From the editor Editor

How are you going now it’s winter? Do you embrace the season or do you turn into what Wendy Maddison describes in her winter wellness feature as a grizzly?

Have to confess, I struggle to find the positive when the days are short and the sun doesn’t shine. The idea of hibernating like a bear through those dreary days sounds decidedly appealing. Despite society’s need for us to be consistent in mood and energy every day, every month and every year, we are not designed to operate that way, Wendy says. Our gardens wax and wane with the seasons, so why don’t we allow our lives and bodies to as well? So, if you’re feeling at a low ebb, I recommend turning straight to page 48 to read Wendy’s musings and suggestions to boost your mood.

What else has brought a smile to my face this issue? I loved learning the story behind Aotearoa’s locally grown pine nuts (p. 15).

Know Your Native this month is about one of my favourite plants in our garden, Marlborough rock daisies (p. 70). Watching their felted leaves of silvery white slowly unfurl is a winter thrill. Liz Carlson shares more delightful textural plants in her story on cacti housemates (p. 79).

Any way of making weeding less a chore is always welcome and Mark Rayner shares 10 of them (p. 20 ) ‒ better still, they don’t involve chemicals. Our DIY man also shows how to make the cutest toadstool table (p. 98) while Klaudia Krupa repurposes an old pallet into some nifty tool storage (p. 100).

We know it’s hard for many of us to muster enthusiasm for the vege garden during the coldest months, but read our passionate contributors’ Under-cover Growing (p. 37) and Edibles (from p. 24) stories and you’ll be raring to grow.

Until next month, stay well! gaynor@alliedpressmagazines.co.nz