Old Man Winter

Wintertime folklore emerged from snow-laden landscapes, sharp winds, and mysteries that swirled through a ruthless season marked by hardship, death, and suffering. Winter gods and deities gradually gave way to personifications of the season, such as Old Man Winter. As a child, I was mesmerized by the White Witch and the power she wielded when she froze Narnia in a Hundred Years Winter, casting a spell where it was always winter and never Christmas.

Winter for me has always felt mysterious, unpredictable, and introspective. Wildlife habitat depends on the seasons of growth that came before it, when roots ran deep and stores of nourishment were tucked away in hidden places by both flora and fauna.

I want to highlight a native species, salal (Gaultheria shallon), that is slowly creeping through what used to be our front yard lawn, supported by nurse logs, which gives this species the protection and nutrients it needs to establish itself. Sometimes, salal establishes as an epiphyte on nurse logs if conditions are humid. This evergreen native provides shelter for wildlife and its berries are highly nutritious and attractive to birds, containing vitamins, minerals, protein, antioxidants, and fats.  

Native species such as salal brighten the winter landscape, offering texture and contrast as they mingle with other evergreen natives like sword, licorice, and deer ferns within an otherwise dormant, deciduous setting.

This winter, we will examine evergreen native species that bring beauty to the garden during the colder months while continuing to support wildlife. As Robin Wall Kimmerer teaches us in her book Braiding Sweetgrass, native plants offer wisdom and sustenance while modeling reciprocal relationships (Kimmerer, 2013). These teachings guide us toward gratitude and reciprocity as we continue on our life’s journey.

Happy Winter, friends. 

References 

Kimmerer, R. W. (2013). Braiding sweetgrass: Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teachings of plants. Milkweed Editions.