01/20/2024
With the first significant snowfall our region has seen in two years, the season is finally beginning to feel like winter. We look forward to sledding, snowball fights, building snow creatures, and then warming up with a hot beverage afterwards.
In the botanical world, the cold gives perennials permission to go dormant and enter their period of winter rest.
While plants may appear dead or gone on the surface, a vital, seasonal shift of processes and redistribution of energy is internally taking place. The below-ground work of temperature adaptation and nutrient storage in the roots is a lot like hibernation, which allows many creatures to survive the winter months. Once Spring rolls around, that same energy moves upwards and plants reawaken to resume their active growth.
Here at Edible Eden, while we enjoy the winter slow days, we are not completely in-active, the work just looks a little bit different over the cold months: we design gardens and properties, maintain our tools, organize materials, as well as improve our infrastructure so as to be ready to jump into action when the Spring comes around.
Let's give ourselves the rest we deserve and honor the seasonal flow as we move through the slowness of winter and prepare for the excitement of Spring growth. ✨
Image description:
1) Asclepias syriaca, common Milkweed pods with a dusting of snow in Druid Hill Park
2) Edible Eden crew member sharpens a post hole digger with a grinder which sends out a spray of sparks
