I had unexpected visitors the other day. On a whim, two of my Master Gardener friends decided to stop and say hello. Thankfully, I had just woken up from my what has become my almost daily habit of taking a nap. Thankfully, I had clothes nearby to slide into. Thankfully, I love company and, had I still been sleeping and had not dressed for the day, I still would have been thrilled with the surprise.
Winter is a time of rest. Not only for sleepy gardeners, but also for our gardens. While a few precious plants are still showing off at my place, most are quietly resting. The yard is brown and prickly looking. While it might be easy to focus on the barren sight and become disheartened, there is reason for cheer. My garden isn’t dead, it’s sleeping! Sleep restores us, and our gardens, and prepares us for activity to come. Already I am starting to see small green shoots emerging from the ground, and soon my garden will be keeping me so busy there will be no time for naps.
I apologize for the this newsletter arriving so late in the month and vow to try to do better. And while I could attempt to give reasons and explanations for my tardiness, I think I will leave it at this: I’ve been napping.