As we move into January, I hit an emotional low. Our yard is bleak – the iceberg roses have been trimmed down so they will flourish in the spring. Some plants have been removed that didn’t make it thru the last blast of heat we had in late October. We are hoping for rain, come February, so new plants can be added to the yard before the addition of new mulch for spring.
I like to focus inside this time of the year. My indoor plants seem to thrive from the subtle afternoon light that hits our windows. This is a good time of year to add more. The added plants will acclimate to the conditions inside the home and will have settled in by the time the heat and stronger sun begins to seep thru the windows. In Ojai, we have a great plant service called Ojai Plant Works. They visit our home and many of our client’s homes and businesses every 1-2 weeks. If you don’t have a green thumb this may actually save you money. Prior to Steve (the owner) and his team, my orchids lasted, at maximum, three weeks. I now have orchid planters in my home that have continued to thrive four months!
In the winter, we find ourselves hanging out in a different part of our yard than we do in the summer. The snow on the mountains surrounding our valley adds that touch of visual beauty to focus on that we are lacking in our garden. This year, the pandemic served as the encouragement to finally solidify a fire pit seating area to enjoy (socially distanced of course) with family and friends. There are a lot of options when it comes to creating this type of area. We wanted durable seating, but modern in style. Polyform’s Modern Adirondack Chairs deemed perfect for our space. These all weather chairs come in a variety of colors and have a twenty year warranty. We chose black, matching our exterior light fixtures and fountain. Black is striking in contrast to the newly white painted exterior of our home.
Spring is already showing tiny signs of reemergence…the lemons are beginning to appear and the tangerine tree has some fruit we are able to pick in the next few weeks. The Pixie tangerines are flowering. Hopefully, some winter rains will add even more sweetness as they develop for Pixie season. We can’t wait for the smell of orange blossom in the air, the fruity cocktails to sip at sunset and the return of beauty to our backyard. Hang in there! Warmer days are just around the corner…
Check out the new Ojai glassware at Porch Gallery Ojai’s gift shop! Available in white or brown font, these are perfect to stock up on in anticipation of spring!
OHI HOME STYLE 