Back to the Garden: When the Garden Refuses to Give Up

By James Daw

January is a time when most gardens appear to have surrendered to winter. Beds lie quiet, branches are bare, and the growing season feels like a distant memory. And yet, even now, the garden still has stories to tell.

Last summer brought a wonderful show of roses along our front walk. Despite unusual heat and a lingering semi-drought, the bushes held their own and rebounded quickly from whatever the season threw at them. As fall arrived, the roses began their natural retreat into dormancy. Production slowed, as expected—but it never fully stopped.

Even as late autumn gave way to winter, a few determined buds managed one last restrained display. They weren’t as large or as vibrant as the roses of July, but they were there—quietly offering a bit of beauty just when it was needed most. Remembering them now, in the heart of January, feels especially meaningful.

The rose beds held other surprises as well. In early August, several vigorous tomato vines appeared among the bushes—entirely unplanned. Their origins remain a mystery, perhaps the work of a squirrel or a passing bird. Whatever the cause, the tomatoes they produced were the best of the season: large, juicy, and full of flavor.

The Downing Street apple orchard also delivered, despite the heat and dry conditions. The apples may not have been as large as last year’s, but they were crisp, sweet, and tart—every bit as enjoyable.

There is a lesson here worth carrying into the new year. Plants persist. Given even a small chance, they continue to grow, adapt, and surprise us with unexpected gifts of beauty and nourishment. In the quiet of January, the garden reminds us that life does not simply stop—it waits, gathers strength, and prepares to begin again.

Even in its stillness, the garden offers encouragement—and a promise that brighter days are always ahead.