I hope the holiday season finds you well! So far so good here, with plenty to do and get done but also plenty of couch sitting. We’ve had cold and we’ve had snow and to be honest I’m bored with the frozen, sleeping garden. Things haven’t changed much in the past month and I haven’t either, and by that I mean things haven’t shifted to indoor mode at all. The dormant gardener should be cleaning tools, sorting seeds, reading, planning and relaxing and this one just isn’t there yet. Solstice came and went and the days are barely longer again, Christmas rushed by with gifts, food and family (sadly less than usual when the weather interfered with our holiday visit to Long Island) and now more snow, and more looking out the window wondering what everyone else does when the cold settles in.
Beautiful sunshine and warm air greeted us on Christmas Eve and the fall blooming snowdrops were again in full bloom. These are ‘Barnes’ in front and a Montrose elwesii in back.
Until recently skiing would take over when the garden closed down but prices have nearly doubled over the last couple years and my enthusiasm has not. I’m considering passing the torch to the youngsters and exploring other winter options such as online shopping and tv watching. So far results have been mixed. The only shopping I know I need to look into is buying a new batch of hens and chicks. The new rock garden seems to produce the most delicious and tender plant growth and our local rabbits do not hold back. Hens and chicks (sempervivum) are listed all over as easy to grow and only eaten as a last resort but here they take the top menu spot in spite of the lush weed-filled lawn surrounding the rockery. Nearly everything has been gnawed down to the roots. Dianthus and daphne as well but oddly enough the pink dandelions have been untouched. It’s almost as if they’re doing it out of spite. During the latest snow event the smelly and spicy artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ was chewed up and I can’t imagine any artemisia being something a rabbit would eat but there you go. I imagine I have a bunch of black-licorice loving rabbits roaming the garden. They would probably eat Haggis and liver if I left it out for them.
The decimated rock garden. Just a few egg shells remain from the hens and chicks, the only ones which might survive are a few tucked in elsewhere between the rocks.
Spray was helping but I’m just not motivated enough to keep up a spray routine when I’m spraying snow drifts. Fencing would work but I just can’t convince myself to look at some fence and cage setup all year, so I guess we are at a standoff. Maybe I’ll get some more sensible rabbits again, one which read the books and raid the vegetable garden rather than the medicine cabinet… we will see.
But I digress. I hope you’re rounding out 2025 and looking forward to the new year while still enjoying the old, and I hope winter is treating you well. A little downtime isn’t the worst thing!
sorta like suburbia 
I hate it when the wildlife doesn’t read the manual and behave as expected.
Shameful isn’t it!
we had a fox family with six kits living next door last spring. I had the best garden for a couple of months til everyone moved on. So now I am looking at cages as the snow melts. Bought 6 garden books, mostly history and essays. Have a big tray filled with pictures, catalogs and trillions of garden notes waiting for me. Reading mysteries while I wait for energy.
“wait for energy” or maybe wait for inspiration? As long as a shovel can’t slice into the ground I feel like I’m at a standstill, and a snow shovel isn’t quite the direction I’m looking for. I think if there was a thaw we would both find some inspiration, especially if it started to feel like spring! Reading mysteries isn’t the worst distraction. I’ll probably pull out a puzzle this week until work rears its ugly head again in the new year.
Nice to see your post, Frank. Happy New Year! Sorry you are having rabbit trouble, arrgh. Perhaps the granular form of Repels-All might be more effective? I know it works well with chewing voles here.
It seems that December has flown by and perhaps the winter months will do the same and we’ll be back gardening before we know it. I’ve grown quite lazy with each passing day, and must admit I kind of like the downtime. The question is, will the engine start again come spring? 😉
Doesn’t the granular need reapplying after a good rain? Years back I tried to save the crocus with some kind of granular repellant but two days later rain, and three days later zero crocus!
My houseplants are enjoying the downtime and of course I got caught up in a project which has derailed into another plant project 🙂 but even a full-on indoor project doesn’t compare to the physical work of the garden. Jan and Feb will fly by as well and if things don’t change I’ll be rolling out into the garden this spring 😉
The Bonide Repels-All granular should work for about 2 months unless you get a deluge that washes it away. I know other brands aren’t as good. DeerFence is garbage, IMO. 😉
I will keep my eyes open for some Bonide granular. It would be interesting to know what kind I tried previously, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Deefence! lol *a fun fact for today is I took a look at the latest rabbit attack on the tiny succulents, grabbed some chicken wire and covered the remains. The wire was lying around by the compost pile and it took all of ten minutes tops to bring it out there and lay it across. I’ve been complaining for weeks, my process makes no sense 😉
😀
Yes, the rabbits…they are evil. 😉 Honestly, I don’t even think they’re cute anymore. Like Linda, we’ve had some foxes, which helped. And we saw a coyote a few months ago. I welcome them here to help keep things in balance. I envy your Snowdrops as I won’t see them until March. All the best in the year ahead!
Thanks Beth and all the best to you as well!
Two years ago we had coyotes move in and for a little bit I think the bunnies felt some pressure, but I suspect in this part of Pa the coyote howls brought on too much attention and my neighbors “addressed” the visitors. They also ‘address’ skunks and opossum which is terrible imo, and sadly crows are not safe either.
On the plus side this area is still deer-normal and the population is well checked each autumn. I can’t imagine having them as regular visitors…
The snowdrops will come 🙂
I’d be scared of Haggis eating rabbits, but I get your frustration! I pictured myself busy with cleaning the garage, etc., at this time of year. I haven’t started on it, so you are in good company on the couch. Happy New Year! Cheers to spring being early.
Isn’t picturing yourself doing a task a critical part of the process? You already started in that case and are busy without even realizing it! Time to slow down. A snack on the couch isn’t a terrible idea, I don’t want to push multi-tasking on you while you’re already busy there, but winter won’t last forever!
Happy New Year to you as well!
Happy Holidays, Frank! Sounds like you’re experiencing the same sort of ennui that I can relate to. After rejecting a million ads to buy more swimsuits, I finally broke down and succumbed, not that I need them, but swimming being my thing rather than skiing… Downtime has to be good for something!
Hmmm you have me thinking that a swim wouldn’t be a terrible idea. Much more joint-friendly than skiing and I’d be more likely refreshed afterwards rather than eating carbs at the lodge.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, Frank!
Swimming is one of those things you can do year ’round. It also has a cumulative effect to it…
I never got close to a pair of skis…
Oh dear, you must have hungry rabbits! What a shame about the rock garden. There is always something nibbling my plants too – slugs, hares, and recently something has dug lots of grubs out of our already patchy lawn. At least it’s frozen now! Glad you are relaxing and enjoying the holidays. Same here… I am being extremely lazy. 😁
Lazy isn’t quite the crime it’s made out to be. Sometimes it’s just jealous people judging your efficiency.
I’ve been keeping the kitchen clean this week and let me say it’s overrated and far more efficient to let things pile up and then only clean once than it is to get all excited about every individual drink glass and dirty fork. A clean counter only encourages tossed boxes, keys, and more dirty glasses and that’s what I’m sticking to when someone comments tomorrow!
Oh and each snowfall I get to see just how busy the rabbits are around here. There’s a web of tracks which show up and I think my garden is the social hub of the entire neighborhood. Of course the rest of the neighborhood is pretty bleak and garden-free, but….
I stopped by expecting to check out your cyclamen but of course I should have realized Snowdrops would be on display! I’ve not kept up with blogs much recently given other responsibilities, but it’s soon time for a resolution and it could motivate me to do all manner of things.
The rabbits are little terrors, aren’t they? Beatrice Potter made Mr. McGregor out to be the bad guy, but I’m more sympathetic to him now.
Happy gardening in the year ahead. WIshing you and your family much happiness and good health.