It's a dark start to the day here in the Carondelet Garden.  The clouds have returned which made dawn even darker than normal.  The cloudy skies are going to be around for a while, but the temperatures are going to climb into the upper 50s by this afternoon.  Not a bad way to start the Winter season.

The Winter Solstice has always held a special place in the heart of this old gardeners.  It's a time of hope and renewal as we welcome the lengthening of days and later light into the late afternoon.  It's the perfect time to dream about next year's gardens.  The seed catalogues are arriving in earnest right now.  Such fun to spend a bit of time savoring a cuppa, and browsing through the pages looking for that next exciting plant or vegetable.

Our Advent journey continues on this third Thursday of the season.  Christmas is truly right around the corner.  We pick up the Christmas ham from the butcher this afternoon as we await the feast this weekend.  It's a good day for a good day.  A good day for a bit faith, a dash of hope and spreading a bit of love about!  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

The skies over the Carondelet Garden are overcast on this Wednesday morning.  I wee bit of chill in the air, but the sun should return this afternoon with a nice warm-up with highs in the upper 50s.  A lovely day for mid-December.

It's the middle of the week, the middle of the month and the end of the year is coming soon.  There's not a lot left to do.  It's that in-between waiting season right now.  We wait.  We long.  We hope.  We pray.  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!

Be good and be kind to yourself, especially this time of year.  Try to take things a bit slower and be more gentle with yourself and others.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

The skies are sunny on this Tuesday morning in December but, "Baby, it's Cold Outside!"  The old thermometer tells me it is 22-degrees in the early hours of the day.  We will be warming up to the mid 40s by this afternoon.  Clouds and sunshine will be hanging around all day.  A warmup into the upper 50s through the rest of the week.  

I have to admit I miss the gardening in December.  Honestly, there really isn't that much to do.  On warmer days I may pick up a few of the leaves that litter the walkways and get caught up in the stoops.  I planted up several pots of tulips for the coming Spring.  This time of year lends itself to a bit of housekeeping and cleaning up inside.  All of the gardening tools have been cleaned and I'm in the process of sharpening the tools that need it.  The blade on the lawnmower was taken to the hardware store for their professional workmanship.  It's that time of year that I piddle about in the basement when it's cold or walk around a check on things when it is warmer.  

I'm waiting for the light to return.  The dark, dark mornings and the early darkness of evenings catch me off guard.  In our darkest moments the garden creates a shaft of light.  No matter how dark things may appear we can find a spark of light in our hearts.  My job today is to try to be a light for one another.  As we light the candles on our Advent wreath, we light the candles for one another.  We wait together.  The hope and faith are real.  The light will come and banish the darkness.  

O Come, O Come Emmanuel! We sing the words every day now.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

The colder winds are blowing in the Carondelet Garden this sunny Monday morning.  A red maple leaf sits alone on the concrete in front of the Parterre Garden this morning.  The winds haven't blown it away just yet.  The highs today should make it into the upper 30s but there is a warm-up coming later in the week.  It has been a very mild December so far.  

I set a bit of a goal for myself as this year began.  I wanted to live a simpler, more ordinary life.  Less hustle and bustle; instead, more calm and contemplation.  There is a kind of freedom in becoming absorbed in a simple, ordinary life in the garden.  In a noisy age, I think perhaps trying to live quietly might be a virtue.

Some days are better than others.  The days when I do accomplish to calm down and take in a bit of contemplation, I do feel much better and more connected to the realness of life.  A bit more hope in those moments when the world around me says hope is gone.  A bit more faith that things will get better.  Faith that we can and do make a difference.  Then there is love.  The love of nature.  The love of family, both the family we are born into and the family we choose.  Faith, hope and love to live out this simple, ordinary life.  My goal will remain the same for this coming year.  

It's a new week.  Gaudete Sunday has arrived.  Rejoice in the coming light.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

A cloudy start to the day here in the Carondelet Garden.  It is going to be another quite mild day for mid-December with highs in the low 60s and a slight chance of rain.  A much better chance for rain overnight as a cold front starts moving through the area.  

A glorious day yesterday.  One of those amazing gifts of grace that reminds us that December isn't always about the dark and the cold.  Days like that are perfect days for a glass of wine and a fire in the old firepit.  It doesn't get much better than that!

We have a basketball game tonight with Chaminade taking on CBC in a long-time rivalry.  I have been reassured that Chaminade has the better team and victory is imminent.  It's a good day for a good day!  Be good and be kind to yourself and others on this mid-December day.  A great day for a high school basketball game and, hopefully, a win!  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

It is still dark outside in the Carondelet Garden as I sit at my desk and contemplate the day ahead.  They tell me we will have abundant sunshine with highs near 60-degrees on this Second Thursday of Advent.  A lovely day ahead to be sure!

There are beautiful mysteries waiting for us in the darkness of an early morning, living their hidden lives so near our own.  I am learning to rest in the uncertainty of being in the dark, to revel in the secrets and mysteries of the darkness.  The light will come, but now we must wait and contemplate and hope!

Hope.  Faith.  Love.  The greatest is love, but that doesn't negate the need for hope and faith! Especially this time of year as we are so busy and trying so hard!  Be good and be kind to yourself, especially this time of year!  Goodness and kindness be our guide, I pray! That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

A chilly, cloudy start to the day here in the Carondelet Garden on this second Wednesday of Advent.  The weather folks tell me we may see some rain this morning.  There should be clearing and a bit of sunshine this afternoon.  Once again, a pretty mild afternoon with highs in the low to mid 50s.  Is this really December in Saint Louis?

The new Hellebores are looking quite lovely in the shade garden.  These 'Lenten Rose' beauties bring a smile to my face every time I see them.  A simple, ordinary grace in this late Autumn time.

The mornings are so dark now.  The late afternoons are dusky quite early and before I'm ready the light is gone.  I'm searching for that light right now.  I am often up for the sun's rise in the morning and outside for the sunset.  What a simple, ordinary joy it is to watch the moon rise up and travel across the sky.  It's Advent and we light our candles early in the evening, offering our prayers and lifting up our hopes as we sit by the fire talking and reading and listening to some music as the darkness deepens. 

The lights on the Christmas tree twinkle and shine providing us with a bit of hope that the light will come.  O Come, O Come Emmanuel we sing.  We continue on in faith, hope and love while we wait for the coming of the light of the world.  The Creator comes.  The Word made flesh.  

O Wisdom.  Lord and Ruler.  Root of Jesse.  Key of David.  Rising Sun.  King of the Nations.  Emmanuel.
Come, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

A chilly start to the day here in the Carondelet Garden.  Partly cloudy with light and variable winds on this Tuesday in Advent.  Should warm up by this afternoon as we hit the low 50s again.  Not too bad for mid-December in South Saint Louis.

Not a lot of gardening happening this week.  Lots of meetings and prepping for meetings and taking care of those end of the year paperwork.  Not my favorite activity in the world, but necessary.  A busy day and a busy week still in store.

​Here's to a good day.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others as you travel about on this Tuesday.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

Sunny skies and chilly temperatures as I ventured out into the Carondelet Garden on this second Monday in Advent.  The garlic is looking good and nestled snuggly in its bed awaiting 2024 and harvest next July.  Is there anything much better than fresh garlic?  Of course, but it's really good!

A very relaxing, calm weekend.  A few meetings this week.  Some running around and errands to accomplish.  Simple, ordinary living for a simple, ordinary old gardener.  Here's to a good week filled with some faith, a little hope and as much love as we can gather about us.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

The skies are partly cloudy out in the Carondelet Garden on this first Friday of December.  The weather folks are saying the skies will continue to cloud over as the day progresses and we may even see a bit of rain later this afternoon.  We could use a bit more to be sure.

I was finally able to return to gardening yesterday in a real way.  I have to admit I was exhausted after only a few hours of work, but it was so worth it!  The Hellebore 'Pink Ice' was the variety planted.  We added two more to the shade garden.  Oddly, early December is a wonderful time to plant Hellebore so long as the ground is not frozen which would be unusual around here this early.  

It is true that two things can help in healing:  love and gardening.  The power of love to heal us sounds so simplistic but love is the greatest healer around.  I also believe that gardens heal.  When you are sad, a garden provides comfort.  When you are feeling defeated, a garden can console.  When lonely, it offers true companionship that lasts.  When you are weary, the garden is there to soothe and refresh.  

Once finished with my chores I simply sat and enjoyed a cup of tea and just listened to the garden.  The soft wind blowing. The sun shining and the mild temperatures provided the best healing I could imagine.  Such a grace in an ungraceful age. 

I hope you get the chance to slow down a bit this weekend.  Take a moment to sit in a garden or a park and just listen for a minute or two.  Let the creator of all things show you the beauty and majesty of creation.  It only takes a few minutes.  Listen to the pretty.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

It's a bright, sunshine-filled morning here in the Carondelet Garden.  The temperatures are beginning to warm up as we climb to the 60s this afternoon.  A perfect day for this old gardener to finally return to his routine.  

Today is a perfect gardening day made even more perfect as I exit quarantine and can return to a bit of civilization even if it is only in my own yard.  Dr. B headed out to pick up a few little gems that were "on clearance" at the old garden center and I'm going to be getting them into the ground while it's nice and warm.  Two new Hellebores are being added to the shade garden.  Very excited to see these Icy Pink beauties make their home with us.  

I'm also sowing 'sweet peas' for next Spring.  I've never done 'sweet pea' before, so it is a new adventure for this old gardener.  I'm excited about the prospect of the stunning flowers come next year!  

You never appreciate good health until you are feeling poorly.  It is a blessing and gift to be slowly returning to my old self again.  The exhaustion has been a real trial for this old gardener.  Today will be a bit of test but I'm so excited to get some 'work' done.  Taking it slow and steady and trying not to overdo it!  Believe me, Dr. B is ever vigilant in keeping me from overdoing it!

The word of the day for this old gardener is gratefulness.  For friends, family, friends who are family, love and health.  It's a good day for a good day.  A bit of faith, a dash of hope and whole bucket full of love.  The perfect recipe for a perfect day.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

The skies are sunny over the Carondelet Garden on this Wednesday morning in early December.  The Valerian is in flower!  Such a bit of grace in late, late Autumn in St. Louis.  We should have partly cloudy skies all day with highs in the upper 40s.  Tomorrow, we see a warmup into the 60s with sunshine!  

It's the final day of quarantine for this old gardener and it is coming none too soon as I am feeling quite a bit better.  With the warmup tomorrow I'm looking forward to getting back outside and doing some gardening in earnest.  I've been outside to look about, but Dr. B is keeping me on a tight leash.  Not that I felt like doing too much anyway!

We have more tulips to plant out into containers to wait for Spring.  Sweet peas are ready to start in the incubator.  Gardening seldom takes a break and I'm ready to get back to it!  It's a good day for a good day!  Be good and be kind to yourself and others on this first Wednesday in Advent.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden. 

The skies are sunny over the Carondelet Garden on this Tuesday morning in Advent.  A mix of clouds and sunshine should continue through the morning hours, but clouds are supposed to move in by this afternoon.  A lovely start to be sure.

Thanksgiving is over and the decorations have been put to good use out by the old 'Cherokee Chief' Dogwood tree.  The squirrels have already discovered them and are starting their holiday feast as I am writing this.  Squirrels can drive a gardener crazy but watching their antics is a bit of grace as well.  They make me laugh so often!  They also make me want to murder them when they attack my tomatoes in the summertime.  Life's little quandaries!

The virus that has plagued the old gardener is certainly loosening its grip.  It's the cough and fatigue more than anything to be entirely honest.  Yet, I am grateful for improvement and feel like I'm on the road to a full recovery.  Tomorrow should be my final day of "quarantine."  I appreciate the support and love given over the past few days.  It means the world to an old man like me!

Blessings abound on this First Tuesday of Advent.  A bit of faith, some hope and a whole lot of love surround us all, now more than ever!  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

A wet, cloudy start to the day here in the Carondelet Garden.  The skies should clear with an expected high near 50-degrees this afternoon.  Not a bad day at all for this first Monday in Advent.

After over three years of this COVID thing going around it finally caught up to the old gardener in Carondelet.  Thankfully I am fully up-to-date on vaccines and I'm a pretty healthy old guy mostly so it's been okay, but I've been down and out since Saturday and won't be making any sojourns for at least five or six more days just to be sure.  It's been quite an eye-opener to be sure.  I have to admit that I've quite forgotten what it's like to be sick.  The fevers, the chills, the stuffy head.  Haven't experienced any of that since I've retired.  It's good to be reminded in a not so terrible way just how lucky I am!

It's a good day for a good day.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others as you travel about on this first Monday of December.  Enjoy the mums that are still in bloom!  What a bit of grace.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

It's a cloudy, wet, chilly morning here in the Carondelet Garden on this first Friday of December.  The Lupines were absolutely stunning sporting their small drops of heavenly moisture in the side garden.  Overcast skies are expected for the rest of the day with a slight chance of some more rain.  It's going to be pretty pleasant with highs in the upper 50s.

I know that Winter doesn't officially begin until later this month but flipping the calendar page to December always feels like the unofficial beginning to this old gardener.  The air just feels a bit different going forward.  You feel the change in the air, and you know what is coming. 

The garden is in pretty good shape right now.  The last of the tulips were finally planted.  The last Hellebore was planted in a place of honor.  The beds are almost ready for their long Winter's nap.  It's a good feeling knowing things are in good shape.  We will starting our Sweet Pea seedlings soon which is always exciting.  Gardening continues no matter the season.

I'm enjoying going back through some of the photographs of the garden over the past few years.  It is a very useful method of mapping out the seasons.  It's also a great record of what was planted where and what worked (and what did not work!) I'm always amazed at my memory of certain things.  Sometimes I remember it being much worse that it was.  Sometimes, simply the opposite is true.

It's a good day for a bit of kindness filled with some faith, a bit of hope and as much love as we can share.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.