JANUARY 2025
Backyard birds – winter seedheads and leftover berries – new shoots and even a few blooms (!) – and the willows in all their naked glory!
Chestnut-backed Chickadee, puffed out in the cold, looking as soft as the catkins on the Star Magnolia tree!
Black-capped Chickadee hanging by one foot. Such acrobatics!
A Golden-Crowned Sparrow blends in with the ground. Plenty of birdseed!
Pine Siskin in Star Magnolia. Such a sweet little bird - but very picky at the feeder!
Artichoke Seedhead - Such an exotic flower! Are there viable seeds in there? Possibly, but I don't want to disrupt what might be a winter home for something.
Cornelian Cherry buds (Cornus mas). I might cut a few branches to bring indoors and brighten things up!
Drooping Calendula - ah, the frost has taken its toll. But I am surprised it has lasted this long, and perhaps it will return.
First White Primroses - Be still my heart!
Hazel Catkins provide important early pollen for bees.
Pink Violets are blooming! In January! True love!
Cardoon, a close relative to the artichoke, sends up its first leaves. They are edible at this stage. Later, they get a bit bitter.
First Nettles! Can you believe it? I am SO craving fresh nettle greens! I might let them get a little bit bigger.
Highbush cranberry - which is not really a cranberry - is quite edible, but it is a good winter food source for birds. I leave it for them.
The first rhubarb buds are always so sensual and colorful - like a dancer! These stalks will grow Huge!
Woven willow wall - this provides the back to a bench. Wonderful how it has grown over the years!
Contorted living willow sculpture. I love this in January because it is just. so. weird.
Willow entrance - a mysterious path ahead, not nearly so ominous in broad daylight.
Willow room in winter. Who would guess this would transform into something green and wild? The birds absolutely love this haven. It also provides a good wind buffer.
JANUARY 2020
JANUARY 2017
We don’t always get snow here in Sequim, Washington, but this year, we got blasted with some hail on the first of January, and it decided to stick around. The gardens are dormant, and yet I am always thankful to harvest a bit of kale or a few collards.
