2026 Intentions
Welcome to January 2026! I love the New Year, it is a time to review what worked and what did not. What do you want to leave in 2025? It is a fresh chapter to be written. I am setting intentions (I really can’t stand the word resolutions :) I prefer intentions. Some of my intentions for 2026 are more social outings with my loves to see friends and family! Spending more time in nature - hikes! Finding more small moments of quiet to reset. Of course spreading the word about regenerative gardening in our own spaces!! Have you set intentions for the year ahead?
We have quickly entered the rainy season! Isn’t it lovely?? You might be noticing pooling on your property from the excess rains. Walk around and notice where this is happening - the areas where you see puddling are the perfect places to build a rain garden. You can have excess water pooling near a downspout or a low spot in your garden. The water is telling you where you need to build a rain garden.
Rain gardens are intentional space in your garden away from the home foundation to force excess pooling water down under ground to fill up the ground water stores instead of running down sidewalks and into the ocean which does nothing to help the planet and our fresh water storage. When you plant purposeful, native plants it forces water down with their extensive root system.
Why are rain gardens beneficial?
Reduce flooding on the property
Refill groundwater stores
Filtering pollutants from going into our groundwater stores
Adds beauty to your garden and, of course, brings pollinators to the garden.
Note: Check out these transformations photos from a rain garden I installed this year. My client was having a river come down the hill from her neighbors homes and it was rushing past her front door. I followed the path where the water wanted to go and and dug a hole in the first picture below where there was large pooling. We we used special soil and plants to build the garden that will help absorb a large flow of water quickly. Do you want to build a rain garden on your property? It is so easy to do and does has massive benefits on the planet and our community.
What To Do In Your Garden This Month:
January hibernation is real!! Let’s take a note from nature and our gardens. The garden wants to be left alone - leaves left at the base of trees, flowers petals and spent stems kept in place to house overwintering pollinators. Just let everything be. Just a reminder, when you rake the leaves and toss them in the green bin you are literally raking away next years pollinators. They are all tucked in cozy for winter in your leaf litter.
Roses can be hard pruned and fed come mid - January. If you not sure how to prune the roses, reach out and I can teach you! Be sure to pick up any spent rose leaves at the base of the plant, as they can harbor fungus and disease on the new growth. It is a good time to mix in a good rose food at the base of the plant, I like to use the EB Stone Rose Food. Wait until end of February to hard prune all perennials. It is too early to start working the garden. We want to let all soil be. If you have bare soil and extra leaves on a sidewalk or driveway, you can rake them up to put them somewhere else in your garden to help build healthy soil.
If you planted cover crop, continue watching it grow and absorb all the lovely rains we have been having. Stay tuned for February when I show you how to cut it back!
Since January is typically a slower month please make time to watch both these films. Common Ground Film - Must see follow up film from the same makers of Kiss the Ground. Common ground is about how our food system has changed to the current model of industrial farming to make food less healthy to consumers and degrades the soil! This is a must see for EVERYONE!!
If you haven’t yet seen Kiss the Ground, be sure to watch that one first!! And remember the cure to our climate crisis is right under out feet! Please spread the word with friends and family!
Food for thought…
As we begin 2026, let’s focus on what we can control, what brings us joy and let’s leave behind what doesn’t. Be kind to others, kindness and thoughtfulness goes so far and honestly can change someone’s day.
Do you desire to grow food, plant fruit trees or have a native garden to feed pollinators? We are already scheduling consultations and garden transformations for February.
Many clients believe they have a black thumb, but it isn’t YOU, you likely have unhealthy soil. Schedule a consultation today and lets work together to transform your space!
