Winter Garden Dreams and Plans for 2025
Slowing Down and Dreaming Big: Seasonal Intentions for Your Garden
Hey there, lovely beings.
How are you holding up during this busy time of year?
Is your cup being filled or emptied?
Normally I expect myself to feel more frazzled this time of year, yet I am not totally relaxed. I have made an intentional effort to do the crafts that light me up this time of year- drying oranges for decoration, making homemade simmer pot mixes for the kids teachers and exploring baking some new recipes like an orange posset or Salty Chocolate Pretzel Rye Cookies by Half Baked Harvest. I have also been leaning into community, both helping bring people together and attending events that bring me comfort like the Winter Solstice celebration tomorrow at Wild Roots Studio and our monthly full moon gathering.
My goal is to try and move myself and my family away from the mindless consumerism that still gets to us all and try to bring a meaning to this time of year to slowing down and connecting with our natural environment first and foremost. I will not be home on the actual evening of the Winter Solstice but that is okay, perhaps tonight I bundle the family up and we go on a star and moonlit walk and talk about what is happening in the natural world around us.
This time of year also doesn't feel traditionally like the Christmas times I grew up with. It is warmer and drier than years I can remember, with temperatures climbing to 54°F the week of Christmas when our average high is 43°F. This nice weather makes me feel like Christmas can't just be right around the corner? What does a warmed up Christmas mean for our traditions and our planet? These tend to be the winter thoughts that creep in for me and fuel me to want to do what I can to help us and our planet adapt and witness our impacts on Earth.
If you have been feeling a similar desire to slow down or are just getting that urge now, come along with me as we learn collectively how to more deeply embrace the natural rhythms- to live with more intention and awe.
Here I What Is Happening In My Garden
I watch trees like the Hawthorns and Crab Apples still provide a sweet treat to not just the squirrels but the robins and chickadees. I have been spotting our great barn owl more around this time of year- taking advantage of the longer nights I'd imagine for hunting. The deciduous trees have now all lost their leaves and through them I can more clearly see the vistas around me. The conifer trees like the pines, junipers and spruce take center stage now. The snowberry bushes are still holding onto their white berries and are a reminder to myself to dig some up come spring and extend their reach to other parts of my yard. Driving around town, I am captivated by the variety of colors and heights of ornamental grasses, taking notes of some of my favorites.
Garden Planning
What I am thinking about in my space, upcoming projects and guidance on key questions to ask yourself as you plan your garden.
Dried Flower Garden Expansion
One of my favorite projects from last year was growing flowers specifically for drying. This year, I’m allocating more of the garden to plants like strawflower, bunny tail grass, bachelor buttons, artemesias and gomphrena. I also want to experiment with a few new varieties, which I think will bring vibrant color and texture to dried arrangements and seasonal crafts. These flowers remind me that beauty in the garden can linger well past the growing season, filling winter months with color and joy.
A Shift in the Kitchen Garden
The kitchen garden plants have been dialed in, and I’m ready to shift focus. After years of experimenting with different squash and tomato varieties, I’ve found the ones I love most and I will be sure to share this with you soon. This year, I’m giving dedicating more space to flowering plants. It feels like a natural evolution, a chance to blend utility and beauty in new ways. I know have a good sense too of what plants my family will actually eat a lot of from the garden- garlic, onions, parsnips, cucumbers, dill, radish, carrots, some kohlorabi, bok choy, artichoke. Plants not consumed as much as I would have imagined are salad greens, peppers, pumpkin, okra, corn.
Adding New Elements
Every year, I like to introduce or expand a few plants in the landscape. This year, elderberry and low-growing sumac are at the top of my list. The rich colors of sumac in the fall are a favorite of mine, and elderberry will not only provide food but also deepen the garden’s connection to folk herbalism traditions and immune boosting concoctions. I’m also planning to weave in more grasses to add movement and texture to the garden, grounding it further to the traditional short grass prairie landscapes of the Front Range.
Collaborative Dreams with Wild Roots Studio
A part of my winter planning is focused on the herb garden being building at Wild Roots Studio. This project is an opportunity to combine creativity and intention in designing a space that will teach and inspire. My planning process starts with an overhead view of the property, allowing us to make adjustments and updates to reflect the space’s evolving needs. From there, we outline garden goals, decide what we’ll plant based off what will be utilized, and create a seasonal plan. Each step is tied to a clear budget and timeline, ensuring the vision comes to life in a manageable way.
This herb garden will be more than a place to grow plants; it will be a space for connection — with nature, with the cycles of the earth, herbalism and with each other. Workshops and programs will bring this vision to life, weaving together herbalism, wildcrafting, and the art of growing.
Dreaming into Action
These plans are seeds, planted now in the quiet of winter. Soon, they’ll sprout into action, bringing new life to the garden and new opportunities to connect with the land. As I sip tea made from last year’s harvest, I’m reminded that gardening is as much about dreaming as it is about doing.
Starting Your Garden Dreaming and Planning
Dreaming about your garden is the first step toward creating something truly magical. Here are some questions to help guide your garden planning and turn those dreams into actionable steps:
What inspired you in your garden last year? Reflect on the plants, colors, or designs that brought you the most joy.
What new elements would you like to explore? Consider adding plants that align with your goals—whether that’s more flowers for pollinators, herbs for remedies, or vegetables for your table.
What challenges did you face? Think about what didn’t work well and how you might adjust—from improving soil health to rethinking your watering schedule.
What spaces are available for expansion? Look at your garden layout and identify areas that could be redesigned or revitalized.
What is your budget and timeline? Outline what you can realistically accomplish in each season, ensuring your plans are manageable and enjoyable.
What role will your garden play in your life? Envision how you’d like to engage with your garden—as a peaceful retreat, a food source, a place for your family to come together, or all of the above.
Taking time to answer these questions will help you create a garden plan that feels both intentional and inspiring. Winter is the perfect season to dream big and prepare for the possibilities ahead.
Ready to dig deeper into seasonal living and garden inspiration? Join me on Substack for more reflections, tips, and guidance to help you embrace the rhythms of nature and create a garden (and life) filled with intention and joy.