Simple Gifts

 

December 2024

 

Pickaway to Garden

Simple Gifts

By Paul J. Hang

 

 

Simple Gifts is the title of an old 1848 Shaker tune made famous by Aaron Copeland in his ballet Appalachian Spring. It is not a Christmas Carol but it is a good recommendation for giving Christmas presents. Consider giving simple gifts. I have lately been telling family members that I would prefer gifts that do not come with an operator’s or owner’s manual. Keep it simple. Like a lot of people, I often don’t read directions until I’m stumped. I like gifts that don’t need directions, simple.

 

We can give gifts and receive them. We can also give ourselves a gift. If you are a gardener, give yourself the gift of leisure this holiday season. Enjoy the time off from gardening chores. Don’t even think about gardening, if you can. If you can’t, don’t beat yourself up about failures. There are many reasons for failures in the garden, pests, disease, weather. Don’t dwell on them but resolve to do what you can next year. If there is something you would like for a gift, tell someone. It’s simple.

 

If you’re giving a gardening gift, make it simple. A simple tool with no owner’s manual is good. My three essential tools are: a spade, a soil knife, a scuffle or Hula Hoe. A close runner-up is pruning shears. Make them good ones. They cost over $50.00. Other simple gifts are: a book, a botanical print, gloves, aprons, boots, knee pads. You could give a plant but be careful. It’s not that simple. They may not be ready. If not, it will be a burden. It might be a source of guilt if they can’t take care of it and it dies, or they give it away. Or, they might not like it. Ask what they might like in the way of a plant or if they would even like a plant. It’s simple. A gift certificate is really simple.

 

It is often said that the best gift is a gift of time, yours or theirs. A hand made gift is usually much appreciated. Or give them some time. Offer to rake leaves, cut grass, spade up or till the garden, help with spring cleanup or planting. Put it in writing. Don’t have the time? Pay someone to do a gardening task. This is especially nice for us old folks or someone who is physically limited. For yourself, put off ordering seeds and planning the garden. There will be time enough for that in January and February. “Tis’ the gift to be simple tis’ the gift to be free tis’ the gift to come down where we ought to be and when we find ourselves in the place just right T’will be in the valley of love and delight.”

 

Gardening questions can be asked at the Master Gardener Volunteer Helpline at our local Cooperative Extension office at 740-474-7534.

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Things to do in the garden:

 

Thankfully, there are not too many things to do IN the garden as much as there are things to do ABOUT the garden. If you haven’t already done so, clean up crop debris. Get the vegetable garden ready for spring. Leave stems in the perennial beds. If you must, trim them to 18 inches high for overwintering beneficial insects’ eggs and pupae. If it remains dry, continue to water evergreens and perennial plants, particularly those planted this year, until the ground is frozen hard.

 

On nice days wander about your place (your National Park). Notice the birds, listen for their songs and calls, old nests, egg masses, perhaps a Mourning Cloak butterfly, see the colors and textures of bare trees and plants. Notice how some plants continue to develop. If the local temperature reaches 50 degrees they grow, only to cease when the temperature falls below.   

 

Those bitter cress weeds are small now. I find them in between the bricks of my walk. They, along with false dead nettle and ground ivy in the beds and in the lawn are trying to gain a foothold now while they have little competition. The biennial mullein with its fuzzy lamb's ear-like leaves is growing flat against the earth. Rosettes of poison hemlock and teasel continue to grow. Dig them up while you have the chance or spray with an herbicide according to the directions on the label. Get them before the weather turns warm and they turn tougher.

 

If the ground remains open it’s still not too late to plant lilies, tulips and daffodils. You may find some bargains. Avoid the soft and shriveled ones. Check houseplants for insects. Move clay pots inside to prevent breaking. Plant native seeds directly over snow or frozen ground. Go to www.backyardhabitat.info.

 

Wrap young tree trunks with hardware cloth or the plastic wrap made for that purpose. Protect them from ground level to about 18 inches.  This also goes for newly planted shrubs. Place fencing around them. This prevents mice, voles and rabbits from using the bark as lunch. If they girdle the plants, they will die. A little light pruning of trees and shrubs while they are dormant won’t hurt. Damaged, rubbing or simply inconvenient small branches can be removed. Never top trees in any season. When harvesting or buying firewood use only from local sources less than 20 miles. This helps prevent the spread of bugs and diseases harmful to trees.

 

In the vegetable garden, write down and/or map where you planted what this year. This will aid in crop rotation. Use sand and/or ice melt, not rock salt, on your walks, salt is harmful to plants including grass and contaminates ground water. Gift ideas for gardeners: a good spade, soil knife, scuffle hoe, gloves, mud boots, books.