Here we are in mid-January. Daytime temperatures are hitting the 50s but we still dip below freezing at night. While things seem somewhat warm right now, we all know that winter isn't quite over in the high desert. Still, this is the time of year when we can finally begin planting the spring garden. Keep on top of the January garden chores so your garden is up an running at the first kiss of spring.
If, like me, you're itching to get some dirt under your nails, you'll be happy to know that now is the time to begin getting the beds ready for early spring annuals and vegetables. Mid- to late-February is the optimum time for lettuce, spinach, radishes, pansies and other cool-hardy plants. Taking the time to get the beds ready now in mid-January gives the soil amendments four weeks to work their magic so your new plants get off to a healthy start.
Walk into any craft store and one of the first thing you are greeted with is dried flowers and arrangements. Dried flowers are also a popular choice at florists, either as the main attraction or as filler. While some of the more exotic offerings won't grow in Albuquerque, our dry desert climate provides great conditions from some nature-made gifts for our home décor.
The decorations are down, the holidays are past and new year is beginning. After the finery of Christmas, our homes and gardens may look a little blah during these gray January days. Fortunately, you can still add some winter color even after the holidays are past.
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In the coming week or two, Christmas trees and evergreen swags will be coming down in Albuquerque area homes. Some of us take our trees down the day after Christmas, while others wait until New Year's or January 5th. Regardless of when we put away the holidays for this year, proper disposal of the trees and greens can poseIn a conundrum.
Read more about Recycling Holiday Trees and Greens
Winter provides a great time for creating a few new pieces for the garden since we usually have time to spare for more relaxing chores during this cooler season. My winter goals include turning out a few hypertufa pots to serve as focal pieces in my front garden area. These pots look like aged stone but they are made from materials readily available at the hardware store. They are also lighter than stone, although they are still pretty heavy.
We know Christmas has come to the Southwest when the pallets of sand and brown paper bags arrive at garden centers, home improvement stores, and even the grocery store. Luminarias are an Albuquerque tradition for decorating our homes, walkways and even roofs. The luminarias have their roots in the large bonfires that used to light up the desert landscape for Christmas Eve Mass. Now, these humble paper lanterns take the place of bonfires, lighting up our homes on this cold December evening.
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Like many others, the scent of pine or fir brings a wave of nostalgia over me for holiday seasons past. While may people opt for an artificial Christmas tree I still crave the look and aroma of a real tree. As a girl, we would hike to a lot in the Colorado woods on a snowy December day to cut our tree. At home we would trim it while enjoying the warmth of hot cocoa.
As one of the most prolific native plants in Albuquerque landscapes, the humble cactus delights in its many shapes and forms. Cacti provide a diverse choice from small, squat varieties to large flowering types. Varieties with long, needle-like spines can provide security when placed under windows, while less dangerous types work better along walkways and paths. While many of the cactus seen in local yards are native to the region, some more exotic types can also grow well in our dry, mild climate.
Read more about Outdoor Cacti for Albuquerque Landscapes
Low temperatures and freezing nights doesn't signal the end of the gardening season. A variety of outdoor structures, from the simple to the complex, allow you to continue growing flowers well into winter. When we experience mild high desert winters, you can successfully extend your fall gardening up until the time of spring planting.