Today, January 1, 2019 is mild and cloudy, but our year of 2018 began with a snowstorm. Fortunately I  have winter interest in the garden with my winterberries and beautiful exfoliating bark on the river  birches.

February was a month for reading and learning. George Washington Carver helped farmers turn to peanuts, and the world benefits today with Plumpy’nut.

It was also a month of learning about trees, caterpillars and butterflies and their importance to our environment.

It has always struck me that February  is a great month for reading. I wrote about Houseplants.

The Greenfield Garden Club planned a great trip  to the Lyman Plant House and Stonehurst is snowy, icy mid-March. Spring is in our minds.

In April spring is making herself known. Primroses, crocuses and my favorite epimediums.

In May the Garden Bloggers went on their Annual Fling, this year in Austin. We saw lots of gardens and at Tanglewild we got to rest in the shade and cool our feet.

In June we visited the Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, Iowa, and then it was on to the Olbrich Botanical Garden in Madison, Wisconsin where Beth Stetenfeld and I caught our breath.

In July I spent a lot of time in floriferous local gardens.  I bought more daylilies from the Stone Meadow Gardens in Ashfield. You can never have too many daylilies.

July – Time to get together with a family expedition to Pickity Place in New Hampshire. Not that far away.

August started off the rainy season. The backyard flooded many times. By the time  the waters had receded there was another rainstorm and more flooding. The weeping cherry died, and so did the pagoda dogwood.  These rains persisted for the rest of the year.

In September, Nancy Hazard, passionate about the importance of trees, planted three trees including this tulip trees at the Energy Park. I do my part by tending a small garden at the East entrance to the Energy Park.

In October I was invited by Steve Schreiber, Jane Thurber and Mike Davidsohn of Umass  to learn about landscape design that was beautiful for  the owners and beneficial to the environment.

November is for Cider Days! A weekend of delicious apples and education.

December is for the anniversary of  this blog on The Feast of St. Nicholas in 2008, and the joyous season of Christmas with family and friends.

I wish you all a Happy New Year in your gardens and everywhere.