature to be a solid soft lavender blossom. Early to bloom, every lovely bud spirals open with impeccable show form. The flowers last long on the plant & in the vase. Beyond its novelty, there lies a great plant….rounded, handsome & bushy…chock full of green leaves. Warm weather brings out the lavender.” I’m all in.

There are still many things to look forward to in the coming year, Happy Holidays!