A Gardener’s Winter Solstice

On the winter solstice, the northern hemisphere will be at its furthest tilt from the sun. We’ll mark our shortest day and longest night of 2021 here in the Pacific Northwest on December 21st . Then, our sunrises will creep earlier and our sunsets later. From the winter solstice on, the half of the planet we call home will gradually wake up to another spring planting season.

 

 

The winter solstice is rich with diverse and deep-rooted traditions. Many hold it to be a time of rest, renewal, and reawakening, and a time to celebrate the cycle of life. For a gardener, as for many communities around the world, the solstice can be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the vital, ancient connections between humans and plants. 

Living among incessant electric lights and blinking digital clocks, it can be hard to even take time to notice the darkness; much less celebrate it. We may complain about the shortening days and the effects on our productivity and spirits, but it can be hard to take the time we really need to slow down and rest. 

Some of us might be connected to our own cultural or personal traditions that celebrate this time of year, and some might be looking for new ways to honor the season. Regardless, we know one thing: plants have a way of connecting us to the cycles of life — of keeping us rooted, so to speak.

If you’re a gardener looking for ways to celebrate the solstice through your love of plants and gardening, here are a few ideas. 

 

Appreciate Evergreens

Evergreens offer beautiful reminders that life goes on even through the coldest and darkest days. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we are lucky to be surrounded by them!

Evergreen trees and the winter solstice go way back. For example, ancient Romans decorated their temples with evergreen boughs to honor their god of agriculture during midwinter, and Celtic druids were known to decorate trees during the darkest time of year in hopes of a fruitful spring. Throughout many cultures worldwide, evergreen trees are a symbol of resilience and renewal. 

 

 

There are countless ways to honor evergreens this time of year. Of course, many people continue some of the traditions mentioned above by bringing decorated trees, boughs, or wreaths into their homes, and here at Sky we are definitely in on that fun. You could also decorate existing outdoor trees, learn more about the evergreen trees in your neighborhood, or try wildcrafting (responsibly) with delicious and medicinal conifer needles. Here in the Pacific Northwest, our mild winters might even allow us to plant a baby conifer to celebrate the solstice! 

 

Feed, Shelter, and Learn About Local Wildlife

The winter solstice can be a time for reconnecting with the bigger systems we belong to. Many winter solstice observances focus on connecting to other lifeforms, as well as the whole cosmos, through ceremonies and stories. Here are some ideas for how you might take time to reconnect with your garden ecosystem this winter. 

 

 

Providing natural food for wildlife is a great way to remind ourselves that we live in community with other creatures. Wait until spring to cut back seed heads and last season’s berries so that they can feed wildlife through the winter. And don’t forget those winter-blooming plants that both bring humans joy through the dark season and feed our overwintering Anna’s hummingbirds. It is also alright to provide bird feeders, as long as you make sure to do so safely. 

Of course, wildlife needs shelter as well as food, especially during winter weather. Leave the leaves for pollinators and beneficial insects wherever you can. Many of our invertebrate garden friends depend on leaf piles through the winter, and they in turn provide food for other wildlife. This could also be a fun time to work on a building project, such as creating a bat house, mason bee nest box, or bird house. 

Just taking time to appreciate wildlife in your garden is also a wonderful way to celebrate. You could participate in a citizen science project like the Christmas bird count, or just take time to notice the diversity of life in your garden in whatever ways work for you. 

 

Reflect & Learn

In many traditions, including traditions across this continent of Turtle Island, winter is a time for learning, reflection, and storytelling. Many cultures also celebrate the solstice as a time of renewal, or even the beginning of a new year. It’s a great time to look forward to another season of abundance with the return of the sun.

So why not take this time to reflect on your 2021 garden and learn about something new you’d like to try in 2022? Maybe it’s a new plant you want to grow, a new technique you want to try, or just deepening your understanding of your garden ecosystem. Our information library is one place to start! 

 

Best Winter Wishes

No matter how you celebrate & relax this winter, we’re wishing you a season full of love, connection, and light through the darkest time of year. May we all have a chance to slow down, reflect and reconnect. Luckily, our gardens and our connections with plants are always here to help us with that, even in the middle of winter!