One of the first things we did when after purchasing our country property in early 1999 (26 years ago!) was to replace the many dead trees with live ones. The rationale for this “trees first” mentality is that trees take the longest to grow and develop.

To date, we have gradually planted over 800 trees on our property and are constantly rejoicing in the benefits we enjoy as they grow in grace, beauty and value with each passing year! These tree-mendous garden additions provide depth, grace and elegance in our landscape, erosion control and water management in our wetlands, privacy and soundproofing from the main road along the front of our property, shade and cooling for our house in the summer, shelter for numerous varieties of wildlife, vibrant colors in spring and fall, play-places for grandchildren, and the constant reminder that we are participating in something grand, glorious and much bigger than ourselves.

May we encourage you to plant a tree or two on your property this year for the joy of it and for the legacy of grace and beauty you will pass on to those who follow you? If this idea appeals to you, we’d love to hear from you: 717-653-1273.

Joyfully shared by Betty Hanselman

Gardener’s wife (& tree fanatic)

“Nature has undoubtedly mastered the art of winter gardening and even the most experienced gardener can learn from the unrestrained beauty around them.”

~ Vincent A. Simeone
Joyfully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& winter garden observer)

For some people, late winter can be a rather bleak time of year. I understand that mindset and shared it for many years. But my attitude towards winter is changing, now that I have a garden.

A few years ago, I began taking daily walks. We have a fairly long driveway, so I tend to stay on our property when I walk. This puts me in our garden virtually every day of the year. As a result, I am party to some spectacular seasonal events. Of course, I notice (and often announce excitedly to my children and grandchildren) the first robins and crocuses in the spring, or the first phalanx of geese flying south in the fall.

But even in the winter, when the trees are bare and the lawn is an unsightly tan, there are exciting things to observe and celebrate. And, with less competition for attention in this relatively drab and colorless season, each discovery becomes that much more exciting. Even a brisk walk to the mailbox can be rewarding. Just the other day, as I walked to get the mail, my approach startled three cardinals in the shrubbery. What a delight to watch them swoop ahead of me down the driveway!

In any other season, with so much color and activity, this spectacular event may have gone unnoticed. But on that cold, gray day, those scarlet harbingers of joy had my undivided attention! I’m discovering that a garden is a treasury of delights… even in winter!

–Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& daily joy seeker)

“Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,
Arrives the snow, and, driving o’er the fields,
Seems nowhere to alight: the withered air
Hides hills and woods, the river, and the heaven,
And veils the farm-house at the garden’s end.
The sled and traveler stopped, the courier’s feet
Delayed, all friends shut out, and housemates sit
Around the radiant fireplace, enclosed
In a tumultuous privacy of storm.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson (American essayist, philosopher, minister, abolitionist, and poet; 1803 – 1882)

As February extends its cold, gray dreariness beyond reason, may you discover much to keep you joyful: spring garden improvements to plan, good company to enjoy, and many blessings to count!

Joyfully shared by Betty Hanselmen

Gardener’s wife (& winter “blessing counter”)

Shibui is a Japanese word that refers to “an aesthetic concept of subtle, understated beauty that becomes more profound with time and observation”. The concept of shibui embodies simplicity, refinement and depth, and is often discovered in objects, art or experiences that are not flashy but evoke quiet elegance and harmony.

Shibui is our ideal for the gardens we create. If you value the concept of shibui, perhaps you’d like to partner with us to evoke its “quiet elegance and harmony” in your garden spaces. Let’s talk: 717-653-1273.

Shared from Instagram by Betty Hanselman

Gardener’s wife (& garden “shibui” seeker)

“In winter’s cold and sparkling snow,
The garden in my mind does grow.
I look outside to blinding white,
And see my tulips blooming bright.
And over there a sweet carnation,
Softly scents my imagination.

On this cold and freezing day,
The Russian sage does gently sway,
And miniature roses perfume the air,
I can see them blooming there.
Though days are short, my vision’s clear.
And through the snow, the buds appear.

In my mind, clematis climbs,
And morning glories do entwine.
Woodland phlox and scarlet pinks,
Replace the frost, if I just blink.
My inner eye sees past the snow.
And in my mind, my garden grows.”

~ Cynthia Adams

What garden imaginings are waking in your imagination during this cold season of the year? It’s never too early to start jotting them down and giving us a call to begin making them real when the warm weather appears. Our number is 717-653-1273. We’d love to hear your winter garden thoughts!

Shared by Betty Hanselman

Gardener’s wife (& “winter garden” dreamer)