As true in the plant world as it is in the human world, plants planted in inappropriate locations will fail to thrive and may indeed fail altogether. It’s all too easy to fall in love with the appearance of a particular plant at the nursery without the right place for it in your garden. If that perfect place is determined by looks alone, chances are your plant will not get enough of what it needs to thrive. You need the right place for the right plant.

I’ve seen too many irises that never bloom due to a lack of the sun’s rays. Lamb’s ear, the tight-growing, mat-forming mint family member that succeeds despite neglect, looks overgrown and floppy when given overly moist, rich soil. Russian sage, perennial geraniums and catmint respond the same to what for them is an overdose of the “good stuff.”

January — the dead of winter, our gardens safely put away until spring, tucked under a blanket of snow. Out of sight and out of mind? Just because our gardens are unseen doesn’t mean they need be forgotten. On the contrary, now is an ideal time to spend some quality time with your garden within the comfort of your warm, dry home.

How indulgent to cozy up with a book of gorgeous flower and garden photos while the snow flies on the other side of your window. The slow time of winter affords the perfect opportunity to get better acquainted with your garden-related hopes, dreams and personal style without the pressure of weeds to pull and flowers to deadhead.

Rare is the home gardener who has identified a theme for her or his garden. A theme (Japanese, naturalistic, meditation, moon, scented, fairy, tropical and so on) helps to unify the whole in such a way that it will evoke comments by visitors and bring the resident long-term direction and satisfaction. I challenge you to name a theme for your garden this winter, this month even — not a bad choice for a New Year’s resolution.

Simply choosing a theme to direct your plant selection and gardening decisions will help you feel more certainty and cohesion. To start designing your garden’s theme, browse the books or catalogs you have, visit the library or surf the Internet. A good way to start could be to contact a garden or landscape designer in your area. Like me, they probably relish collecting images of lovely gardens and appropriate plants for your area and would be glad to schedule a time to sit down with you to help narrow your options. A benefit to working on your garden in January is that you’re more likely to have your designer’s undivided attention than if you wait until spring.

If you choose to go the next step toward that end result with the help of a professional, you will be ahead of the game come planting time. That is when everyone else will just be beginning to see their gardens emerge from the stagnant grip of winter and will be remembering that the gardens exist and that they want to make some changes. Calling a designer then may result in a substantial wait period. Likewise, most landscape professionals who would implement the changes you have identified are also likely to be booked come spring. Knowing what you want well in advance and making contact early will greatly increase your chances of installation this spring in plenty of time for the growing season.

If you decide to take on the changes or installation of a new landscape yourself, you’ll still be in excellent shape by doing your planning now. While planting can take place any time during the growing season, it’s easier on you and the plants to do your planting in early spring when it’s still cool. The plants can begin to get established before they need to deal with the shock and intensity of the summer sun and heat.

So get started with your new garden theme planning now. A well-planned and executed landscape can increase property value by 15 percent when just 5 percent of the total value of the home is invested, according to SmartMoney Magazine. Such a landscape provides the residents and their visitors beauty, relaxation and a sense of pride. January is the perfect time to get started.
Eve Gilmore is a landscape designer and garden coach and owner of Gardens by Eve in Durango. You can reach Eve at www.gardens
byeve.buzztown.com or by calling 970-769-3319.

I recently had a conversation with a friend about the yard that came with his house. He commented on the trees having been placed poorly, their shade making several rooms of his house extremely cold in the winter months.

Unusual plants, especially those that grow well here in Colorado, have always captivated my imagination. Then, a few years back, I was enthralled to hear a speaker talk about a variety of underused and well-adapted plants. I was excited to discover these plants would require little attention and still thrive. I wanted to find out more.