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... 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! 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. Happy May Day. In many parts of the world, May 1st is traditionally the beginning of the summer season. Of course, it's still really spring here in the high country - and technically the summer solstice isn't until mid-June.
Good news! May is about planting and blooms and birds and pollinators. We still have high chances of overnight frosts which can zap the life out of tender annuals, and newly planted perennials that are very young. So, it's wise to keep an eye on the forecast and keep your frost fabric handy until about May-15th or so. And, ironically, May is one of our drier and hotter months. So that means that getting your watering system going and keeping it well maintained is a priority now, as well as mulching and shade. Our sun is intense up here in the mountains - my big tip for you this month: Remember that although many plants are considered sun loving in general, that may not mean full, unfiltered sun in our climate at 5,000-6,000 feet elevation is ideal. Just a quick post here today. Thinking about Earth Day which comes up in a few days. I applied organic fertilizer in my kitchen garden and landscape this weekend. It's a tiny ... stinky. In a good way, at least I think so. My husband asked me if something died in the garden, haha. After I realized that I could still smell the soil and the "organic-ness" of my garden, even at the neighbors' house, the next couple days, it got me thinking. Why do some folks think it smells bad, while others (at least me) find it settling and wonderful? I'm not sure I have the answer to that, but I really enjoyed this recent article from The New York Times about The Health Benefits of Getting in the Dirt. And I wanted to share it with you. Let me know what you think! Maybe go make a mud pie if you don't keep a garden 🤠... Happy Earth Day! ~Miriam Spring in the high country is nothing if not confusing. Right?
My tulips are still going strong and everything else is starting to leaf out now. That gorgeous, pristine green and bronze is just so magical. One day it's definitely spring, and then we wake up to 2 inches of snow and blowing, cold wind the next morning. But hang in there. The good news is that my April list isn't as crazy long as the March list was. That's assuming you ticked everything off for March! My big advise for April is essentially the same as March -- resist! Resist the urge to plant out tender annuals or young perennials that aren't cool season growers until we are past our last frost date. And for some it's hard to believe that is actually not until May (Mothers Day). |
AuthorHey there. I'm Miriam ~ and I've been doing this my whole life. It's my passion. Categories
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