Lessons beyond the solstice

Today is the solstice--a time for all of us to celebrate. In the Northern Hemisphere, the days begin to get longer, while in the Southern Hemisphere, summer starts!

Here in the north, most of the winter is ahead of us. But at least we'll have more daylight to get us through. As I write this post, my part of the world has just been coated with a thin (quarter-inch?) layer of ice. Tonight, we'll get eight to nine inches of fresh snow--which is a blessing, actually, because it will fall on the weekend and because we're much more skilled with driving on snow than on ice.

Autumn seems so long ago, and many of you probably feel the same way. But as we move ahead toward new experiences, it can be helpful to share what we've learned from the past.

Many of you shared particularly helpful lessons for this past season's "Lessons Learned" meme:

Karin at Southern Meadows, in Georgia, U.S., was busy with new hardscaping and landscaping projects. But she learned that "despite all the things on the to-do list," she still needs to "take time for reflection and quiet in the garden." During reflection time, she notices the little things that are the most important aspects of gardening for wildlife. She also learned (and shared) some valuable lessons about migrating butterflies.

Donna at  Gardens Eye View, in New York, U.S., ran out of room in her vegetable garden, so she's planning to add more space next year. Her advice: "Don't start growing veggies unless you have time, and know that when you start you'll either quit within a season, or become addicted--adding more every year. I became addicted," she says, "even though I've had failures every year."

Jason at Garden in a City, in Illinois, U.S., learned several lessons by observing the dramatic transition from late autumn to early winter. He shared the specifics of his garden plans for Woodland Phlox, Bleeding Heart, Hardy Geraniums, Great Merrybells, Swamp Milkweed, Joe Pye Weed, and New England Aster--among others. Jason asks, "When does your mental gardening kick into high gear?"

Sarah at Galloping Horse Garden, in North Carolina, U.S., got a bit carried away with Torch Lilies. When the weather gods gave her winter blooms two years in a row, she got greedy. She wanted more. And she wanted the entire neighborhood to see them, so she planted them out front. "Never mind that they were safe and sheltered by the side of the house and would be unprotected and exposed to the elements up front," says Sarah. Unfortunately, when a hard frost hit in late November this year, the tender buds were toast. "Don't be greedy," she says. "Appreciate what you have for as long as you have it."

Holley at Roses and Other Gardening Joys, in Texas, U.S., caught the flu while on vacation. When she came home, her Camellia was blooming. Holley was sad that she was sick and stuck inside during such a lovely time in her garden until she realized the garden looked incredible from inside the house looking out, too. "I didn't realize just how important those glimpses of the garden truly are," she says. "Being able to enjoy blooms and beauty from inside the house is both a celebration and a lesson."

Aaron at Garden of Aaron, in Tennessee, U.S., shook off disappointment about the early winter weather and took stock of numerous plants in his garden, including Creeping Raspberry, Ajuga, Gold Dust Plant, Dixie Wood Fern, and Purple Coneflower, among others. Nothing like planning for the next growing season to deal with disappointment over a quick end to the previous one.

Diana at Elephant's Eye on False Bay, in Western Cape, South Africa, rediscovered the beauty of her Sea Hibiscus--in particular, the foliage color and shape. But why didn't it bloom for several years? Diana's lesson: Go back and read the instructions. This plant likes full sun and wet feet. Also called Wild Cotton Tree or Lagoon Hibiscus, it grows along the coast from Eastern Cape to Zululand and extends into the tropics, where it's widespread along the shores.

Others who participated through their comments included Deb at Deb's Garden, who had to learn patience as she recovered from surgery--which actually gave her more time to relax and enjoy her garden. Shirley at Rock-Oak-Deer and Janet at Plantaliscious both shared the lesson that the plants we don't capture with the camera are often the ones we remember most fondly.

Helene at Graphicality-UK learned that Fuchsia cuttings perform better outside than inside--even when the temperatures flirt with frost. Anita at Castles Crowns and Cottages learned that each of us needs a bit of nature during our days in order to thrive. Jane at Hoe Hoe Grow learned that procrastination can leave a person with two bags of Tulip bulbs and soil too wet to dig before winter.

Seems we've learned some critical garden lessons during the past season. If you've written a post during the past few months that fits here, feel free to add the link in your comments. And, of course, if I've forgotten anyone, please let me know and I'll update the post.

Thanks to all--for sharing your lessons and comparing notes. If we don't connect before then, have a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

(Note: Photos in this post were not taken recently. I've been a bit under the weather, and with the recent ice storm and cold, I didn't feel like venturing out. Plus, I had quite a few photos of snowy benches that seemed appropriate for this post.)