This is the time of year I am most reflective. When people ask over the New Year Holidays about my resolutions I answer by saying, “I don’t know yet, I’ll figure them out in January.”
Throughout this month I like to reflect on the events and experiences of the previous year while thinking forward about changes to cultivate and experiences to be had in the new year. Thinking forward to the new year in a reflective state of mind might sound contradictory but somehow it’s oddly satisfying.
And I’m resting…sort of… (although I am still bumping-up the workouts to bump-off the extra bumps resulting from the holidays)
But seriously, the shorter days with less light put me in a restful mood. I am resting because of all the fun social celebrations that took place, because this is the month with the least garden activities and because I feel a need to gather soulful, creative energy. As I quietly think of all the activities I get to engage in during the coming months there is a realization that now is the time to take deep breaths and focus on my well-being as a whole.
For gardening in particular, the new year means a new growing season and for garden-crazies like me a new-found sense of excitement and hope. I find myself looking through photos of the natural world from trips we’ve taken the previous year and thinking about how I can incorporate some elements of the natural world’s beauty into my controlled, man-made environment. I love to take photos of the places we visit and use them as potential inspiration…the colors, textures, forms…
So with a cup of hot tea, some books and some photos it’s a good time to do as the old adage says – ‘Stop and smell the roses.’ And I’m thinking for me it means the roses of life and the year to come… since it is still January you know!
How about you? How do you feel at the beginning of the new year? Does January bring any changes to your behavior or lifestyle? If living in a cold zone, how do you get your gardening fix or keep your gardening fascination?
igardendaily 
Very nice post and I am with you…my last 2 posts talk about similar thinking…I am growing food indoors for my fix and since I have a 9-5 job I have little time to rest except weekends…I do more writing and reflecting in January…you visited some very beautiful places!
Wow! What a calming post! Yes, January does offer some satisfaction that it’s a fresh start to make all the things done wrong or carelessly better this year…, but as for rest in Arizona in january it’s quite the opposite. Nature has blessed us with 75 degrees, sunshine, and perfect days… So, needless to say my January has been in over drive! But hot tea and reflection for each day sounds like a good way to start the year off!
Wow – such gorgeous, inspiring photos! Thanks for sharing them! I agree with you about January and the shorter days. It’s such a wonderful time to regroup, reflect, let new ideas percolate…I just love your idea of looking back through trip photos to see what things from natural world you can incorporate in your garden. As far as gardening fixes during winter…we haven’t had much of a winter here in Brooklyn, NY yet this year. Still, I am over-wintering several plants in the basement and starting root cuttings, so that gives me something “green and dirty” to do. 🙂 Seed catalogs get the wheels turning too.
January really is a good time to stop and think about the past year and goals for the upcoming one. I usually go through a cleaning and organizing phase, then I start studying the garden books and magazines for ideas.
I think my first comment didn’t go through. I also reflect a lot in January and try to organize myself and plan things, in all aspects of my life. When it comes to gardening, I try to enjoy winter but I have my seeds lined up and ready to go for planting season too!