INTRODUCTION As gardeners, how do we mark the change of seasons? Spring is hectic with seed sowing and enjoying the lively return of birds and insects and perennial blooms. The world is filled with sound and colour, and the soil is warm in our hands. In the summer, we spend hours on our knees weeding. We lug watering cans around the garden and watch our plants as they mature. We harvest fresh delights such as green peas and crisp beans, and bring the flowers of zinnias and lisianthus into our dining rooms. Our evenings are spent on lawn chairs, enjoying the fragrance of evening-scented stock and lavender. In autumn, we clamber to get the pumpkins in before the heavy frosts, and watch deciduous leaves change colour and fall to the ground. For us in cold climates, the growing season always seems shorter than we would like--suddenly, it's over for the year, with beds tucked away under a covering of mulch and the tools hung up in the shed.

Gardeners anxiously anticipate the shortest day of the year, for its arrival means that we are in a time of renewal and rebirth as we celebrate the upcoming festive seasons and the return of the light. Spring is not far away! You might be forgiven for thinking that there is nothing left to do in the winter but tend our houseplants. But fear not, there is a whole other gardening season at this time of year. Whether it is growing amaryllis, or planting up a holiday poinsettia, ivy, and holly, there is plenty to do. Bringing in the greens is an ancient practice at this time of year where we decorate our homes with wreaths, garlands, arrangements, and more. Then there is the tree to be the focal point of our homes for the Twelve Days of Christmas. Festive baking and cooking with all those spices and herbs fills the house with smells that evoke Christmases long gone. This seasons is one filled with poignant memories, ongoing traditions, and a wealth of meanings as we celebrate the turn of the year by drawing on centuries of symbolism and practices.

As you read about these traditions and beliefs through history and over cultures, you'll recognize a pattern: the human need to bring colour, light, and peace into our lives during dark times. From the warmth of the Yule Log to the significance of Persephone's pomegranate, the Druidic rituals surround the oak tree to the Arthurian connection of the Glastonbury thorn, hope and renewal are themes that run through all these stories, and plants are a huge part of the cycle. Join us as we explore the world of gardening in the dead of winter! --from Decking the Halls.