4 simple ways to embrace winter

My beds are tucked in for the winter - but lots is going on under the surface

We wrapped up a stunning fall season here in the Chicago area, and unlike other years, I didn’t find myself clinging to the last wisps of warm weather. I actually am happy about the change of seasons and ready to embrace winter, with its icy grip and barren trees.

The thing that most of us get wrong about winter is that it’s desolate and unwelcoming. Harsh and depressing. In reality, winter is anything but - and my flower garden showed me why.

Winter is a much-needed respite from the intense pressure to grow, put out blooms and make seeds. And, we people, are not unlike flowers; we go through cycles too. The move from one season to the next resets our minds and bodies. Winter makes that fresh start possible.

When you look at a garden in the winter, you may think it’s empty, dead, desolate. In fact, it’s just resting, regenerating, growing deeper roots. One crucial garden task in the fall is to apply compost and mulch to nourish and protect not only perennials but the beneficial organisms that will support the garden in the spring.

You may chuckle at this, but when I covered my raised beds with a layer of dried leaves in October, it literally felt like I was putting a child to sleep. And that’s exactly what I was doing. Come spring, my baby annuals will take root in a most welcoming environment that developed quietly under the snow cover.

If you’re still not sold on why winter is worthy of our love, here are a few simple and mindful ways to give it another chance, even on the coldest of cold days.

Think that nature is preparing a spectacular comeback in spring. Instead of thinking that the trees and plants are just “dead,” imagine they are just resting before blooming again in a few months.

Watch for wildlife and enjoy their flurry of activity. Few things are more delightful in winter than seeing a beautiful red cardinal against the white snow. Or even the occasional squirrel. 

Go out when it snows. One little tradition we have in our family is to go for a walk when snow starts to cover the ground. Every single time we did this, we were the only ones outside and deeply enjoyed the silence and beauty surrounding us.

Anticipate the rush of warm air welcoming you back inside. I lost count of how many times my family has heard me exclaim “It feels so good to be back inside!” after a walk in the cold air. Few things are as feel-good as warming up inside with a cup of hot tea.

This year, in particular, there are two more reasons why I’ve warmed up to winter: The excitement of planning my next year’s cutting garden and growing my flower preservation business. The anticipation fills me with so much hope and excitement because I know that beneath the frozen ground, good things are happening.

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