Location: Vermont
Oh January. Whose idea was this?
I stand with my nose up against the glass and look out at a cold white blur. Snow is piling up, blowing, obliterating any sign of life. Christmas is over and now, like others of my kind here in the far north, I am weary of the chill and effort winter requires.
I turn around and there, greeting me like a secret, is my secret garden. In the middle of my happy, green houseplants I have set the amaryllis. I splurged this year and bought the biggest, healthiest bulb at the local organic plant store. It bloomed the day after Christmas and now, here in early January, two other stunning blooms have come up. It’s a deep red variety and I planted it in a shallow bowl, actually a deep blue serving bowl, and it looks so beautiful. Later in the month the bright yellow tulips should be blooming. So much to look forward to!
This is the secret to foiling the foul winds and bitter reality of Mother Nature in January - beauty. Things that bloom. Especially anything that is the opposite of white snow. Deep dripping red amaryllis. Blue crocuses and violet hydrangea. Yellow tulips. I’m big on the bulbs. They need to be prepared (stuck in a cool dark place for a couple of months) or you can cheat and buy them “ready to bloom in winter”. Also, as I am a complete cheapskate (and proud of it) I sometimes plant a big tray of grass. Cheap and satisfying…
My secret garden. Carry on cold cruel world. You won’t get us down…
