- Author: Lowell Cooper
As winter sets in here my wife and I always look towards warmer environs. This time we are off to Cambodia, Viet Nam, and Myanmar, from where I hope to get the material for this round of blogs. We will be gone a month, so it will take some remembering and note-taking to keep everything in mind. Fortunately, aging has made me more comfortable using ‘aids', like notes and pics.
Right now I am in a bit of a quandary about my own garden since I tell myself that I can pull back on watering for the month even though it is relatively cold but just not as wet as I would like. My roses are pruned and everything is mulched, so off I go. Our house and animals are being looked after by a very dear young couple who have done it before, so we have some confidence that they will do a good job. Sometimes there are botanical prices to pay, but I figure whatever doesn't make it will open up a spot for something new. The animals, however, have always done well under their care. They also have to look after hummingbirds, local birds, and fish. So, they have a full month.
I think that it is because we often take off for a winter trip, I don't go overboard with winter flowers. I just put in many bulbs and hoping that by the time I get back, they will be popping up. On the one hand, the garden is somewhat drab and uninviting, but with new plantings, in place, it embodies hope and springtime.
I feel bad that I don't have more of horticultural interest to report on. It is like the plants themselves – they have their own time. I am getting old enough that my thoughts are dominated by the hope that we return in good health – taking lots of sunscreen and anti-malarial meds. I'll be thinking about you and the prospects of my garden and wishing you all a good month, with lots of happy planting. I would say enjoy smelling the roses, but that is for another season.