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First Day, First Snow, and Time to Sow

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The first snow of the season is usually magical. This first snow seemed to melt quickly after falling from the sky.

Happy New Year. I awakened early on this first day of 2026 to witness the first snowfall. My imagination allowed me to assume it would be plentiful after driving on heavily treated roads the past two days. 

We bundled up, cracked open the door, and witnessed golden Amsonia branches glistening with shimmering flakes of snow. Powdered snow dusted the pansies and the leaf blanket that covered them.

Arms locked together, we walked on the first day, looking up in hopes a snowflake would gently rest on our faces. Our cheeks facing the heavens were greeted with gentle snowflakes. Each one instantly melted upon contact. This was an innocent moment, frozen in time.  

Precious sniffed here and there, for once, slowly strolling as if appreciating the silent start to this day. Walking at daybreak encourages me to fall in love with my sleepy urban community. The unique tree canopies carry stories of the past. Each homeowner creates a garden or strives toward having the perfect lawn. Every yard writes a new chapter in this neighborhood story. 

First bulbs of the next season are eager to emerge from the frozen earth to prepare for Spring.

Upon our return home, I notice bulb tips emerging from the earth in my garden. I realize it’s time to select and sow seeds for the next season, not just in my garden, but also in my life. What seeds will I sow? Only seeds of positivity, perennial seeds preferably, or biennial seeds. Sowing seeds reminds me to avoid any distractions or things that might discourage me from sowing seeds of joy for the next season. Sown correctly, the next season’s blooms will remind me to hang in there, witnessing all things beautiful!

What was your impression of the first day of 2026? Did you have snow? Did you rest and reflect? I hope you made time for a memory and a plan for sowing seeds of joy.

I love the times of rest, reflection, and preparation that occur on the first day of each year. 

Teri, Cottage in the Court

Seeds – Fellowshipping and Swapping

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Seeds are one of the most economical ways to begin gardening. Pass along or purchased, seeds are the gift that keeps on giving.

Seeds can plant memorable moments of joy for the home and the garden. A mere seed from a favored plant or an item one has dreams of growing can invoke happiness. Every January, in the middle of the nesting season, seeds are on the minds of many gardeners. After all, National Seed Swap Day celebrated on the last Saturday in January is a moment to fellowship and share.

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

Since 2006, devotees of the seed world can credit Kathy Jentz, Washington Gardener Magazine for creating this wonderful day of seed love. Those who enjoy growing from seed, pick through their unsown seeds from the prior season, find a seed swap, and participates in a day of information, education, and seed swapping. Groups large and small line up tables, acquire speakers and create an organized activity day. Others simply find unique ways to share the love of seeds. For some, it is an opportunity to gather seeds of rare plants or just something they consider “new”. For others, it is a way to obtain answers to their seed questions or to bolster their hutzpah to just sow something different. Any way you look at it – seeds are cool, engaging and present endless opportunities to engage with the earth.

This year I volunteered to assist with the Washington Gardener Seed Swap I. Brookside Gardens, one of the most supportive entities for engaging in nature in Montgomery County, was the site for this day of seed swapping. I am so glad I did!!

EARNING AND LEARNING ABOUT SEEDS

Seed Swap bags packed with just enough room left over for collecting seeds, of course.

Arriving early, we packed swag bags with products from some of the sponsors. Filling each swag bag with seed starting information, product samples, and more! I chose a pink one that I hoped would accommodate my haul. I came to volunteer …but I also came to swap!

Seeds are the best investment to get you in the mood to garden!

As we waited for the attendees, I perused the items featured on the Free tables. Three tables of information for gardeners of all levels. From books to catalogs to egg crates, all for free. I knew it was the calm before the storm. We had to open the doors early to accommodate the attendees.

SPOKEN WORDS ON SEEDS

Debby Ward, Prior Unity Garden helped us release our fears of transplanting and more.

Our first speaker was Debby Ward, Prior Unity Garden located in Northern Virginia. I have heard Debby speak before and once again she did not disappoint. This year she shared a story about Hardening Off and Transplanting Seedlings. We have all had seedling failures. Not enough light, too much light, too much water, dampening off and more. Debby shared tips on our zone, frost/freeze dates, how to simplify the transplanting process and more. Her approach to addressing these topics was quite empowering. YES, I can cut that seedling back so the stronger one can thrive (you had to be there). Listening to Debby’s words and really identifying with her story, I found myself starting seeds at midnight!

Our first winner of the raffles was quite overjoyed! He shared how awesome this prize was.

Next, we had a few raffles of everything from pond kits to books. The raffles took place throughout the day. Each of the attendees scanned the table to know what they wanted should they have the winning ticket.

Linda L. Jones, Elements of Nature shared tips on Companion Planting and using this process to our best advantage.

Our next speaker was Linda L. Jones, Elements of Nature, Certified Master Gardener, curator of Botanicals and Farmeceuticals for personal use. Linda shared tips on Companion Planting for Pest Management in the Home Garden. From Cosmos to Sedum we learned what to plant with what and why. We discovered how certain plants encouraged good bugs and some not so good bugs as well.

Once again another empowering moment for anyone who just might have hesitations about playing in the dirt. Companion planting is the art of knowing what to plant near what. This practice of companion planting also focuses on plant health. Trust me, I am definitely growing Cosmos this year. I had already noticed some collected seeds from Linda’s garden on the Annual table.

Attendees perusing the Annual seeds and bulb table during a break. Plotting, planning their seed grabs…for when the swap begins.

Each Seed Swap is different. The Washington Gardener Seed Swap is very well organized, with a great selection of seeds. Kathy Jentz makes sure there is a break for snacks.

Pam Stegall Roberts of Calvert Farm sharing information about an Organic Seasonal Farm Share. CSAs are always good to support!

Pam Stegall Roberts of Calvert Farm donated the snacks for the day. This CSA operates on sustainable and chemical-free practices. Calvert Farm accepts Maryland Market Money and accepts donations to help families in Maryland stretch their food budgets. We are all aware that sometimes the opportunity for access to healthier, fresh food options can prove difficult. There are drop off locations and Pam has begun to offer a payment plan for a share of produce per season. Coming up with a lump sum of money for a share of organic produce can now be affordable. What a terrific idea. Even I am pondering this as an option, so I can grow more flowers.

The crowd sits attentively waiting for the first group to be called. The Seed Swap was about to get real!!

Finally, it was time for some serious seed swapping. The attendees had hovered over the tables, noting where their Wish List seeds were located. We listened to the announcements and positioned ourselves to be ready for the first pickings. It was a pleasantly tense moment for this room full of “Seed Heads”. Each attendee was on a mission and quite focused on the task at hand.

THE BEGINNING OF MY WINNING

This year there was a houseplant cutting table. I noticed a cutting of something I was going to order from a catalog this week. When Kathy announced, “all those from Prince Georges County you may now pick one packet of seeds,” I knew where to head. While the bulk of the attendees went to gather seeds…I headed over to the cutting table. The Brugmansia cutting was mine. I could have done a Brugmansia dance!

I wonder what seeds I can use to start my Pollinator Victory Garden early??

The day wore on until the tables were empty and the room packed up. Elated when I won a book, there was also that moment when I collected three more books from the free table. I was one happy “Seed Head”.

SECOND CHANCES

I know you are thinking…wow…I missed this day of Intentional Love of Seeds. There are seed swaps going on almost all Spring long. In fact, Washington Gardener Seed Swap II is Saturday, February 1, 2020, at Greenspring Gardens, Alexandria, Virginia. Two new speakers – Niraj Ray, Cultivate the City ( Seed Starting 101) and Carol Allen, Horticulturist (The Lost Art of Plant Sharing: Taking Cuttings, Saving Seed and Dividing). This will be another can’t miss Seed Swap for those who love seeds. To purchase a ticket click here.

Seeds of Celosia, squash, Castor beans to ward off the groundhog and more. This was a terrific day!!

I gathered some additional seeds for flowers and squash. I love stuffed squash blossoms. As I drove home, I was daydreaming about winter sowing, potting up my Brugmansia cutting, Christmas Lima Beans, and reading the book I won, The Pollinator Victory Garden by Kim Eierman. Thank me later, but rumor has it that Christmas Lima Beans are a thing.

Have you attended a seed swap? Do seeds help get you through the winter when you can’t put your hands in the dirt? Try to find a seed swap near you and swaps some seeds. Even if you do not have seeds to swap, someone has donated more than enough. Better yet, create your own Seed Swap Day!

Off to check my winter sowing jugs, grinning from ear to ear with my Nasturtium Alaska seeds, and dreaming of our next season!

Teri, Cottage In The Court

Scent of Winter – A Sweetness In The Air

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The scent of the season can be brought inside and enjoyed while nesting.

Scent during the cold months of winter are welcomed indoors and out. There are some fragrances that we anticipate and others we do not. Scents play such a role in our lives. As a gardener in the off season I seek out seasonal scents whenever I go outside.

Now that the holidays are over, the smell of balsam, fir and pine, still linger lightly in the landscape. In my yard, this fragrance comes from recycling wreaths with home-made edible ornaments for the birds.

Each flower looks like a ballerina. In my mind, the imaginary skirt twirls as it emits the sweet scent of winter.

As I wander down by the woods line, I lift my nose there is a faint sweet smelling scent. A scent that in some circles is known as “Sweet Breath of Spring” or “Kiss Me At The Gate”. In other circles it is known as January Jasmine or Chinese Honeysuckle. When I lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia, we called it “Winter Honeysuckle”.

Botanically speaking, it is “Lonicera fragrantissima”. A honeysuckle with the sweetest scent in the middle of winter. This shrub has an expected height and girth of 6 – 10 feet. Great for those who have space, as every branch that touches the ground takes root. If you are considering a shrub that will create a thicket if left alone, the added value of this shrub is the scent.

This scent would waft through the air as I walked past the downtown train station in Fredericksburg. In a neglected corner, this shrub did not look like much. We often forgot to water it, yet the sweet scent it shared was one of forgiveness. We could see passersby looking around in wonderment as they tried to figure out where the scent was coming from.

Left on it’s own devices, Winter Honeysuckle can become gangly in appearance. Full or part sun, it will only require moderate water to survive. A decent pruning after bloom will keep this shrub happy and healthy as it flourishes in the landscape.

The pale pink, almost white sheath holds the subtly sweet scent of winter.

The delicate bulb like buds are held tight on each limb. Covered in a sheath of soft pink, a gentle squeeze of these buds, tickle your sense of smell. Perfect for cutting and placing in your vase of choice, Winter Honeysuckle branches add a sweet scent to the air. Although some consider this a thug shrub, placed properly it has value in the landscape.

When there is nothing else in bloom, try Winter Honeysuckle. Whether it is in the ground or in a vase, it is sure to brighten up any gray winter day!!

The scent of Winter Honeysuckle dances in the air on slippers of gold…only in my mind.

I hope you add a bit of fragrance to your world as we continue nesting til Spring!

Teri, Cottage In The Court

To find out more about this fragrant shrub, click here.

Stillness in Winter – A Gift to The Gardener

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Stillness in winter is perfect for autumnal tasks.

When the air is crisp and the leaves are falling leaf removal is on our mind. Which is why autumn in winter is a gift for this gardener. The stillness of winter beckoned me to see what I could get done on a warm December day.

My stool and the Women’s Work gauntlet gloves are today’s garden essentials.

I gathered the necessary tools to not work but linger in the garden on my own terms. None of my neighbors were outside enjoying the stillness of the day. The birds were chirping, dogs barking and I was alone to commune with nature. I reached into my curbside flowerbed and gently lifted the leaves. Away from the crowns, from in between the foliage, I tossed them to the curb. Tossing over my shoulder, the acorns which were trying to take root, landed softly on the growing pile. Noone heard this but me, in the stillness of a winter day.

GIFTS BENEATH THE LEAVES

The single dandelion boldly blooming, despite the season.

I chose to linger in certain spots because of the gifts that continually appeared as I sorted through the leaves. The bold bloom of a dandelion, with basal foliage peeking from beneath a clump of yarrow. Often under-appreciated, the dandelion brings so much to the garden. This gift, considered a weed to some, a plant many people abhor, desperately attempted to eradicate by others, is actually good for the pollinator community. Did you now that bees and birds love dandelions?? Dandelions are a terrific source of nectar and pollen for hungry bees and pollinators. Who knew that such a gift could be found when venturing outside in the stillness of a warm winter day.

Peony tips easing through the soil like a rocket preparing for launch.

Gently running my hands over the surface of the soil, I felt a bump that jarred my memory. A peony root, planted with a kiss for good luck, had survived. One stalk emerged and one leaf spoke to the strength of the root. There was no bloom, but this tip emerging from the chosen spot gives me hope. I hope that this year, I might get two leaves.

Tree peonies are such tough friends in the garden.

I paused and strolled over to my garden heroes. The tree peonies trampled by roofers last year were beginning to swell. My heart, melting in the stillness of this moment, was a bit overwhelmed. These ladies bring a bodacious bloom as they lift their heads and dance in the breezes of Spring. In African American folklore, peony seeds were given to those who are indecisive about something. In my garden, it offers a brief moment of bloom after a winter thaw.

The False Indigo pods have a beauty and music of their own.

What is that I hear? A subtle rattle disrupts the quiet in my garden as I brush past the Baptisia, also known as False Indigo. The blackened pods hold seeds that create music, which disrupts the stillness of the moment. I gather a handful of stems and shake them as I dance my way to the pile of garden debris. The joy of peace and quiet of the garden in the stillness of winter never ceases to amaze me.

The hosta stalks have a similar song…like a soft tap dance on the leaves below.

GARDEN LOSS

This Pieris Japonica will be missed next Spring.

Loss in the garden is an expected reality. We can appreciate this act of life and consider it an opportunity. To remember and replace with something different or similar. The Pieris Japonica will be a memory and instead of replacing it, I will allow the azaleas to spread in girth and close the gap.

Winter allows us to spend quality time in the garden. The quiet time which allows us to remember the summer garden party and embrace the absence of the same. The stillness found in winter is a special gift to the gardener.

Do you appreciate winter’s warm days? Is walking through the garden and assessing future changes a task you enjoy? Does the stillness of winter encourage you to go outside and embrace the beauty that surrounds you??

Celebrating finding stillness a gift,

Teri, Cottage In The Court

Foliage Fun In Winter

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Repurposed foliage can last a considerable amount of time in a cool home or office.

Foliage bouquets on a winter day can be a lifesaver. The traditional bouquet is generally filled with blooming plants that are terrific eye candy. After the blooms have faded, the leftover foliage is no longer appreciated. This is true even in the garden.

Most gardeners tend to plan and plant for color on those hot summer days. The evergreens quietly take a back seat to the colorful parade that beats its drum loudly. When autumn arrives, the garden is put to bed and it is only then, the evergreen foliage stands out. Humbly saying “look at me now”. Snowfall then graces the foliage of these evergreens making them sculptural magnificent.

FORAGING FOR FOLIAGE

One of my favorite things to do in winter, is strolling through my neighborhood during or after snowfall. The mature evergreens that are part of the natural landscape, tend to pop out of nowhere. Taking the time to wander and observe nature in winter, allows one to see what can be foraged.  Foraging outdoors for vines, branches with berries, or branches with winter fruits are all quite interesting. Each of these options might be found in your own backyard. All can be found in the woods or at the edge of a stream. The diverse foliage found in nature are the perfect seasonal accent. Pruned to the perfect size, they are useful in arrangements inside and outside the home.

Using leftover foliage from the garden, I created a unique container arrangement to great me everyday.

PRUNING FOR ARRANGEMENTS

The delight of a container filled with assorted branches in the midst of winter is amazing. Here are a few tips for knowing what to prune:

  • Prune any crossing branches. This will prevent the winter winds from creating a wound that could allow pests and disease to affect the plant. Clean your pruners after every cut.
  • Make sure the cuts are not visible to passersby. This could leave an unsightly gap in an otherwise perfect specimen. If you can prune in different places every year.
  • Cut off enough to use as you lightly prune or shape your plant material. Make certain that you are using the appropriate type of pruners, shears or lopers. The wrong tools can either mess up the tool or severely damage the plant.
  • Make all of your cuts a clean-cut. Stems should not be mashed or shredded. Sharpen and disinfect your pruners as you move from shrub to shrub.
  • Do not leave your shrubs with bare knees. Most evergreen shrubs should be wider at the bottom than at the top. Shrubs are not square in nature – just a friendly reminder. Know your plant material.
  • Select branches that are supple, have interesting foliage and most importantly have no disease.

CREATING ARRANGEMENTS

Here are a few tips to remember when arranging:

Select your container with its placement in mind. No tall, oversized containers for the dinner table. There is nothing worse than trying to have a conversation through a bodacious bouquet.

Try low and broad containers. I try to use something that can be recycled or reused. If you cannot see the container, that simply allows you (the arranger) to play more.

Bigger leaves in the back or at the bottom lays your foundation. . Building out and up is key. Make sure that your arrangement is not top-heavy. If you have to move it, you do not want your work to topple over.

No blooms or berries  NO PROBLEM! There is enough foliage in the winter to create unique arrangements  by using the branches and boughs.

Get outside, forest bathe, gather some cuttings from the winter garden and create!

Dreaming of forest bathing, pruning and snow!

Teri, Cottage In The Court

Snipping foliage here and there, the scent lingering on my hands , winter arranging is a sensual delight!

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I embrace and share the beauty that surrounds me.