'Oh, I can't wait until this month is over'

'Oh, I just can't wait for this month to be over'

This was a quote I heard recently referring to the month of January. You see, there has always been a 'thing' about this month, where we have been noted to remark how it's cold, dark, there is a lack of good weather and there is nothing to look forward to, so we just want it over.

However, I have really come to appreciate this month; the fact that it is a time of calm and rest, a time of sitting in by the fire or meeting friends of a quiet drink; the madness of Christmas and the holiday period is over and February has not yet shown it's early hues of colour, heralding the Spring to come.

It's also a time, where we look back over the year that has passed and evaluated or critique it, highlighting and celebrating the highs, and outlining the areas for improvement on things that didn't quite work out the way we wanted them to. We then look forward to the coming year, making resolutions and promises to ourselves, and others, on what we hope to achieve, what our goals are going to be, or simply what our next steps are.

From a gardening point of view, this month is a gift. Us gardeners are looking at seed catalogues, garden manual and books, diving for inspiration and dreaming of borders, plants, colours, layout, design, texture, movement and of course, who we are going to rope in to do the hard work with us!
I have also been busy reading other garden blogs too, and I highly recommend this as there are some great writers and photographers out there that get the creative juices flowing and instigate thought process in a way that you may not have considered before.For me, this month allows a pause, to take stock of where we are at in the bigger scheme of things and, work out what we hope to achieve by year end. My last blog started in this vein, what my resolutions are, although it quickly began to move into being a to do list!
That's okay though, it's the space I'm in.

Of course it helps if we get some of the milder days we have experienced recently. This gives an opportunity to be outdoors without the harsh elements biting at us, and appreciate whatever small bit colour is there. You see that's the beauty of this time of year. If we see the slightest hint of colour, we appreciate it so much more than maybe we would during other months, where colour is in such an abundance.

In the garden last week, I came across one of the shrub roses with just one flower on it. Yes, this one flower shone like a jewel, and the fragrance was reminiscent of another time, where the sun shines golden and we actually see warm clear blue days stretch well into the nighttime hours. Lovely.
I went back the next day to take another look and it was gone, petals fallen and nothing but bare stems. Hmmm, I was very appreciative to have seen and smelled it when I did!

Yes, what's rare is even more cherished.

So, as we start the new year, do take sometime out to take stock of where you are at, plan a little for the coming seasons and, most importantly, appreciate those little things.

Happy gardening!