Cynthia Brian’s Gardening Guide for December

Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour. âJohn Boswell

With less than three more weeks of autumn, we look forward to the festivities of December. Like a little child, I adore the holidays, the sparkling lights, the smells of gingerbread, and the good cheer circulating among people everywhere. However, Iâve always been distressed that so many retail establishments begin showcasing Christmas dÃ©cor in September diminishing the enjoyment of that first weekend after Thanksgiving when yuletide revelry is traditionally unveiled. According to a 2013 consumer research study, 81% of people visiting stores are extremely annoyed by the three-month premature Christmas jingles blasting from the sound system. Fortunately, most nurseries and garden centers live in the moment displaying the appropriate embellishments for the current season. Itâs a pleasure to witness the plethora of firs, pines, and other evergreens that will soon become decorated trees and inviting wreaths in local homes.Â Kalanchoe, Christmas cactus, cyclamen, poinsettia, fuchsia, anthuriums, and pansies are in bloom, brightening the darker days. Grateful for the recent rains, our garden hours are winding down just in time to gather our golden moments making memories at fun-filled holiday gatherings with family and friends. Itâs recharging time. Put your feet up, drink hot cocoa, kindle the fire, and smell the last of the roses before Santa Claus comes to town.

GIFTÂ packets of seeds for the holidays. Easy grow treasures include cosmos, peas, sunflowers, and morning glory. Give a wooden salad bowl filled with seeds of lettuce, peppers, cucumbers, basil, and arugula.

FEEDÂ your trees while they are dormant. Underground the roots are active and can use the nutrient boost.

PLANTÂ nutrient rich bok choy in your garden. The fiber and sulfur compounds prevent against cancer and bok choy is rich in vitamins A and C. Bok Choy contains 100% of your daily beta carotene, an antioxidant the boosts your immune system and maintains vision. Itâs also delicious chopped in salads, steamed, or added to soups. Do you need more reasons to add this ancient Chinese veggie to your planting list

TAKEÂ cuttings of coleus, pelargoniums, and geraniums before you prune them back for the winter. Put the stems in a jar of water and when they root, you can transplant them to use indoors.

DIVIDEÂ your peonies daylilies, and bearded iris if you didnât do it last month. Exchange with friends or find new needy places in your December garden.

BRINGÂ the tropics home by adding red bromeliads or anthuriums to your holiday dÃ©cor.

SAVEÂ birds by going organic. Provide seeds, berries, and safe nesting areas. Add a few native plants to your landscape that native birds already enjoy or stop pruning roses to allow the rosehips to form and feed our flying friends.

PROTECTÂ roses from extreme temperature changes by covering plants with eight to ten inches of mulch above the crown.Â

FEEDÂ the soil, not the plants. Continue adding organic materials including hay, leaves, and compost to enrich your soil over winter.

SPREADÂ seeds of a cover crop on any bare soil to prevent erosion, save water, increase soil fertility, and create habitats for beneficial insects.

SUPPORTÂ a vole, mole, gopher, and rat free environment by incorporating owl nesting homes. Habitat for owls can be as simple as brush piles or construct a true owl nesting box in an old tree positioned at a minimum ten to fifteen feet off the ground. A family of owls will scarf down several thousand rodents during a season as the young consume two to four a night. No need for harmful poisons when you have a wise owl living chez vous.

GROWÂ wisteria by collecting the seeds from the popped pods. Soak in water for three or four days, scrape off the hard exterior and plant in pots. Within four to six weeks, sprouts will form and you can transplant to an area in your garden that will support this very hardy twining vine. Wisteria can also be trained to be a tree. It could take five to fifteen years to bloom and has the potential to live for over five hundred years!Â Now that is a legacy of growing.

CONTINUEÂ reusing your gray water for outdoor container plants that wonât benefit from any rainy weather. Every drop you save is crucial as we are not out of the drought woods yet, even with the rainy days.

DECKÂ the halls with boughs of holly, pyracantha, cotoneaster, magnolia cones, rose hips, or any other merry berry!

VISITÂ 5 A Rent a Space, 455 Moraga Rd #F in Moraga on December 13 between 11-1:30 to have your children write Letters to Santa with me and volunteers from Be the Star You Are!Â® charity. Iâll have seeds for you, and the kiddies will get candy, cookies, cocoa, and caroling! Info:Â http://www.btsya.com/events_calendar.html

REST, relax, and rejuvenate. Itâs break time in the garden.Â

Happy gardening, happy growing, happy holiday glowing!