December; Frosty Goodbyes….

The photograph above was the result of my hand meeting the greenhouse doors on a cold & frosty December morning in 2022… (GG Team - miss you)

I was in my garden today, pottering about as I do… Then I decided to take a moment to sip my coffee & enjoy the now rare warmth of the afternoon sun. this was when I noticed the signs of retreat which are everywhere. Tree branches bare with their silhouettes against low winter skies, the soil now cool under my fingers & the last stubborn leaves curling but still hanging on with whispered goodbyes. But I know - because I’ve been here a million times before: beneath this dormancy is quiet activity. Roots continue to knit deeper into the earth & bulbs lie sleeping with the confidence that their moment will return! December shows that what appears to be so still.. is so often simply preparing.

For me as a Gardener, this is a month of easy, slower tasks rather than big frantic ones. Which is a huge relief to me! Time for me to clear away any debris, cut down & tidy any wayward stems & protect pots from harsh frosts by grouping them together or lifting them onto feet to help drainage. If you grow Roses or fruit trees, now is a great time to prune, shaping them for the year ahead. Pruning Roses is one of my favourite winter jobs!

And don’t forget those little creatures who share your garden: offering food and fresh water for birds can transform bleak days into moments of quiet companionship. I love watching the bird feeders at this time of the year. Sunflower hearts being the Goldfinches, Greenfinches & Robins in their droves…

December invites me once again to reflect.

It’s a time to look back at the year with softness rather than scrutiny. What grew? What wilted? What did I carry further than I meant to, and what can I finally put down? There is a relief in acknowledging your own limits, in recognising when it’s time to pause, listen, and let life settle before beginning again.

Which brings me to this: This will be my final blog for a while. I’m stepping back to make space to rest, to restore, to let new ideas germinate beneath the surface. Just like the garden, I trust that stillness has its own kind of busy magic. I’ll return when the season inside me shifts, when the light comes back in its own time.

Until then, thank you for walking through these past 2 years with me month by month. It’s been a journey. For me, both of recovery & realisation. May your December be gentle, grounded, and filled with memorable moments. May your January be the start of a great new year…

I leave you with this: