After a very cold week, I am happy to keep dreaming about summer gardening, especially because there is not much action required. This past weekend I discussed various control solutions for groundhogs with a friend, and we were struck by how much fun we had talking about things that we couldn’t possibly do anything about while the winds blew and snow fell. Sometimes the best thing to do is consider possibilities. Solutions included tall strong fencing, repellents, a dog, and radio broadcasts in the garden. More on groundhog control when vegetable gardening revs up in March.
I waited for the harsh cold to refill my bird feeders to reduce the chances of bears, raccoons, and other potential pests. Dried mealworms for bluebirds went in the special feeder, and I had three pairs of bluebirds queuing up for a chance to feed. Black oil sunflower bird seed went into multiple other feeders for the juncos, chickadees, titmice, red-bellied woodpecker, doves, cardinals, house finches, and an occasional blue jay that swung by to clean up the mess. The birds came swooping in almost immediately and my gardens were active again.
My amaryllis that were potted in November have finally started blooming. One is 32 inches tall from the top of the bulb to the top of the huge flowers! These bulbs spent the summer outdoors where their strappy leaves soaked up bright sunlight (even in the shade) to feed the bulb. Inside, I put them in an eastern window and they stretch to the light. I believe that may be why they grew so tall.

I have also been rotating these pots of amaryllis as the stems emerged because they lean into the light or into the warm room. By giving them a quarter turn every few days, the stems will stay straighter. The same trick should be applied to any long-stemmed plant indoors unless you want everything to topple over.

While rotating your plants, poke around the leaves and soil to confirm all is well. Small black flies could indicate a fungus gnat problem (allowing the soil to dry usually solves this problem), but small cottony masses in the leaf axils might indicate mealy bugs. These are harder to eradicate. If you suspect mealy bugs, take careful clear photos and bring them to your garden center or search online for next steps. You will want to isolate the affected plants and begin a course of treatment. Some plants with varied and minute hiding places for the mealy bugs may not recover. But one step at a time! Confirm what you have before starting treatment. Insecticidal soap and horticultural oil are organic pest-control methods that can do wonders.
Do you have some favorite houseplants? Perhaps you have saved annual geraniums from last year. You can take stem cuttings of these plants now and make new ones! Snip the stem ends of your desired plants that have some new growth emerging. A stem of two to three inches should be enough if you can see multiple scars where leaves have fallen off. Dip the cut end of the piece into rooting hormone and insert about one inch into damp, well-drained potting soil. Keep evenly moist in a bright location and you should have a new plant started within 14 days! You will know the new plant has formed roots when new growth starts at the top.
Another simple fun project for garden-hungry hands: grow sprouts. Seeds of lettuce and arugula can be started in a bright window in a small tray of soil. The young plants can be snipped and added as a nutritious garnish to sandwiches or salads.
For lettuce and arugula, I will reuse a six-pack cell from last year’s purchases and set it in a small plastic tub salvaged from a salad-mix purchase for the holidays. The larger tub has a lid useful for keeping the seeds moist at first. The six-pack easily draws up water from the larger tub. You can also purchase a similar setup.

Forcing bean seeds or lettuce seeds in water in a jar with cheesecloth over the top is another quick way to enjoy sprouted seeds. Soak for 24 hours, then rinse gently every day for about three to five days. Sprouted seeds can be added to salad or sandwiches directly.
January marks the time to check your overwintering bulbs to confirm they haven’t shriveled up or developed a moldy coating. If too dry, spritz with water and place in a plastic bag with damp soil. If you discover mold on the bulbs, confirm none are mushy. Then rub off the mold from firm bulbs with a dry cloth and re-pack the bulbs in dry, shredded up newspaper or straw. I still haven’t cut the dry leaves and stems from my crocosmia, gladiolus, and acidanthera bulbs. The leaves help me identify which bulbs are which. Someday soon I will trim off the stems and leaves.

You may think I am crazy, but I wish we had more snow. The snow holds moisture for spring plants to get started in March and it helps moderate temperature fluctuations that otherwise stress perennials, trees, and shrubs. Of course, being prepared for any weather is the best strategy. A lazy gardener tries not to be reactive but aware of what is coming. Watch the weather and know the terminology: A winter weather advisory means three to five inches of snow is expected over 12 hours. A winter storm warning means snow expected at six to 10 inches over 12 hours. You will need to clear paths to the compost pile and down your sidewalk. Don’t be a statistic! Use proper posture when shoveling to avoid injury. Move amounts that you can adequately carry and take multiple trips. Why be a snow-plowing hero?
And remember: Dry snow can be cleared with a broom or leaf blower—little effort required!
I call myself the Lazy Berkshire Gardener because I don’t want to work too hard in my gardens. I want to enjoy them. I find it easier to observe my landscape and let the compost happen, the water pool up, or daisies to self-sow. I look for ways to do the minimum task for the biggest impact. For example, mulching is better than spraying and much better than weeding all season. I look for beautiful, low-maintenance plants that thrive in or at least tolerate my garden conditions. Plus, I am willing to live with the consequences if I miss something.