Nature takes three approaches to the extremes of winter: move away to a milder climate, dig in deep and hibernate, or use the few hours of feeble daylight to frantically find nourishment. Ohio gardeners seem to follow the same pattern, but luckily central heating and a well-stocked landscape can help us enjoy the coziness of our winter den while still enjoying the frenzied activity of winter wildlife through insulated double-paned windows.

Last winter my neighborhood hosted a flock of about twenty robins. Robins, of course, are the prototypical early bird that loves to catch worms, but in my frozen garden, they went to town on the fruit of crabapples and junipers. They also appreciated the availability of water at my small pond, which is kept ice-free by a small pump that circulates the water. Robins rely on fruit and berries if they stay behind for the winter, and appreciate raisins, chopped apples, and sometimes even suet to keep them going. It was nice to see these summertime birds in the depths of winter, but it was a little strange to see the “first robin of spring” on New Year’s Day!

Now that the stress of the holidays is over, many gardeners lament those last few chores that didn’t get done before snow cover signaled the end of the season. I take comfort knowing that those little clumps of autumn leaves under the shrubs, and those few perennial stems left standing will be put to good use by overwintering caterpillars, bumblebees, and other warm weather insect friends. Birds and bunnies appreciate your used Christmas tree as a shelter against cold wind, snow and sleet.

Winter workdays start in the dark and end in the dark, so we can’t witness the wildlife action of the day. I do enjoy seeing the evidence of the day’s events in the tracks animals leave in the fresh snow. Little pitchfork marks with occasional scrapes show where juncos scratched for seed I had scattered on the ground. A row of double exclamation points shows where a squirrel patrolled the yard, with a divot here or there showing where he had hidden a peanut. All this lets me know that I’m not the only one who is hanging in there, hoping for the return
of spring.