Winter Arrives!

Winter arrived at 6:12 a.m. here in New England according to this web site. No one seems to have told Mother Nature but perhaps that is because it is the earliest arrival of winter since 1896. It is pouring rain here at Ledge and Gardens in Rhode Island. The grass is green. The plants are dormant with the exception of the hellebores which are showing fresh green flowers. This is normal for this hellebore, Helleborus foetidus. The flowers are impervious to rain, sleet and snow. They slough it off and sit tight waiting for the longer days of spring. Both the garden and gardener are feeling the effects of low light levels. There are always garden chores to be done but the short days pass quickly with much left undone. I refuse to worry, there is always next year...or is there?  What chores are left undone in your garden this late in December?