Seasonal Gardening Guide

Winter 2008 - Make tracks this season

In this glade covered with bushes of a year's growth, see how the silvery dust lies on every seared leaf and twig, deposited in such infinite and luxurious forms as by their very variety atone for the absence of color. Observe the tiny tracks of mice around every stem, and the triangular tracks of the rabbit.
"A Winter Walk", Henry David Thoreau

Snow has already come to much of Canada. Winter can seem a curse those frigid mornings sweeping and scraping snow and ice off the car before heading to work or stamping your feet to keep warm while waiting at the bus stop. But there are those days, on weekends or holidays, when waking to the glory of a sun-filled winter day holds the promise of invigorating outdoor activity in the form of skiing, snowshoeing, skating or even a brisk walk. The best way to endure the hardships of a Canadian winter is to revel in the glory it brings as often as possible. Even a lazy day spent by a warm fire feels luxurious in winter.

One of the great things about winter is you get to discover the presence of those wildlife species you rarely get to see. The snow allows us to monitor the movement of wildlife that we might otherwise not know were about. Check your property for tracks in the snow to see what creatures call your property home. One of those animals might just be the ermine, our feature creature of the season.

It is in winter that you get to appreciate those plants that provide a bit of colour through the seasons. Winterberry, our feature plant, holds its bright red berries through the winter, adding colour to your garden and a much needed source of sustenance for birds and other wildlife in this harshest of seasons.

For those days when you really don't feel like venturing out into the cold, spend some time dreaming and scheming about your perfect garden. Our backyard habitat article this season will help you in this regard by providing some advice on choosing perennials for the spring to come.

Enjoy our winter articles, 
Maria