GARDENING FOR UNCERTAINTY

Good morning, dear Mark and Ben readers and Happy New Year.

It might surprise you to hear that the 4^th gardening season, winter, can have a greater impact on your future gardening success than any of the other 3 seasons…. Maybe all 3 of them combined.

Got your attention?

Just when you thought that the season of snow and ice, when it finally arrives, is your time off to take up another pastime, here we are putting an opportunity at your feet that we urge you to accept. 

Winter, especially a long, cold Canadian one, is a time to dream, rest, and plan.

Think about that where your garden is concerned. You can move mountains, rock walls, outbuildings and build the Taj Mahal in your back yard. In your mind.

There is so much more to January and February in, say, Edmonton or Halifax or Toronto, Iqaluit .. you name the place, than just “winter” as we think of it.

Dedicated gardeners will start thinking about ordering their seeds late in January or February. This, for most of us, is the beginning of the beginning.

Now, we want to encourage you to think of TODAY as the beginning. 

Your garden in 2024 can exceed your previous experience by yards and maybe kilometres. 

But only if you allow yourself, no, encourage yourself, to relax, sleep, cuddle, and dream as you never will April through November. Why? Because you are distracted by seeding, planting, weeding, mulching and the list is endless.

How do we know this? We know you better than you think. Cause we are one of you.  

WHAT WE LEARNED

2023 has confirmed that one thing is certain: there are no certainties. As the warmest year in recorded history concludes, we wince at the thought of 2024 setting yet another new record. But we are not ruling out the possibility. With the pace of change accelerating around us, our gardening priorities change too. This year we are planning gardens that can thrive in a broader range of conditions; to fill our baskets, add beauty, and bring us the personal peace so many are searching for. For wetter and for drier, here are some ways we are planning our gardens for 2024:

-          Creating microclimates that can protect plants from extreme temperatures or wind is also an opportunity to add some architectural flair to your garden. Think about ways to incorporate a pergola, espalier wall to block wind or sunlight, or shade sails to provide protected seating areas and partial shade for those plants that demand it.

-         Rain barrels are a no-brainer if you don’t already have one. “More rain, less often” is a general trend we are seeing. Think: droughts, and downpours. Employing a rain barrel to capture excess rain during heavy downpour provides a sustainable solution for replenishing moisture during the heat of the summer, while also helping relieve pressure on municipal wastewater infrastructure.

-         “Diversity as a strength” is not just a mantra, it’s a scientific fact. Not only will broadening the diversity of plants in your yard support more beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife, it will also make your garden adaptable to a wider range of environmental conditions.

-         New plant hardiness maps are being released by Natural Resources Canada for the first time since 2014, to reflect our changing climate. Gardeners have long referenced their hardiness zone to determine plant selection, but be aware that your area could be increased by one or half of a hardiness zone. Note that these changes are more drastic in western than eastern Canada. More information here: https://globalnews.ca/news/10146246/canadas-plant-hardiness-zones-map-ready-to-bloom-for-1st-time-in-10-years/

Our gardens are a place to make meaningful change in our natural environment and find peace in our chaotic world – may you continue to find some peace in your garden in 2024.

Happy New Year and may you enjoy the garden of your dreams in 2024.

We are with you on this journey. Stick with us, as we want to be a part of your gardening experience. 

With thanks that you do,

Sincerely,

Mark and Ben Cullen

Merchants of Beans and Beauty

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