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Adopt the pace of nature: Her secret is patience. -- Emerson

Yes, Winter Solstice has come and gone, and we are officially in the throes of the coldest season. This is not a time to despair. With each New Year and with every day, we have the hope of something better. It is a time to look within as well as without and reflect upon what has worked and what has not worked in our lives and our gardens.

Do you consider yourself a "gardener"? Are you truly enjoying it, or do you find yourself getting stressed while comparing what you have to the neighbors? Do you get bent out of shape over a spot on a leaf, a bug here and there, or plants that flop and don't look perfect? Well, please stop doing that! Your home should be your haven, and your garden should be an extension of that garden. A garden can be one tiny pot with one tiny cactus. If it's a living plant, and it makes you smile to look at it, it's a garden!

The healing power of "inner gardening" conveys a deep level of love and connection with plants and the environments in which they thrive. The garden should be a place that nurtures you, even as you nurture it. If you take a different approach to gardening, you can add a new dimension to garden tasks. Do not simply think of them as chores or things you must do. Gardening should be about healing, not angst. Plants, as living beings, need the same things we do: food, air, water, and love. But just as with people, there is such a thing as too much love. This usually translates into issues of control and fixation. Nature is not perfect and we, as human beings, are not, either.

The Navajo, when creating a hand woven rug, will deliberately make a "mistake" because they believe that only God can create something perfect. And aren't we thankful for it? How mundane our lives would be if we had nothing to improve on. This is not about fertilizing your soul or spreading beauty bark around your heart. By arranging and tending a garden that fosters spiritual renewal and provides earthly enjoyment, you create a place for contemplation, relaxation, and peace -- and maybe soak in a little fresh air and light in the process.

Whether you tread into the landscape to celebrate, distract yourself from worry or sorrow, or re-direct angry energy, here are a few things to consider while planning your garden this season:

1. Have realistic expectations of your time, your labor, and your budget.
2. Take stock of your household's requirements and activities, and keep them in mind.
3. Proceed slowly. Do not feel you must accomplish everything at once.
4. Keep it simple. There is elegance in simplicity.
5. Relax. There is no gardening mistake that cannot be changed. Nature is very forgiving.
6. Take the time to actually enjoy the fruits of your labor, with yourself and others.

We at Dirty Hands Garden Center look forward to seeing you again, soon. In the meantime, Live well, plant happy!

Folks, please remember to ALWAYS bring plant and bug samples in a plastic bag. It is very important that everyone be aware of the possibility of contaminating businesses, homeowner properties, and the Earth in general (think of it as a horticultural condom).
THANK YOU!

As always, all information given in the newsletter and on the website in general apply primarily to the zone 7/partial zone 6 regions of Virginia.

There are many new and fabulous things in store for you, at Dirty Hands Garden Center. We always appreciate your suggestions and opinions. Please feel free to contact us directly at Dirty Hands Email. Or, better yet, come see us in person!
Woo-Hoo!
Peace out.
Rock forward.

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As always, if you have questions, please feel free to contact us directly, either through the contact form, or by calling 804-598-8945, or visiting us at 2603 Anderson Hwy., Powhatan, VA. 23139 (This information pertains to the greater Richmond, Va. area and may vary slightly with each locality).