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Winter garden dream. And GOLD!

January 19, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

Winter is the perfect time to dream and plan for a spring garden. Did you realize we are halfway through the calendar winter? Yes, although it’s still too soon to plant veggies and flowers (at least in our neck of the Northern Hemisphere), it’s never too soon for moving dirt around. Unless, of course, your dirt is buried under a blanket of snow. Since ours isn’t, we have lots of garden prep work going on at our house. And believe me, since we bought this house in August, we have been itching to work in the yard.

wheelbarrows

Winter isn’t stopping us. Not this week anyway.

To add more interest, we are terracing our sloping backyard. This is the beginning of a stone wall.  (See Lou Holtz supervising? He’s good.)

building a rock wall terrace

We have plans to expand our outside stone dining area, install a sprinkler system and build a fire pit. The Grey Barn is doing the heavy lifting. The Grey Barn, dirt work

Fortunately, the last few days have been dry, otherwise what a mud hole we would have. Mud + Schnauzers = Pigs.

Lucy and Annabelle playing ball

Turning dirt reveals treasures like old broken glass and pieces of pottery. Yesterday I found a cool rock partially buried but glinting in the sunlight. I’m not sure what it is, but it looks interesting. Some sort of ore or mineral?

found in my backyard

If it’s something significant, let me know, and I’ll go dig for more in the backyard. In the meantime until we identify it, I’ll pretend it’s gold. Or a rare lump of Martian meteorite. Or maybe there’s a black diamond hidden inside there.

Whoo-hoo!

Think of how many herbs and plants and trees and seed packets one nugget of gold would buy.

A girl can dream. Even in the dead of winter.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]Turning up dirt uncovers lots of treasures. #gardening #winter #waitingforspring[/tweetthis]

“I’m a miner, and I’m always dirty, because I’m constantly digging. Am I shoveling for gold? Hardly. I’m unearthing this hearty land searching for the next great American novel. If I dig deep enough, I’m sure to find it.”
― Jarod Kintz

Musical Pairing:

California Dreamin’ – The Mamas and The Papas

Filed Under: Gardening, Nature & Seasons Tagged With: The Grey Barn, Winter, winter gardening

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Comments

  1. Barbara Tate says

    January 19, 2015 at 8:59 am

    That backyard will be beautiful when you & John get through with it, just like your yard on Worth. Loved your pictures, and you have matching wheel barrels. Cool. Great read. Keep us informed of the progress.

  2. Colene says

    January 19, 2015 at 9:44 am

    Very interesting! I’m sure the end result will be beautiful.

  3. Kathy S Combs says

    January 19, 2015 at 11:24 am

    I can’t wait to see the end result. Sounds awesome!

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 23, 2015 at 7:35 am

      Thanks Kathy! I’ll be glad when we have grass instead of dirt:)

  4. Barbara Tate says

    January 19, 2015 at 12:42 pm

    Looks like Gold to me!

  5. Dorothy Johnson says

    January 20, 2015 at 9:50 am

    I know the finished product will be beautiful and productive (veggie-wise).

  6. Edith Kral says

    January 20, 2015 at 5:57 pm

    Hi “T” I got your card today and enjoyed it so much. I will be writing you soon. Love you.
    Edith

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 21, 2015 at 7:42 am

      I’m so glad! Can’t wait to hear back.

  7. Vivayne says

    January 22, 2015 at 9:42 pm

    California Dreamin, that exact version, is a fav 🙂 I don’t know what your rock is, but they say if you ever find lava rock DON’T take it from it’s home. Worse than 7 years bad luck you get when you break a mirror 😉

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      January 23, 2015 at 7:35 am

      Yikes I hope it isn’t a lava rock.


Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: 11.23.25
  • Maggie and Miss Ladybug: My New Children’s Nature Book
  • Sunday Letter: November 9, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Oct 26, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Oct 5, 2025

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