Shrinking, twinkling and colour indoors
Do you shrink in winter? Writing a blog has made me more aware of the way I behave in relation to my garden and allotment, especially in relation to the seasons. Now that winter has come I’m withdrawing inwards. First I noticed that I visit the allotment rarely. It’s the Digger who goes out to pick the Brussel sprouts, Kale and Sprouting Broccoli. The allotment is only 2 minutes walk from the bottom of the garden but for me it has somehow moved far out of reach.
Our allotment - in the distance look for the white hoops (Click for a closer look)
I’m doing slightly better with the garden but that’s because I go out twice a day to feed the birds. This keeps me in touch with what’s happening – plus I have to water the greenhouse occasionally. I’ve never been keen on winter unless it’s made all sparkly by frost or transformed by snow. I think many of us must suffer this effect to a certain degree, some far more than others. Several people are deeply affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I notice this has been mentioned by a few bloggers recently. Luckily, I’m not one of the serious sufferers but I am interested in how my own behaviour has changed as the days have got shorter. No wonder some ancient societies worshipped the Sun and the coming of Spring!
Here comes the sun!
I’m now starting to look forward to installing Christmas lights to add some colourful twinkling. You should see my Snowman when he glows in the dark (lol). In the meantime I’m cheering myself up with reading seed catalogues and placing flowering house plants where I can see them. The brighter, the better.
Cyclamen indoors
This red Hibiscus was originally a cutting from the Greek island of Ikaria.
Red Hibiscus
17 comments
I often wonder if I suffer SAD, I know I am more prone to moodiness this time of the year. Sunshine definately has a spirit raising effect on me too, so when we do get the odd bright day, I relish it – it really lifts my mood.
Zoë
That is an amazing Red Hibiscus.
I really dont like the garden much at this time of year.
It is not the shorter days – its the grey days.
I think I got SAD this summer as it was so grey –
;)
K
I’m all for a bit of twinkling. I remember reading an interview ages ago with the New Age thinker George Trevelyan in which he was commenting on how comforting it was to the stranger or traveller to see a light burning in a house. Not very fashionable in our environmentally conscious age, but it’s so true. We have a kind of primitive need for light.
Oh…I love to have bright or warm colour indoors during the winter especially in my kitchen, there I keep most of my flowering houseplants. How wonderful to have a hibiscus from Ikaria it looks really great, my hibiscuses looks very sad now I certainly hope that they are just having a rest…
About SAD I don’t know much about it and I don’t think I suffer from it, I can cope with the darkness but I more and more hate the coldness. / Tyra
I feel like hibernating at this time of the year as I get all slow and sluggish. Thank goodness it’s not SAD though – I quite like the thought of a cosy fire, except we have central heating!
I’m with VP on the hibernation bit. Cold weather is not my thing. I try to get out everyday to take a peek because you never know what you may find.
Yes I do think it is shrinking. I better wait till past March to really make that judgement. But our normal is 40 degrees right now and we are going to be 65 on Thursday. Nuts!
I’m not the right person to add a comment here, coming from much warmer climes. Mornings are hazy now but our kind of cold doesn’t really get us down. The rich colours of your blooms look so cheerful! The hibiscus is lovely!
Hi EG, instead of shrinking I think that I am expanding from lack of exercise by working in the garden, especially around my middle parts! :-) I do find my mood more dour now, but must bundle up and go outside for my mental health, rain or shine!
Frances
I feel that way about hot summers, I won’t garden in that weather. But winter, I love. I think of it as silver, not grey. I like the opportunity to look at shape and structure with less competing color. I like the birds that come to visit. I like sitting in front of the fire with hot toddys. I just like all of it.
Taking more photos than I ever did before because of the blog has really made me see all the colours of grey this time of year…and if I wasn’t really conscious of how low the light is – trying to take photos sans tripod at these incredible low shutter speeds is certainly illuminating. btw that hibiscus is a stunner.
Hi again easygardener :-)
What deep colours for inside blooms – very nice! Maybe as I live in Scotland and get a fair share of damp cooler weather I don’t mind the winter woes. I do feel for all those that are troubled by them though.
I had a good gardening day yesterday and discovered I actually had some flowers for GBBD! My post is up too if you would like to visit :-D
Now, as for looking forward to Spring, I need that to be slowed down a little as I have still heaps of bulbs to plant yet – more I picked up at a garden centre yesterday at a 75% discount too! Lets’ hope the ground is soft enough today – I would like to plant some in my lawn :-D
Enjoy your seed catalogues and planning for next year! Oh yes… and have a great time over Christmas too :-D
I’m shrinking too in winter or I used too. Now with puppy Tara I have to go outside a lot for walkies so that helps a bit as I’m suffering from SAD unfortunately. I make it my habit to go out into the garden at least twice a day and do the tour.
Cyclamen are such little darlings, don’t you think? They brighten up the dullest day with their beautiful flowers.
Those pretty blooms should keep you really busy and not so unhappy with the winter. I think for me I spend more time outside, but you see it is too hot in the summer and more comfortable this time of year-barring snow, ice and heavy winds.
Zoe, Karen – I think we need light to raise our mood. As gardeners we expect the sun to do the job and it can be very disheartening if it doesn’t appear.
Victoria – I do so agree that light is a primitive need. A candle in the window is such a comforting image.
Tyra – We are lucky that we don’t experience extreme cold or cold for any length of time! Yes. houseplants are a boon at this time of year, couldn’t do without them.
VP , Racquel – Hibernating is exactly the word for it. Huddling around a radiator doesn’t produce the same effect :-)
Anna – Nuts indeed!
Kanak – It is visiting blogs like yours that keeps us cheerful over the winter (and the rest of the year)!
Frances – We will keep quiet about the expanding :-)
Megan, Tina – It would be difficult to garden in very hot summers so I appreciate your point. Global blogging really makes me aware of other climates
Barbarapc – Yes it’s suitably exotic for this time of year!
Shirl – We are softies down South! Glad you got a bargain on your bulbs, so good when that happens. Hope you have a great Christmas too :-)
Yolanda Elizabet – I agree with you about Cyclamen. Your lovely Tara is the best remedy for feeling low :-)
Having chickens made me a better gardener for the same reason! I like your blog, I’ll be back:)
Cheryl
Hey easygardener,
Both the cyclamen and hibiscus are so gorgeous! I have never tried to grow either. Perhaps I should:) I’m doing well as far as the SAD goes; my light box really helps. I don’t use it every day though…just a couple of times per week. I’m having a good winter this year. Looking at photos of flowers blooming and keeping the lights bright really does bring a smile to my face and lifts my spirits! Merry Christmas to you! Jan
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