As I have matured as a gardener and a designer, I consider foliage to be just as important as flowers. This is a must especially with perennials and woody plants whose bloom time is brief. With a nod to February as American Heart Month, here are three plants with heart-shaped leaves and the pollinators that love them: 

• Epimedium grandiflorum (Barrenwort). The species in the Epimedium genus is much more wide and varied than what is represented at retail garden centers - which is not their fault. My eyes were opened a few years ago to a whole world of Epimedium and I was smitten. These shade plants are extremely hardy in SE Wisconsin and grow well in dry shade - even among tree roots. Their heart-shaped leaves are some of the first to green up in spring and take on lovely autumn hues well into November. The flowers are charming and dainty and come in almost every pastel color. The shape of the leaves give it the name 'Fairy wings' and seem to flutter in the breeze. Bumblebees and leaf cutter native bees are attracted to the spring flowers. 

 

•  Brunnera macrophylla (False Forget-me-not) is another great plant for part-shade. The heart-shaped leaves are rough to the touch and have a fresh green color with some variegation depending on the cultivar. I’m especially fond of it’s petite blue flowers in spring that look very much like forget-me-nots. The true forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) is on the Wisconsin DNR’s restricted list, so Brunnera is a good alternative. The blue flowers attract mainly bees, but moths and other early pollinators will visit. Both Brunnera and Epimedium are Black Walnut and deer tolerant.

 

• Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud). Native to the US, the redbud can be a bit finicky here in SE Wisconsin unless planted in a protected spot. That being said, back when I was taking horticulture classes, I grew one from seed and it still stands 20 years later. Redbuds are a smaller understory tree with a graceful habit. They are most loved for their purplish-pink flowers that emerge in spring before the attractive heart-shaped leaves. This native tree supports several types of pollinators including honeybees, bumblebees, mason bees, and is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae.  

I hope you’ll give more thought to your plant choices this year. Don’t be wooed only by the blossoms - learn all you can about the plant’s needs and what it offers before adding it to your garden. Then continue to observe, learn, and make adjustments. And remember to find joy in the process.​

"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind." - C.S. Lewis

This morning, as we awaited the first measurable snowfall of the season to begin, I found myself in the garden with shovel in hand. I don't believe I've ever planted this late in the season - or this early - depending on your perspective. What makes it even more profound is today is the first of January  - the  beginning of a new year. 

Shovel pierces through white slushy crust into soft earth - a January rarity here in Wisconsin. Daffodils, Camassia, Leucojum, and Crocus - about 150 bulbs in all - find their winter home deep in the brown soil. And now they wait, resting patiently through a few frozen months until the spring thaw. The flower show may not be plentiful this first spring, but next year it will be beautiful. 

I can't think of a better way to begin a new year. Planting something that I can watch sprout, grow, and blossom, well, it's like planting hope. I had the same thought as I browsed the seed catalog this afternoon. Dreaming of a new growing season is exciting and much needed encouragement to get through snowy days that lie ahead.

This is where it begins - in this month of beginnings - the unearthing and the planting of dreams. Discovering what our heart desires takes some quiet time, to be still, and listen to what's tugging. Have you felt a tug? Have you thought about what you might plant in your life as we stand in the doorway of a new beginning? Is there something you've been putting on hold because the time just didn't seem right? Before planting, it's good to clarify the what and why by first unearthing. Here are a few unearthing questions to consider:
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What are you passionate about?
What do you want to spend more time doing? 
What do you want to let go of?
What is something you've always wanted to try?
What can you say no to, so you can say yes to this?

Spending time unearthing your dreams - big or small, is the first step towards making them become a reality. You need to know what you want before you can go get it. Don't rush this process. It takes time - unhurried time - to listen to your heart. 

Once you've discovered and named what you want, it's time to plant the seed and watch it grow. One of my favorite things to do at the beginning of a new year is to do some annual planning and goal setting - both personal and professional goals. I know this isn't for every one, but I encourage you to consider practical ways to making your dream become a reality. Think of it as stepping stones: what is the first thing you need to do? what's the next step after that, and the one after that? This is really what setting goals is like - looking at where you want to go, then breaking it down into steps of how to get there. 

If you are having a hard time relating to this idea of unearthing and planting dreams, then think of it a different way: what's one small thing you'd like to do differently this year? Maybe it's . . .
. . . be more hydrated, so drink a glass of water before every meal;
. . . be more active, so take a walk every day;
. . . reconnect with a loved one, so make the time to write and send that note; 
. . . seek beauty, so make a bouquet every week from whatever is growing in the yard no matter the time of year;
. . . practice random acts of kindness

OK, I admit this is my list! Though they seem small, it's the small changes and improvements that we make to our lives every day, that stick and have the biggest impact. 

My new year wish for you is that you'll spend some time unearthing and planting. When we do, we grow and that's the best thing we can do for ourselves and for those around us. 

Have a blessed new year!​

Birds are the main characters in the winter stories providing hours of entertainment. They gather at the feeders as means of survival, yet unbeknownst to them, they fascinate us - young and old alike. It’s like living television or a front row seat at the theater with a new play every day. 

Here are a few ways to enhance the story you see out of your window:

• Invest in a feeder and place it where you can watch it comfortably from indoors. A hopper feeder placed high on a post, a finch feeder, suet feeder, and a ground feeder will attract a wide variety of birds. 
• Buy quality birdseed. When it comes to birdseed, you get what you pay for. In my experience, Cole’s is the best brand out there. 
• Keep a good binoculars and bird ID book close at hand. 
• Next year, add fruiting shrubs that will attract birds that prefer foraging on their own away from feeders. Viburnum and Winterberry (Ilex) are at the top of my list but there are so many more. 
• Take a picture of your view, then analyze it. Do you have any evergreens? Do you need more shrubs? What’s the focal point  - the spot where your eye goes first? This is another design principle and an easy one to add with garden art. 

January can seem to be the longest, slowest month, but enjoy the beauty it offers, especially the view out your window. What story do you see? ​