John Zvirovski, Jamestown Sun garden editor
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
And just like that, we have entered a new year! Where did 2025 go? I have to say, it was an eventful, but trying year when it came to gardening. We had both good and bad events throughout the year that we had to deal with, starting with a very dry and windy winter.
The dry winter proved to cause quite a bit of damage in the gardens when it came to perennials making it through the season and even some trees and shrubs. With little cover and extreme temperature changes back and forth, plants tend to have a harder time adjusting to the new season. We saw these effects once the growing season began. I notice iris patches that had been there for many years had rotted out, a yucca plant perished, many spring bulbs didn’t come back, all of my Shasta daisies died, all five delphiniums died, and I even lost an established hydrangea shrub. As depressing as this can be, it does open the window to try new things in the now-open spaces.
Once May arrived, so did the needed rains. And those continued throughout the spring and summer months weekly. The lawn had never been so green, and I hardly had to water any of the flower beds. I was in heaven seeing all of the lush growth, and everything did so well. Our summer was interrupted by a couple of bad storms in June and August. Not only did they take the power out both times, but we lost 11 trees. Talk about taking time to clean up instead of enjoying the season. I was not alone, as many people in town experienced the same problems. The city lost a great deal of trees in one year, and I can only hope that people replace them in the coming year, as the open spaces are depressing! By September, I had already replaced six of the 11 trees, with a few more to be added this year. The sooner we get them planted, the sooner they can establish and begin to grow into more stately trees.
Some of these events hit us mentally, as not only do we see beautiful things disappear, but there is often property damage that comes along with these storms. Many people had to replace their roofs, and that is not always in the budget or within the time frame we want, but it needs to be done. Everything seems to fall into place at its own pace somehow.
Now we have entered a new year with new events, new beginnings, and new ideas for the months ahead. We are finally getting some snow, so that is a good thing. I can only hope we get a lot more, so the spring season can start off well. We can do without the rain and ice, but we do not have control over that. We just have to accept what comes our way with a positive outlook.
I am looking forward to seeing the new garden catalogs coming in the mail soon and spotting what types of new items will be highlighted. I always love trying new things and am already in the planning stages of what to plant in the gardens. Colors, design schemes and textures will all be part of the new plan. I am excited to see what lies ahead! With all of the rain last year, I have no doubt the spring bulbs will be gorgeous in April and May — so glad I added 200 bulbs last fall.
Every year is going to give us something different. Some years will be stormy, others will be wet or dry, some will be hot and some will be cool, and you can always count on the wind to blow! So let’s take it all in stride and enjoy each and every coming day. Revel in the new surprises and challenges that may present themselves, and know that nature has a way of coming through regardless of the events.
I have a feeling 2026 is going to be an exciting time in the garden and I look forward to it in anticipation. The gardens take me away from the electronic age, keep me from the depressing news of the world, and keep me grounded. Instead, I will welcome visitors to enter the garden and spend time over good beverages and enthralling conversation. If you find yourself in the neighborhood, stop by for a visit, as any time is a good time!!!
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