A few days ago I was chatting with a local friend who was sharing how she "could not wait" to get going with her annuals in her garden now that it was starting to warm up.
I know the feeling! That's why winter here is typically so pleasant... even though we get those snow storms and cold, grey days we are blessed with these breaks where the sun shines and the air warms just close enough to sweater weather that you feel like spring is on its way. This year, of course, has been a big exception to that typical weather pattern, so far anyway. It's been gorgeous, don't get me wrong. But it's time for some winter!! And, it's only the first week of February. Don't be fooled. We will still have winter lows and weeks here and there of full-on winter weather for a couple more months. And our last frost date is right around Mother's Day. It was hard to break it to my friend who was so excited and from Minnesota. The consolation is that there is a ton of fun pre-season stuff to work on right now to get everything ready for the season. During this "dormant" season, don't be fooled into thinking that there's nothing going on in the garden over the winter! In fact, while the pace slows down significantly, this is often the best time to build the basis for a hugely successful and healthy landscape in the coming season. Plus, spreading out the work over several months makes it a bit less taxing on you.
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After working with a client to design and create a gorgeous garden or landscape, I love staying connected to see it flourish! Early on, I check in frequently, and then gradually less often as everything starts to settle in during that first year.
Creating a thriving landscape isn’t just about the excitement of installation (though that’s definitely a highlight!). Success comes from pairing a fantastic design with consistent care over time. With the right attention each month, your garden can become even more beautiful and rewarding as the years go by. 🌱✨ While we don’t offer garden maintenance at The Whiskey Porch, I wanted to make it easier for you to keep your landscape looking amazing. That’s why I’ve put together a series of garden-keeping checklists! Whether you’re rolling up your sleeves to tackle it yourself or bringing in a maintenance crew, these monthly guides are designed to help you stay on track—perfect for anyone gardening in and around Prescott, AZ. 🏡🌼 It’s starting to feel like Autumn, and there’s something so magical about this time of year. November brings shorter days, a touch of frost, and—if we’re lucky—more of that crisp, sunny fall weather we love. 🍁✨
Here in the high country, autumn lingers well into December, painting the garden in warm yellows and oranges. It’s a quieter time in the garden—less watering, fewer chores—a chance to slow down and soak in the beauty of the season. As I wander through the garden, I find myself dreaming of what could be next: a better spot for that one plant, new additions I’ve been imagining, or ways to make things even more delightful next season. Lately, I’ve started jotting down these little ideas in my garden journal—a cozy ritual for these cooler days. When winter truly settles in, and I’m curled up indoors with a cup of tea, these notes will guide me as I plan for what’s ahead. For now, it’s still prime Porch Sittin’ season. There’s nothing quite like wrapping up in a wool blanket and savoring the crisp air while the world begins its gentle shift toward winter. 🪑🍂💛 I've got your November Checklist here for you - give it a look and see if there's a few good reminders or new tasks to add to your routine. Keep reading... Late summer continues and just gets better and better here in the high country.
This year, we are still experiencing those crazy warm days but it's perfect in the mornings and evenings. That means that I am still not adjusting my irrigation schedule just yet, as I write this post. But in a week or so, hopefully we'll be back to more normal October temps which means I'll tweak my system down to 80% and then continue to bring it down over the next few weeks until we begin to get those consistent freezes and chilly day-times. That's when you will want to power down and drain your drip and irrigation systems for the winter. I'm beginning to receive all my perennial plant orders for my autumn planting - and I've still got a list of a few things I'm going to source and order this week. Mostly I'm just spending as much time outside to enjoy the pefection of the landscape and this season. Here's to lotsa porch sittin'! I've got your detailed October Checklist for you here - to help you get organized and stay on track. Keep reading...
Everything is luminous with color and vibrancy. The sun lower in the sky but still warm and gentle. The bustle of the kiddos heading back to school and the birds enjoying the bounty of the summer season before everything lays down for a nice, quiet rest. The freshness in the air in the evening and early morning brings new energy. Always my favorite and most invigorating change of season - I hope this day is a lovely one for you too. Take a moment to smell the change in the air and listen to the birds chatter. Happy fall equinox to you, ~Miriam more inspirationLove the idea of living with the seasons? Looking for more inspiration?
You might enjoy 14 Ways to Embrace the Shorter Days of Autumn, an in-depth look at some inspired ways to jump into the season with all your heart. This is a fun little bit of news to share.
The local garden club here in Prescott is Alta Vista Garden Club, and they have been here in town since 1951. One of the many activities they do is recognizing local gardens each season of the year, which they call "Garden of Merit". And for autumn this year, my gardens here at Juniper Hill Cottage were selected! This is a group of very skilled and capable gardeners who care deeply about the local community and they work hard to provide value and resources to this area. I am grateful for this honor and hope you've seen the advertising around town recently as well as in the local paper. September for us here in Prescott isn't really autumn at all yet. It's just "late summer"!
It's time to relax and enjoy the garden and landscape. Everything is at it's best now (with any luck) and you've survived the worst of the heat of summer. This is the beginning of my favorite time of year. Time for some afternoon gatherings, a lot of porch sittin', and gazing at the garden and busy birds. Okay, well, yes... there are a few to do's which I've pulled together, but nothing too heavy. August is all about the beginning of the harvest season, ongoing tending, and enjoying the results of your efforts and labor so far.
With any luck, the monsoon is still visiting your little part of the world fairly regularly, and you've got a garden and landscape that is showing off it's splendor. The character of things may not be quite as pristine as it is early in the season, but the party is well underway and meant to be enjoyed. The days are still long and if you've done a pretty good job of tending to and feeding your landscape, you may be blessed with color and the gentle shift towards late summer. Since autumn is my favorite time of year, I find this very joyful and exciting. If you haven't been able to keep up with your to-do's as well as you'd liked, don't worry about it. Just jump in and do what you can now. It's not too late to get some cooler season herbs and veggies going. Just be sure to look closely, use all your senses, and slow down. A garden is truly a gift. Enjoy! National Simplicity Day is today, every year on the 12th of July. This is sort of a special "holiday" for us here at The Whiskey Porch because it's at the core of what we are all about. After all, our tag line is "cultivating contentment & possibility in a smaller, simpler & more beautiful lifestyle." And, now more than ever, it just feels like we are all seeking refuge and inspiration to lift our spirits as we recover from this wild insanity of the last few years and then there's more to come with another divisive election season. So it goes without saying, that finding pleasure and calm in simple ideas is something many of us are striving for now. The celebration originated in honor of Henry David Thoreau, who lived in Concord, Massachusetts from July 12, 1817 to 1862. First, who was he, and why does it matter? And then, I've got 5 Great Ways for You to Celebrate Simplicity Day. ~post continues below ~ July is about general tending, pest and water management. And if you are lucky, this is the beginning of some harvesting too.
Most years we are into our monsoon cycle early in the month, and with that comes the daily/weekly dance of backing off on your automatic drip schedule when appropriate... and not forgetting to turn it back on if there's a break in the rain storms! Even with a rain sensor, which helps make that easier, I've found that I need to pay close attention to newer plants that might still need a bit of hand watering after a storm, when the rest of the system is on delay. If you've been keeping up with the monthly checklists so far, then you should find that July is quite a bit less heavy on the big tasks. And just more about spending time in your landscape every day and tending to the little things that need doing. |
AuthorHey there. I'm Miriam ~ and I've been doing this my whole life. It's my passion. Categories
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