Tag Archives: winter

Micro- Managing Climate Change

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I’ve just returned from a long weekend to Ithaca, NY. That’s well north-west of where I live. In 2012, this region was firmly in USDA Hardiness Zone 5. But in 2023, it was moved up to Zone 6. Given that my own zone has shifted from 6a to 6b to now 7a, I’m not surprised and yet, seeing the landscape completely bare of any snow and its famous waterfalls gushing and flowing in the depth of winter was somewhat of a shock. The stamp of climate change felt so definitive and progressive.

Already we are witnessing the ‘migration’ of some native plants. They’re moving north! Slowly buy surely. While it means that we can indulge in some plants that were not possible to grow before, it also takes away some cold loving plants from our gardens. When we must plant things like bulbs and other spring bloomers must be adjusted. The growing season will be longer now and accordingly, plans for flowers, vegetables and fruits require due consideration.

This also brings up the conundrum of what we can now include as native to the region. Similarly, some current natives will not stay so much longer if the climate continues to change. Native pollinators and other native creatures will also be affected. All of life will be impacted.

In our home gardens, it indicates that we must stay vigilant, resilient and responsible. Observe the changes, adapt to the loss of certain cherished garden members and welcome new ones, be careful to take on only non-invasive new natives because only time will tell if this was a good inclusion or not. We must act with caution and open minds. Not easy but, we gardeners are a tough, tenacious lot and we learn well. Our future gardens will reflect that I’m certain.

On my return from Ithaca, a warming up had occurred and the thick layer of snow had been reduced to patches here and there. A perfect moment to re-identify the micro-climates within the garden. Exposure to light, sheltering shade, grade of the land, heat retaining walls/stones can all be viewed clearly by observing the pattern of the melting snow. Don’t dismiss the smaller patches as they too show the timeline of how the snow recedes.

Where the snowdrops are up and where they’re yet to awaken says much. Similarly, observe not only what trees and shrubs are beginning to show buds but examine how much those buds have plumped up and the location of the plants. Depending on those micro-climates, shrubs of the same kind will flower earlier or later. Changing climates, trees spreading more shade over time, loss of trees opening up areas to light, alterations in the lay of the land due to erosion or build up, new constructions nearby are all factors that affect the garden.

I’m taking notes more seriously this time – it’ll be a record for future plans as we go about the business of adapting to the changing environment. Our collective experiences will matter greatly as we educate ourselves and the world at large.

Here are some images from my garden with the melting snow –

Meanwhile, at the Cornell Botanical Gardens, Ithaca –

(c) 2024 Shobha Vanchiswar

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Carpe Diem

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It’s finally looking like February is supposed to. Crisp and cold with a thick quilt of snow spread over the ground. It’s been a week of brisk, bracing walks, fireside conversations and a return to dreams of the perfect growing season ahead. This is the February I’m familiar with and it’s mighty comforting even though I know the climate is changing and it will not always be so.

The weekend before the first great snow fall, it was definitively spring weather. 50 degrees! The garden beckoned with a siren call and I was lured into it eager and excited. The grapevine got pruned and the trimmings were stored for future projects in and outside the garden. Similarly, the roses received a fair bit of cutting and shaping. The rose hips were collected on lengths of stem. They look so pretty in hues of orange tinted with blush pink. All the plants left to serve the birds and bring seasonal interest with their varied designs of seed heads and warm, earthy colors were also cut back. And yes, all of those trimmings are also safely stored away. Why?

Because, come April, they will be the stars of a public project in which I am thrilled to participate. I’m not saying any more for now! All will be revealed in due course.

As I gathered the cuttings, the color palette itself was so beautiful. Browns, golds, reds and everything in-between. And the many textures and shapes! Truly, the sight rivaled any opulent bouquet of fresh flowers. Plants in senescence are so very under-appreciated. Yet, they serve at this stage to ensure the future health and wealth of the land. Surely, we ought to pay these humble yet noble members more attention, admiration and esteem.

And thus, it was a very satisfying two days of cutting and tidying. Timely work got done (and a new project got underway!). If I’d put off this task, the 12 inches of snow that fell two days later would’ve put paid to the beautiful ‘harvest’. The plants would have all been pushed down and broken apart. Seizing the day was a very good thing!

Note: Because the snow was expected, I left the old leaves of the hellebores uncut so they could protect the emerging buds from any snow and cold damage.

Rosehips
Grapevine after the pruning
Vine cuttings

(c) 2024 Shobha Vanchiswar

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Coming Home

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As much as I enjoy travel, nothing quite feels as comforting as coming back home. Refreshed from time spent away from the usual routines and inspired by all the new experiences and encounters, there’s an eagerness to settle back down and reboot life anew. Not a new life but the same one infused with new energy and ideas. It feels exciting and rich with possibilities.

In the familiar confines of home, surrounded by all the things that provide joy and/or motivation, I sit with a head full of thoughts and schemes. I look at innumerable photos and a slew of cryptic notes made hurriedly during my travels. Unlikely color combinations, creative products, newly discovered foods, ancient customs witnessed, styles and patterns of traditional clothing, architecture, music, gardens, home décor – everything is fodder for creativity. How to best implement what I’ve seen and learned in my garden, home, art and personal life is a thrilling challenge. As my eyes wander around home and garden, I see the results of what past travels have inspired. To others the connections may not be clearly apparent but its all there. Just with my own twist or interpretation.

Key features in my garden such as the espaliered fence of fruit trees, the lush vertical garden, the pergola with native wisteria sprawled over it are obvious examples but adapted to suit the location and climate. The checkerboard garden came from seeing a huge chess board installed in a garden in France – not directly related. The design of the walkway was inspired by a pattern of piping in a blouse worn by a woman selling fruit at a market in Sweden.

In recent years, the colors of the tulips that bring great cheer in the spring, are inspired by art works in various museums. The color choices have evolved over the years. No doubt they will continue to do so.

It is similar in the house. Colors, furnishings, meals and music stand testimony to how travel opens the mind and enriches lives.

My own art is influenced more subtly – I’m not always aware until much later how I’ve been influenced by the light, colors and styles of the landscapes seen.

Unlike how it is when I come home from a summer trip, a winter homecoming is a gift of time. No pressing garden chores await. While the garden is asleep, I have the luxury to take my time to think, plan, design, source, schedule, create.

I returned very early Tuesday morning just as the snow had begun falling. The drive home was slow as the roads were already icy. Now, with unpacking done, accumulated mail sorted, laundry completed, I’m at leisure to harvest what inspirations I’ve picked up from my trip.

As the garden lies coated in white, the bones are sharply visible – my imagination has free rein to think about new plants to introduce, edits to make, colors to experiment and, revel in a most spectacular garden that lives for the moment only in my mind.

Everything is possible.

I present my ‘blank canvas’ –

(c) 2024 Shobha Vanchiswar

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Marching Along

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Spring officially starts in one week. However, spring chores are well underway in my garden. My notes from past years indicate we’re ahead of schedule but given the strange weather the whole globe is experiencing, what is ‘normal’ must be redefined. So, I’m just going ahead with the tasks as the current conditions dictate.

Typically, the garden in February and most of March is thickly covered in snow and the ground beneath is frozen solid. Not this year.

The snowdrops started blooming about three weeks early but their bloom time seems to have been extended as the temperatures have remained constant. That’s a nice thing of course. Accordingly, the snowdrops have been divided. I prefer to divide them while they’re still blooming. It gives me a better visual of where and how I’d like to see them spread. In the meadow, I envision these happy harbingers of spring tumbling joyfully down the slope. So, the new divisions have been planted randomly to look free-form but they follow the natural incline along the length of the land.

The hellebores also have an early start and are beginning to look very pretty. The old leaves which are left in place to protect the new growth were cut away last week.

That cut back indicated that general spring clean up was possible. Over the past weekend, plants were cut back, winter detritus picked up, dead limbs of various shrubs removed,The birdhouses were cleaned out thorough;y and within 8 hours, one was occupied by a pair of sparrows!

The fruit espaliers and Concord grapevine were pruned even earlier. Dormant oil spray to smother eggs of pests has also been applied. It’s important to get this done before any new growth appears.

This week, cutting back our side of a neighbor’s hedge, pruning the hydrangea and attending to the tiny wild ‘lawn’ in front are on the agenda. The lawn gets a good raking to remove thatch, then it is aerated, followed by a light reseeding and a healthy feed of compost. I also plan to inspect the name tags on the espalier trees to identify what needs to be rewritten or replaced. Note: As I write this post, it’s been snowing for some hours! Whether the snow sticks around or not will determine if the chores get done!

I have a list of plants I’d like to add to the garden so those need to sourced and ordered. I’m hoping my local nursery can provide.

Gardening season has certainly begun. It’s my mind that needs to come to terms with it.

Snowdrops

The natural slope in the meadow

Divisions ready for new homes

Snowdrops tumbling done

Birdhouse was cleaned out and within 8 hours, a sparrow couple had moved in!

Hellebores are happening

Black hellebore

Pruned Belgian fence espalier

All tidied up

Hyacinths forced indoors are planted in the garden after flowering

(c) Shobha Vanchiswar 2023

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Call To Action

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Snowdrops are up in the meadow. It is undoubtedly a joyous sight but, this year, it comes with a sense of unease. It is way too early to see them in my garden. About month early at best. What’s next?

With a mostly mild winter and no snow at all thus far, it looks ominous. I’d like to think there’s still time for winter to pick up its pace and sock us with polar vortices, blizzards and tundra like conditions but I’m also nervous that such extreme weather this late in the season could put paid to many plants and creatures already awakened.

This past weekend, the grapevine got pruned – a task that typically gets done further along in winter. With day time temperatures spiking consistently to the low-50’s, it seemed prudent to get the job done before any new growth could be detected. It’s quite disconcerting and I feel like I’m flying blind in figuring out the best way to address this abnormal weather pattern.

I’m not one to panic easily but in all honestly, I’m seriously worried. We are at an inflection point in the climate crisis. That change is happening is obvious but how much and what kind of change are the big questions. And what can we do about it? For now, there are no easy answers. However, it sure is time for each gardener and/or property owner to step up their roles as stewards of the land. Whatever we’re doing for the cause, lets do better. Much better.

It’s true, every single person is required to take action to mitigate climate change but I genuinely believe that gardeners are the first responders in this crisis. While governments, corporations and industry make new policies and implement and enforce better regulations, we gardeners ( farmers too) already have our boots on the ground. We see the what is going on in real time. Our actions matter.

So, I’m putting a call out for us all to review our current practices and resolve to do much more.

To get you started, here are a few things to consider –

1. Water. Reduce consumption, Redirect soap-free gray water, collect rain water, reuse cooking water (from boiling things like eggs, pasta, veggies) to water the garden. Choose less thirsty plants from now on. Remove the greediest ones.

2. Go entirely organic. Start composting and use the compost instead of chemical fertilizers and non-degradable mulch.

3. Go mostly native – the plants are less fussy, are hardy and resilient. Non-native selection should be non-invasive and ecologically supportive. 70% native plants to 30% non-native is a decent balance. But, make the extra effort to up the natives. Go on. You can do it.

4. Reduce lawn space. What lawn is there, set the mower at a height of at least 4 inches. Leave clippings to decay and enrich the soil.

5. Plant native trees. Choose an American oak if location and space permit. Amelanchier (shad blow) are great four season trees for small gardens.

6. Reduce plastic usage. Purchase bare-root plants or those in easily biodegradable pots. Urge your nurseries to stock up accordingly. I wish growers would take back plastic pots to reuse.

7. On the subject of nurseries – go local. Avoid big box stores. Support small, family owned businesses. Remember, regional farms grow plants best suited for your climate. Keep the carbon footprint down and raise the local economy. Everybody and the climate wins.

This is a broad list for all gardeners. There is plenty more depending on ones own location and circumstance. Lets get to it. There is absolutely no time to waste.

Meanwhile, I’m going to accept the weather such as it is. I intend to make the most of it by spending more time outdoors, basking in the sunshine, listening to birdsong and observe the unfolding of the season. While I cannot ignore the pit in my stomach, I must be intentional in how I choose to spend my days and be fully present for them. The snowdrops are here, one must indeed enjoy them.

Compare and Contrast –
Top – February 2022
Bottom – February 2023

Grapevine all pruned and tidy

Snowdrops

Crocus pushing through

Columbine

Climbing hydrangea in bud

Hellebore

Emerging herbaceous peony

(c) 2023 Shobha Vanchiswar

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Keeping Calm And Carrying On

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January is a great time to catch up on that pile of books and magazines that go neglected when one is busy in the garden. I invariably have a clutch of garden magazines to peruse and because their corresponding month(s) have already passed, I generally take note of plants and advice to implement for next year. A sort of rough list of long term to-do items to consider when I finally make my grand plans and preparations for the gardening seasons to come. This is a pastime I really look forward to – it’s an activity filled with possibilities and dreams. So, there I am eager to take my time to reflect and regroup as mentioned last week when I’m rudely sent into panic mode – I’m way behind on schedule! My garden is simply not ready!

I’d observed that this January, my pile of magazines was kind of small as all of last year, I’d been fairly good about reading the periodicals soon after they arrived in the mail. Settling down to enjoy this modest stack, I quickly found myself drooling over images of swathes of snowdrops blanketing countryside gardens, bouquets worth of hellebores blooming in gardens small and large, pansies bravely showing their faces above snow laced earth and other plants stretching awake. All happening in real time. Looking around my own plot, I gazed upon a garden in hibernation. Like the night before Christmas, nothing was stirring. How could this be?!

I had yet to prune the grapevine and roses. For goodness sake, the holiday decorations had only been recently removed. How then could there possibly be signs of spring awakening? Scrolling quickly through Instagram, I came upon post after post depicting the same early spring flowers perking up gardens. Some even had daffodils ready to unfurl bright yellow petals. I could feel the growing pit in my stomach. And then, it hit me – I’d become so absorbed in my reading and salivating, that it’d completely escaped my mind that I was following/reading what was happening in England. Whew! What a big relief.

With milder winters than ours in the northeast, the UK enjoys winter blooms that we typically associate with early spring. However, even for them this is a bit earlier than usual to see daffodils readying to bloom. They too have had an odd winter thus far. From too cold to crazy rain the weather has been capricious. It has me wondering how our own strange winter to date will impact the seasons ahead. Will spring be early? I hope not! Anticipating it is a giddy thrill I do not want abbreviated. Besides, past experience has shown an early start generally means a short spring with summer arriving all too soon dragging with it deplorable heat and humidity. I hate that. I could live with spring forever.

But, this is conjecture. I cannot worry about what I cannot control. Time will reveal what is to be. For now, I’m just going to revel in the doings in England and dream about my spring garden to come. I’ll keep calm and carry on. Stiff upper lip and all that.

Note: Since we’re in dream mode, I’m sharing images of some of my watercolors instead of garden photos –

(c) 2023 Shobha Vanchiswar

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Resting Point

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With the holiday hoopla well behind, this moment feels like a resting point. The well-deserved pause before life picks up pace. Taking my cue from the garden, it’s a recess I’ve learned to carve out judiciously.

Looking around, the garden is quietly at repose. Nothing actively going on. Below ground, the plants are building strength, restoring, resting and preparing for the growing season ahead. Ii is not a period of complete cessation of activity but instead, it’s a time to slow down, regroup and ready oneself. I too want to take time to restore my energy, reflect on what and how I want to proceed with my goals and projects. It’s not a vacation but a retreat.

The expression ‘putting the garden to bed’ is accurate. The basic life processes carry on but nothing more is expected or conducted. It’s a graceful reminder to do similarly for myself. Instead of plunging into the to-do list, I’m reassessing that list. What really needs doing? Are they taking me where I want to go? Time taken to reflect and rethink is necessary to become a better gardener/artist/writer/friend/spouse/parent/activist/human being. Like the garden, my growth never ceases. The benefits of resilience, flexibility, patience, adaptability and cooperation are exemplified by Nature. And then, at the right moment, the courage to go all out and bloom as loudly as possible! That’s what I aspire to.

Being busy is not bad. Being mindlessly occupied is. So, if you see me sitting around and not rushing around with a jam-packed schedule, I’m not being lazy! I’m purging projects and objects that do not serve my goals. I’m thinking and planning, researching and evaluating, learning and preparing, simplifying and streamlining. I’m focusing on what truly matters.

Because, just like my garden, I’m a work in progress.

The garden right now –

Chickadee at the birdbath

Second round of amaryllis coming up indoors

(c) 2023 Shobha Vanchiswar

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A Fresh Start

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Happy New Year!

It’s been an unseasonably mild start here. Feels more like Spring than Winter. Parts of Europe are experiencing the same balmy weather. Who knows what this portends in the big climate scenario. It is cause to feel concerned but the reality is that unless and until every one of use and all the governments in the world commit wholly to do everything in our power to do right by the earth, matters will not improve. On my part, I will continue to do my best to work in harmony with nature. Meanwhile, I shall make the most of the very pleasant weather – enjoy long walks, meals out on the terrace, linger in the garden and watch the birds, soak up sunshine and take pleasure in being jacket, hat and gloves free. I anticipate ( fervently hope) the temperatures will drop to normal levels soon enough. My garden depends on that!

It behooves us all to pay mind to these shifts in weather patterns. Our future well being depends on it.

There are to-do items to address nevertheless. And I’m getting on them.

Things To Do In January

Survey the garden after every storm or snowfall. If any damage such as broken branches or torn off protection has occurred, try to fix it as soon as possible. Likewise, large icicles hanging from roof edges pose a threat to plants below: shield the plants if the icicles cannot be removed.

  1. Take down holiday decorations. Before disposing off the Christmas tree, cut branches to spread as mulch on flower beds. I add the chopped up tree to the compost heap. Some towns pick up trees left out and chip them up to use as mulch.

  2. Keep bird feeders full. Whenever possible, keep water available for the birds.

  3. Inspect stored tubers, corms and bulbs for signs of mold and rot. Get rid of any that don’t look healthy.

  4. This is a good time to examine the ‘bones’ of the garden. Make notes of what needs developing, changing or improving.

  5. Make icy paths safe by sprinkling sand or grit. Avoid toxic de-icing products.

  6. If ground is wet/soggy, take care to protect the sodden areas by not walking on it too much. Better yet, protect it by putting down a temporary path of wood planks.

  7. Take an inventory of garden tools. Get them repaired, replaced or sharpened.

  8. Gather up seed and plant catalogs. Start planning for the coming season.

  9. Begin forcing the bulbs kept cool since late fall. Time to start an indoor spring!

  10. Keep an eye on indoor plants ( in the house or greenhouse). Inspect carefully for signs of pests or disease. Act right away if either is detected. Organic practices only please.

  11. Still on indoor plants: water as needed, rotate for uniform light exposure, fertilize every two to four weeks. Remove dead or yellowing leaves.

  12. Enjoy the respite offered by this cold month.

Together, lets make this a meaningful, mindful year.

Note: Some memories from 2022 –

(c) 2023 Shobha Vanchiswar

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Doing December

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Things To Do In December

1. Hurry up and finish any pending plant protecting tasks! Ditto for statuary and other articles left outdoors.

2. Complete mulching all plants.

3. Drain out all outdoor water pipes. Store hoses properly.

4. Keep bird feeders filled.

5. Keep on top of watering plants in greenhouse and/or house. Stay vigilant for signs of pests or disease.

6. Set aside seed and plant catalogs for making plans for next year’s growing seasons.

7. Archive garden photos taken through this year. They will come in handy when you plan and design for next year.

8. Enjoy paperwhites, amaryllis bulbs indoors.

9. Make use of this down time and relax!

The list above is my general to-do of garden related tasks for December. This year however, planting of bulbs and sowing poppy seeds got delayed due to unusually mild days in November. I hope everyone has also completed all necessary planting and sowing by now.

While #9 says to relax, I’m actually in the thick of reorganizing various areas/rooms of the house. It requires working systematically and getting the cooperation and compliance of the family. The latter is harder to achieve than the former. The ones who are chiefly responsible for creating disorder are also the ones who cannot see the need to do any organizing. Oh brother!

And then there’s the matter of the Holidays. Whether its going to be low-key, over the top or anywhere in-between, there’s still a call for doing something. I believe we must celebrate in some manner. As the year draws to a conclusion, its a blessing to gather with family and friends – remember how it felt in 2020 when we were unable to do that? The decorations with natural materials like evergreens, dried flowers, pine cones, acorns, other seed heads, moss, branches and such keeps us connected to Nature and the paperwhites and amaryllis flowering indoors remind us of the promise of spring. How cheering it is to have candles, twinkly lights and fireplaces aglow – warming and brightening our homes and hearts.

This is a time for gratitude and grace. As a firm believer in celebrating everything big or small, doesn’t the fact that we’ve together completed yet another circuit around the sun surely deserves to be honored.

I have indeed completed that aforementioned list so, relax I shall. With a sense of joy and place. Well ensconced amidst the happy chaos of celebrating.. The spirit of the Season prevails.

(c) 2022 Shobha Vanchiswar

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Homestretch

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So, Thanksgiving has come and gone. The Holiday Season has begun. What that means is up for grabs. My guess is that for most of us it is a combination of decorating, shopping, cooking, year end/Holiday events, It can feel frenzied. With family expected by the middle of December, I too am grappling with my to-do list. I’d like to get plenty done before their arrival so we’re able to make the very most of our time together. It’s been three and a half years since we last got together – so this feels particularly emotional and exciting.

But first, there’s much to do. Getting the house ready for our first house guests since the end of 2019 and Work From Home having changed the general configuration of how we now function means some creative thinking is in order. It seems as though every room must be reconsidered for purpose and aesthetics. I’m feeling excited and yet daunted by the challenge.

There’s shopping, baking, cooking and decorating too. I really want to get most things done before the guests arrive. And everything will indeed get done IF I stay on course with my agenda. At first, that aforementioned agenda started out looking really packed. But after some good deep breaths and common sense prevailing, I’ve simplified it. That’s the key – keep it simple. And authentic.

Simple, yet hearty meals cooked and frozen. Stews, soups, baked eggplant Parmigiana, lasagnas are ideal. Add a fresh, green salad, good bread, fine wine and dinner is served. I also love cheese boards, fresh fruits, crudites with a variety of creative and healthy dips ( homemade and/or store bought), an assortments of nuts, finger foods ( again homemade or store bought) in lieu of traditional meals. It’s about enjoying the company not about trying to impress anyone.

I find cleaning and organizing very cathartic. And typically, I do a big sort out in every room twice a year. Early spring and early winter. Hence, at this time, it’s all about getting cozy and comfortable. After a thorough cleaning, extra throws and blankets are brought out, the fireplace is made ready for use all winter, reading material and good lighting easily accessed, ditto for board games and puzzles, all the makings for enjoying the season. Candles and the paperwhites and amaryllis bulbs I’ve got going keep the home looking and smelling festive. Dried hydrangea spray painted gold adorn the mantel. In other places the hydrangea are left in their natural state of faded beauty. Pine cones, acorns and seed pods, leaves still clinging to branches, sprigs of evergreens and other treasures found around the garden adorn the house. I find it enormously comforting to bring the natural world in – they remind me of our divine connection to Nature and the part we play in the grand scheme. It humbling too.

As we enter the final month of the year, I think about the seasons gone by – the highlights and low-lights. More specifically, I assess the role I have played. What am I proud of, where did I fall short, what could I have done better or different? What am I trying to achieve and how can I do it? My covenant with Nature is lifelong and constant. As a result, what I do and how I live matters. My choices in products I buy and use matters. I think about what more I can do to better align myself to my mission of doing right by the environment. These thoughts are most often examined when I’m on my daily walks. They inform me on how I address my daily chores and leisure. Which comes down to how I deal with the demands of the holiday season – Do no harm, keep it simple, natural and most importantly, honest.

Being home for the holidays is the ultimate luxury.

Note: Images from previous years –

Home

Dried alliums painted gold – sparklers!

Golden garland of dried hydrangea

Homegrown lemons brightening everything

Amaryllis tree

(c) 2022 Shobha Vanchiswar

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