b'The December GardenBy Bridgette CrosbyIf you need a little advice or a little inspiration, feel free to contactme at 480-235-8388. D ecember is finally here! Over the summer, some of us dragged through the heat with daydreams of cooler weather. We counted the days until fall finally arrived, and then celebrated its arrival with visits to festivals, haunted houses, and farmers markets.For many people, December isnt really thought of as a gardening month. Most people assume that it is too cold to grow anything. Lucky for us, this is Arizona, a magical place where you can grow a bountiful harvest almost every single month. In December, there are plenty of things to do in the garden. There are also plenty of things that will grow in the garden. All you need is some love, patience, a little water, and some sunshine. This year, I took a different approach to gardening. After a wonderful spring harvest, I decided to let my garden rest over the summer. I wanted to do an experiment to see what would happen in the garden if I let nature take its course. I also wanted to take aNext, I will move all the soil out of my homemade break during the hottest months of the year and reducecomposter and add that soil to my garden beds. In watering as much as possible. I hoped for a greataddition, any leaves in my yard will be blown into my monsoon season. The soil needed to rest and I figuredgarden beds as well. This will be mixed thoroughly this was a good time to let the garden sleep.into the topsoil and then raked level. I will then water with a sprinkler for a day. Once the water has soaked So, from June to November, I left my garden alone. Itinto the soil, I will make small furrows for seeds and was difficult for someone like me, who loves diggingtransplants. in the dirt. I relish tending my garden and reaping the harvests of what I sow. For December plantings, I use a combination of seeds and transplants. Cooler weather calls for root The garden did marvelous all on its own, thanks to thevegetables, like radishes, carrots, beets, and turnips. great amount of rainfall we had. The soil was restedBroccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage will do well. Greens and revived. Several volunteer seeds sprouted and grewlike kale, lettuce, Swiss chard, and even sweet peas will into thriving Mesquite saplings, a Desert Broom, andalso thrive in December. I also plant tomatoes. several different types of flowers. These I plan to gently dig up and move out of my garden beds. I will plantMost gardening websites and books will tell you them in other areas of my yard, where they will providethat you cant plant in December. After 30 years of shade for my house as well as give wildlife and birds agardening here, I have learned that I CAN plant in place to rest.December and that things WILL grow in December. It might take a little extra work, but it will reward you tenfold if you do it! Flowers also do well in December. Some of my favorites are sunflowers, vincas, autumn sage, sweet peas, and hollyhocks. Herbs that thrive in cooler temps include mint, chamomile, parsley, basil, and rosemary.The thing to remember when planting in December is that yes, it can get cold and it can freeze. If your plants freeze, they will be damaged and will most likely die. Protect your plants from the frost by using frost covers, October 2022Volume 9Issue 12FREE FREE or old sheets from Goodwill. Birds and wildlife also November 2022Volume 10Issue 1love tender, young plants. Be prepared to protect your garden and your investment by covering when needed. All of the plants I suggested also do well in containers on your patio or in garden beds. Whatever you decide to plant, and however you decide to plant, just have fun and dont be intimidated by experts. Use common sense and do a little research before purchasing supplies. Happy Digging!!Shutterstock / Dennis Swena Shutterstock / Olha Rohulya20 December 2022'