As the end of the holiday season approaches, it’s time to start dreaming up what your New Year will look like! Whether you’re a longtime gardener or a beginner, the New Year is a great time to start planning for the next growing season. Here are a few items that we’re adding to our gardening bucket list this year!

Plant for the Planet

Natives and pollinator plants help support local biodiversity while bringing unique beauty and visual interest to any yard. Native plants are also acclimated to regional conditions, making them a great choice for a water-saving xeriscape.

If you’re looking for inspiration, come visit the Garden! Three out of four plants in the Bell Children’s Garden are native to Wisconsin. Plus, these past couple of summers, the Horticulture Team has taken on multiple major lawn conversion projects in the Garden. You can find new native plantings, sedges, and meadows now established throughout different areas including in the parking lot and the Schneider Terrace.

Make the Most of Your Space

Whether you have a sprawling yard or an apartment patio, it’s important to plan for the growing season to ensure that you’re able to make the most of your space!

Container gardening works well for smaller spaces and can be incredibly versatile. While containers are suitable for decorative floral plantings, they can also support a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Pots and small raised beds can also help keep gardening manageable if you have a busy schedule or physical challenges that limit your ability to be low to the ground.

For larger areas, the New Year is a great time to start thinking about how you’ll utilize your space. Keep your garden blooming all season long by planting a variety of ornamentals with different flowering times. Succession planting can also be a great option for vegetable gardens, creating a continuous harvest all season long.

Learn Something New

Plants aren’t the only thing growing in the New Year! Taking classes and attending events offered by local organizations allows you to learn new things and connect with other local gardeners. Here at the Garden, we offer classes and events year-round that cover a wide variety of topics and interest areas! Check out our calendar for more information.

Thank you, our guests and members, for another wonderful year. We can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store!

Sources

“2024 Garden Trends Report.” Garden Media Group, 2024. https://grow.gardenmediagroup.com/2024-garden-trends-report.