Dear Santa,

 Merry Christmas to you and the Mrs. I wish I could say that I have been very good this year, but that would be untruthful . Anyway ,I have figured out that some years when I am very bad you are actually much nicer to me, so without worry  here is my wish list for the garden in 2011.

1.) Snow, snow and more snow. Aside from the prettiness factor, a good 2-3 foot layer of snow is the perfect insulation for the plants here in the fabled “hills of Worcester” It also covers up all the crappy chores I never got around to in 2010 and makes me forget for a while all the work that awaits me in spring.

2.) Moderation. A small favor whose impact is immeasurable. No overly rainy springs causing plants to rot at the crown and fungal diseases to abound. No letting Mr. Heat Miser fry us with temperatures from hell and droughts that drive my water bill into quadruple digits. While you are at it, tell the north wind to take it easy on my arborvitae and rhodies, they do not enjoy his dessicaating  breath. In addition, no more “Ice Storms of the Century” either.  Really, all I want is just average, normal temperatures and precipitation please. Again, small favor, big impact.

3.) I asked you for a tree under the tree, a meyer lemon, but your elf in the nursery saw fit to ship it unprotected in an unmarked cardboard box during a spell of artic temperatures. The UPS man left it on the porch and it is dead, dead, dead. I am pretty pissed about it so a replacement would go a long way toward getting back in my good graces.

4.) I could also use the gift of time in the spring to re-landscape around the fence. And if  you could, a little backbone to say “no” to garden tour requests or overly large summer parties that force me to frantically and constantly prune, deadhead and otherwise spruce up the garden. Let’s let 2011 be a year of the “natural ”  (read:untidy, overgrown, and messy) look I so prefer.

That’s all, really a very manageable list. I know I can count on you to come through for me.

Happy Holidays! Hugs and Love, Cheryl

                                                                                                                                                                                       photo:                       David, Pumpkin, CJ

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Erin, Tigger, Faith