Happy New year!!
I can't even remember Fall happening yet here we are on a cold blustery day in 2025. As the wind picks up outside and the temperatures sit at a mere 18 degrees, a kind of a cold my Southern bones still isn't used to, it seems like a good day to look back on all the work we did in 2024. Here is a short and sweet recap!
Several gardens had full on renovations. Central got a big makeover, all the entrance sign beds got resized and replanted, multiple courtyards were improved, work on the forest restoration continues, new planters were added, Gwynedd terrace became a colorful spot for Gwynedd residents to look out on and so much more. In total around 1273 perennials, trees and shrubs have been planted on campus this year! Oh and this blog! This blog was created as a way to connect with all of you about the work we do here. Thank you for all your support.
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| How to overwhelm your boss? Order lots of plants in the Spring. Photo by Mike Gornert |
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| Then get more plants in the Fall to overwhelm him even more! |
This past Fall over 1900 bulbs went in the ground. I'm especially excited for the bulbs at Central and the 400+ bulbs added to the Dream Garden. I've been doing a little dance with the squirrels here. A bulb or two gets dug up and I come and put them back, silently cursing those cute but annoying critters. The dance is getting a little old but luckily I haven't lost that many bulbs! Ellie Elkinton generously donated daffodil bulbs which you will be able to see at Central, in containers in the Spring and at the in beds outside the Maintenance shop area.
The drought that loomed over us for months made planting the bulbs extremely hard - even the auger attachment for the drill couldn't take on the rock solid ground some days. October was one of the driest months in recorded history for the eastern United States! Philadelphia had a whopping 39 days with no rainfall up to November 6th. The temperature was also so unseasonably warm it felt like a North Carolina kind of Fall.
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| Harvesting tomatoes in November. How odd.. |
The higher than normal temperatures and severe drought meant the grounds team had a whole lot of watering to do. Andy and Mike were lugging hoses around attached to a fire hydrant in order to water the 100 plus new trees along Peremitter Road. I was zooming around watering all my containers and any newer plantings. I think one of my least favorite things to deal with is hoses. They always kink or leak, are bulky to carry around and annoying to wind back up - oh wait sorry, I forgot this isn't a scathing article about why hoses are annoying.
As we've entered into 2025, snow, wind and cold temperatures greeted us. This Monday the entire Maintenance team worked hard on snow removal and keeping the campus safe. Go team! Unfortunately snow isn't my favorite thing in the world but I am glad we have a team that makes the clean up a breeze.
I find I have a difficult relationship with winter. My mind keeps thinking about warmer weather, flowers blooming and bees buzzing about. I struggle to be in the present. As a gardener I am always planning for the Spring, a necessary part of my job that makes it tougher to appreciate winter for what it is. I think that is where the struggle comes from, finding the sweet spot between being present in this slower time and yearning to be planting seeds. Our bodies are meant to slow down this time of year Rest. Be cozy. Reflect. Repeat. That is what Winter is for.
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| Even the turtle fountain is taking a break. Photo by Andy Burr. |
What has been grounding me is wandering outside. Seeing the trees resting, the silhouettes of seedheads and the vibrant color of the red fox against the snow. There is a lot to look forward to this year. New plantings and projects await, but for now, Winter is here and she is telling me to be more like the oak trees - strong and still, finding peace in the quiet of winter before a new season begins. I hope everyone is finding that peace this season.
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| via trail cam |
