Dear Friends,

 

If I’m being honest, this winter has felt like a long one, especially here in Connecticut. The kind of winter where the cold lingers, the skies feel heavy, and the garden beds look impossibly far from blooming. But this week…something shifted. The light is different. The days are stretching just a little longer. The sun lingers in the afternoon. And even though the ground is still frozen here in Zone 6b Connecticut, and we are getting more snow this weekend  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I have been posting every day in social to remind me what this gardens will look like in a few short months, and we have thousands of new followers and subscribers so thank you and welcome! We are so glad you are here.

happenings in the garden - february zone 6b

Even though it looks quiet outside, February is one of my most important planning months. Here’s what’s on my garden planner right now:

 

I’m flipping back through photos and notes - what bloomed well, what struggled, where I need more height, more structure, more late-season color. And more importantly what I want to order. This is the garden planner I use link.

Clean, sharpen, oil. Spring will be busy, and I want to be ready. Since I lost my pruners somewhere in the garden last fall, I need to order a new pair. These are the ones I swear by and they are worth every penny if you have roses.

 

Because I garden in Zone 6b, it is still too early for me to prune my roses or my panicle hydrangeas. Our cold temperatures can still cause winter damage, and pruning too early may expose vulnerable new growth. However, I know many of you follow along from warmer zones where pruning season has already begun. A simple and reliable rule of thumb gardeners have used for generations is this:  When the forsythias bloom, it’s time to prune. Forsythia blooming is nature’s signal that plants are beginning to wake from dormancy and can safely handle pruning. I watch my own shrubs carefully each spring, and when those cheerful yellow blooms appear, I know it’s time to head out with my pruners.

what i'm ordering for spring 2026

This is the fun part! I am still working on my order and will do a blog post when it is done. However, this is the time when you should order your bare root roses and dahlia tubers. Here are a  few of my favorites you have been seeing in my reels. You know I love roses, especially English-style roses for that layered romantic look. 

Clockwise from the left - Olivia Rose, Queen of Sweden, Francis Meilland, Strawberry Hill, Eden Climber - Pretty in Pink, Petal Pushers - Ground Cover Rose

And when the roses are having their second flush you can pair them with dahlias for late summer and fall color here are my favorites from last year.

Clockwise from the left: Sweet Nathalie, Wizard of Oz, Ferncliff, Karma Prospero

virtual cottage consults are here!

You asked and I listened - I am going to offer a limited number of 30-minute one-on-one garden consults for readers who would like personalized guidance for their own space. These will be relaxed, practical conversations - a chance to ask questions, talk through challenges, or get a second set of eyes on your garden plans. Consults will take place via Zoom. If you are interested, please fill out this interest form and we will follow up with next steps.

Wrapping up

February is a month of quiet resilience.

It reminds me that gardens and life move in seasons, but the light always returns. Thank you for being here, for sharing this garden journey with me, and for dreaming of spring alongside me.

 

Spring is closer than we think.

Happy gardening!

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