Our geographical location may not rob us entirely of gardening options in winter. Between pruning, cold crops undercover, or indoor seed sowing, the gardener can find preoccupation. Alas, it's not nearly the daily submersion of other seasons, so I would like to suggest a few alternatives to fill your days and keep the motivation high.

For those of us that like to sit with a good book, I have two suggestions. "The Cabaret of Plants" by Richard Mabey is an extraordinary read. A history of plants, the author is British but includes subjects that are historically rich in diverse locations. Each chapter leads the reader on an exploration, beginning with cave drawings and finishing with recent findings of communication between tree roots or the chatter that takes place underground. Available as an audiobook as well, the narrator speaks with a British accent, his botanical names contradicting my pronunciation, which often leaves me laughing out loud. I own both versions and have listened to the audiobook numerous times; it's that good.

Another book titled "Head Gardeners" by Ambra Edwards is also a British publication that devotes 13 chapters to individual head gardeners working in England. Chapter titles vary from "Mission Impossible" to "The Naturalist" with an interview-style approach where the individual explains their attraction to a place or facet of gardening. As an estate gardener, I found it very entertaining but would argue that any gardener would find it interesting.

Podcasts are something I listen to every week, daily when seasons are in full swing. Naturally, a gardener wants something local, which can be challenging; the podcast world is no different than other social media platforms, building a bigger audience can be their objective. Luckily for us, "The Native Plant Podcast" is the audio blog of John Magee of Middleburg, Va. The subject matter is primarily native plants, as John interviews nursery owners, garden designers, and writers. In recent years the spotlight has been shared with Preston Montague of Raleigh, NC, and the format is loosely predictable as they share phenology (the cycle of bloom events in relation to climate), humorous dialog, a dog or pet story, and then share a local brew or craft beer. In John's most recent post, future podcasts will also be hosted by his wife Susana and Chris Felhaber of Chanticleer Gardens. Good news for local gardeners.

Another (very new) podcast is titled "Wild Plant Culture" by Jared Rosenbaum. The subject matter is field botany, herbal medicine, and regenerative practices. Jared's humor is quick and smart; the content highly elevated. Give this a listen if your horticultural interests include the local, native landscape.

My last recommendation is based on my curiosity as I prepare for a lecture on citizen scientists. Titled "Citizen Science: Podcast Brunch Club by Adela, it is wildly entertaining. The subject matter is not strictly horticulture but still worth a listen as citizens are working with scientists under various platforms, some with little structure, others more formulated, to procure information to share. Bird migration and invasive plant spread are just a couple of topics that have been enhanced with input from everyday people. Call it a merger between eyes on the ground and data seeking scientists.

So welcome to 2020, a new year with new inspiration as we wait for spring to arrive. Pastimes