January 8, 2025
Dearest HVGC Members:
I hope this note finds you all well and enjoying this winter sunshine we’ve had these past few days, I know it has boosted my spirits. I think that is also what I love about a winter ski vacation is the sunshine it tends to bring to the cold mountains if you happen to hit it right. Christmas decor continues to be taken down and organized (an ongoing chore) and put away, clutter cleared and/or organized and new goals written down and the pursuit of making them happen. I always look forward to welcoming a brand new year. 2024 had some work and health challenges but I’m grateful that most of that is behind me. Thank you for your cards and encouraging words, I appreciated each message.
The winter garden is so rewarding. As I strolled around my own garden today, I was reminded of some plantings we added last spring that are now getting ready to bloom to brighten a dreary garden, it was very exciting. We specifically added a couple specimen plantings to add interest and be visible from various windows when looking out. We invested in a yellow-needled Lodgepole Pine variety or Pinus Contorta named “Chief Joseph”.
The witch hazel we planted this past spring brings forth buds and I can’t wait for it to go into full bloom. The Helleborus are budding and starting to bloom out, lots of white of course, deep pinks, a couple apricot, and one deep purple almost black hellebore “Black Diamond” all sprinkled through the garden. I cannot wait until February to maybe purchase a couple more from Petal Heads in West Linn.
I even had a few very early bulbs barely popping through the soil and now I can’t remember what I planted but it will be fun to see what pops out, crocus perhaps? Or snowbells? And one of my favorites was the Porcelain or Beauty Berry shrubs that produced a bluish-purple berry this fall and early winter. I used branches of it in flower arrangements, and just the branches themselves in vases.
I also wanted to reach out to everyone and remind you that we are not planning a January meeting on the second Tuesday this month at the church.
It was so nice to see everyone at the Christmas party. Priscilla and her team did such a great job with the decorating, gifts and games and the food was delicious. What a nice time we had.
Did you know that we have a website now? www.happyvalleygardenclub.org – It hasn’t been officially rolled out but you are welcome to peruse what has been done including the tab “Scrapbooks”, I think you’ll enjoy it.
Wishing you all a happy new year and looking forward to seeing you all soon.
Jennifer
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