Baby, it's cold outside!

We’ve been in the midst of a cold snap in much of the United States. As I look at my shrubs and perennials, I see lots of piled-up leaves that have been placed there by the autumn winds. I made sure not to disturb them before the plunging temperatures. Nature has wrapped my garden in a winter coat that I will not disturb until the spring. Only then will I clear out some of the leaves so I can work in my flower beds. Nature’s leaves aren’t just keeping my plants protected, they’re breaking down and adding nutrients to the soil. What’s more, they’re creating homes for beneficial insects and little creatures that add to the biodiversity of my wildlife habitat in the middle of a large city.