I love making New Year’s resolutions. While I set goals all year long, there is something magical about the promise of January 1. It represents a fresh start and a chance to set your sights high. As a gardener, I tend to make garden-related resolutions along with more personal goals.
Last Year’s Gardening Resolution
In 2019, I was determined to take care of one bed that had been bothering me for years. It may seem like a silly resolution, but I decided on January 1, 2020 to finally tear out the messy ornamental grass I had come to despise.
I had let it go for so long because it didn’t look that bad and I knew it would be a back-breaking chore. Last year, I finally did it. It took a day of hard work and then a few more days to buy new plants and put them in. It felt so good to get that done and checked off my list.
My Garden-Related Resolutions for 2021
2020 has been a rough year. My way of coping is to get outside as much as possible. Now that it’s cold and the garden is sleeping, I have turned my attention to dreaming about spring. I am planning next year’s garden and coming up with my gardening resolution list. Here’s what I’m thinking:
- Again, it sounds like a small thing, but I have been wanting to grow sunflowers for years. 2021 is my year to make it happen.
- I also resolve to try and use more native species. I can do better when it comes to selecting plants.
- I’m going to try some new herbs next year. I love growing herbs and using them in the kitchen, but for a few years I have been growing the same types. Along with my usual basil, lavender, sage, parsley, and cilantro I’ll try some fun new flavors like chocolate mint, lemon basil, and maybe rosemary.
- Perhaps most importantly, I plan to prioritize time spent outside. I tend to get busy, or a little lazy, but I never regret deciding to go work in the garden for an hour. Next year I will choose the garden over watching TV more often.
