2026 is going to be a BIG year for the garden. I’m planning some big changes and exciting projects to really start to bring my garden dreams to life!!
Winter has settled in and before I sit down to map out my plans for the 2026 garden, I wanted to take you on a walk around the property and show you what I’m starting with. Everything is quiet and bare right now, but this is the real beginning. I chose an interesting time to start a garden channel. Winter isn’t an easy season to film. No growth, no harvest, and no quick transformations. Everything outside has slowed down, and I’m slowing down with it. But maybe this is the right place to start, seeing everything as it truly is. This is the front walk, south facing and bright, even in the winter. Everything is stripped back at the moment, but that helps me to see what is to come. This winter, I’m taking the English gardening school’s online design program, and this whole area is my project. I’ll be reworking the walkway, adding a path to the garden room, installing a French drain, and just creating more of a courtyard feel. This is the greenhouse and kitchen garden area. The greenhouse is half potting shed and half growing space. It was originally built with a chicken coupe attached, but I use that side for storage now since I ended up buying just a separate chicken tractor. Right now, the vegetable garden is just seven 4tx4 ft raised beds, but I’m planning to expand into the open area in front of the greenhouse. I’m designing it to be both productive and ornamental since this is the view straight out of our main living area. This area will be the new chicken coupe and run. The chicken tractor has worked well, but with the vegetable garden expanding, I still want to keep the coupe closer to the house. So, I’m planning a proper run and also a chicken tunnel that will wrap around the vegetable garden. To the west of the vegetable garden is the compost area. Completely overgrown right now. Uh over winter I plan to clear it and build a three-bay system or potentially buy a readymade composting system. You can let me know in the comments if there’s one that you recommend. This open space right here will become the orchard. No trees yet, just a dream. But I want to start with quints since I’ve read that they’re less appealing to deer. I’m also looking at paw paws and malberries. If you have any suggestions for somewhat deer resistant fruit trees, again, please let me know in the comments. This is the new fountain courtyard, a project I started in the fall, but haven’t fully finished yet. The heartscape is in place. Uh, and the rest will be planted in the spring. I plan to put a fountain in the center where I’ve put a winter potted arrangement for right now. And a hedge will separate the courtyard from the orchard, giving it a more private enclosed feel. You can also see this area from the covered deck. So, it’s meant to be a calm, quiet spot. I’m really hoping it becomes one of the more peaceful areas of the garden. Walking through the garden like this, bare, quiet, and unfinished, reminds me that every season has its place. This is the time for slowing down, planning, and noticing the structure of things before the garden really gets growing again. Over the winter, I’ll be working on the designs and getting each space ready for what’s ahead. And when spring comes, everything will begin to take shape. Thanks for coming along today. I’m excited to share the process as the garden comes to life.
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