Thurs. Jan. 27, 2022: Nor’eater Coming In

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Thursday, January 27, 2022

4^th Quarter Waning Moon in Scorpio

Venus & Mercury Retrograde

Celtic Tree Month of Rowan

Sunny and cold

It’s very cold again today, although it’s supposed to get up into the 20’s F later on. We’re preparing for a nor’easter set to come in tomorrow night and hit hard on Saturday. There are so many different predictions, we could have anywhere from 3 inches of snow to 18.

We’re in the Celtic Tree Month of Rowan right now. The Rowan is associated with Brigid, the goddess tied to the upcoming Imbolc next week. It’s a tree of mystery, divination, healing, and success.

Even though it’s cold and there’s an incoming storm, the birds are out and about as though spring is coming. They can feel that the seasons are about to turn. They are very busy and chatty. We have several nests and birdhouses out back, and they are already busy. We are still trying to figure out where to place the bird feeder so the squirrel doesn’t keep taking it down.

I’m working to get everything done today and early tomorrow, so that when the storm comes in, I don’t have to worry about anything other than the power staying on.

Stay safe, friends!

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Thurs. Jan. 20, 2022: In Winter

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Thursday, January 20, 2022

Third Quarter Waning Moon in Leo (moving into Virgo this morning)

Venus and Mercury Retrograde

Celtic Tree Month of Birch (Rowan begins tomorrow)

Snowy and cold

We are genuinely in winter now. I’m a Winter Girl (born during a snowstorm on a full moon), so I don’t mind. I’m especially grateful that the power has stayed on during the storms, and that I work remotely.

Not much to say on the garden front. The evergreen wreath which was on the front door, and, now stripped, is one the living room door is still fresh and vibrant. We tend the indoor plants. I’m looking for the box with the seed packets I didn’t get to plant last year, hoping I can use some of them this year.

While none of my work is particularly difficult right now, all I want to do is rest, read, or lie on the couch and watch the mountains and the clouds. Sadly, I have to limit that time, as I need to earn a living. But still, I steal blocks of time to do so, and I enjoy it.

How are you enjoying winter?

Thurs. Jan. 13, 2022: Back to Seasonable Weather

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Thursday, January 13, 2022

Second Quarter Waxing Moon in Gemini

Uranus & Venus Retrograde

Mercury goes retrograde tomorrow

Celtic Tree Month of Birch

Cloudy and cold

We’re finally into seasonal weather here in the Berkshires, which means snowy and cold. With the windchill, this weekend, it’s supposed to go down to -31F. Reminds me of living in Chicago when I was a little, little kid! But the plants need it. They need rest time (if only people could rest, too).

We are snuggled down in the house; the thermostat is set a little lower than we had it in the Cape house, but it’s warmer (heat works better, insulation is better). We haven’t even needed the hot water bottles yet, although I suspect that will change this weekend.

The minimal errands I have to do are on foot. We are pretty well stocked up, although I try to get to the grocery store to replenish things like milk, eggs, butter.

I’m reading (and re-reading) books on container gardening, trying to figure out where I have the seeds packed, and what seeds I need to order.

We won’t grow many vegetables this year – maybe some small tomatoes and mini-cucumbers and some lettuce. The focus will be more on herbs, and maybe a few pollinator flowers. It’s very different here, so we need to see what does well, and how different types of plants do on the porch and balcony.

The planning and dreaming are fun, but, eventually, we will have to get down to practicalities.

What are your garden dreams for this year?

Jan. 6, 2022: Garden Dreams

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Thursday, January 6, 2022

First Quarter Moon Waxing in Pisces

Uranus and Venus Retrograde

Celtic Tree Month of Birch

Cloudy and cold

The weather has been kind of wacky here, and, from what I hear from others, unusual. We should basically be snowed in here. But, while the weather has dipped down to being pretty cold at night, we’ve had more rain and freezing rain than snow. On the one hand, yay, I can run errands on foot. On the other, I’d rather be tucked in with snow.

We brought some ore plants in from the front porch, although we don’t really have room for them until we put away the Winter Holiday decorations (which happens today).

The seed catalogs are arriving, and I’m in the lovely dreamstate of over-fantasizing about how many seeds I can reasonably buy and plant for the coming year.

I ordered a bunch of seeds last year and couldn’t plant any of them, due to the timing of the move. I will see what I can do this year. The Territorial Seed catalogues and the Kitchen Seeds catalogues are here; three or four others are on the way. I will compare my favorites in each, and then decide how much it makes sense to try this year, since it will be our first full season.

I’m also going over the book GROW ALL YOU CAN EAT IN THREE SQUARE FEET to see what makes sense there, since I like growing things we can eat. I’m just not sure we have the room. We have more room on the back balcony than out front, but I’m not sure we get enough sun, since it’s northern exposure. So it will be trial and error, and I need to be better at notetaking and tracking than I usually am.

I had a lovely conversation on Twitter on Tuesday with fellow gardeners. They gave me some wonderful resources.

What are your plans for your garden this year?