Verdant View - January 2026

Observing Change

When I was young, some 40 years ago, I had a great “ride.” Lucha La Carrucha was a candy apple red, 1964 Dodge Dart convertible with light interior. I bought her on a whim, having spent the previous five years of my life riding a bicycle through Los Angeles, CA. Lucha and I would take long drives together out to the Mojave Desert, to lands with names such as Joshua Tree National Park, Palm Springs, Indian Canyons, the Salton Sea. I would pack a light bag, throw it in the back seat and drive, without a destination. Ultimately the drive would end on some back dirt road that I had taken, sitting in the middle of the desert, observing life around me. I racked up many hours just sitting and observing the desert. A desert tortoise would cross my path, searching for a succulent to chomp on. A rattlesnake would slither by, stop to take me in, and realizing I was not a threat nor food, would slither away. Wildflowers were plentiful sometimes, and at others, a stark series of skeletal shapes would fill the sunset. The desert seemed to be dormant during those winter visits.

Here at Lakeside our landscapes can seem dormant during the winter. The Plumeria trees drop their leaves. The lushness of spring and summer seem to have taken a vacation to other climes. But if you watch carefully, quietly, being still, you can see life continuing, albeit not at its usual verdant pace. The poinsettia has sprung to life showing off its bracts or flowers. Pansies and ornamental kale are also coming into their own in the winter here. Marigolds still abound after their stellar performance during Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead.

I find hope in nature. In winter, the weather is gentle on tender new plants. Get as many new plants in as you can to establish them before the summer heat arrives.

At this time of year less water is needed to establish new plants, but good watering practices are important. Don’t overwater now as this will lead to rotting as plants are not transpiring as much. Do water the entire root zone, don’t just splash the surface. Deeper watering encourages deeper roots and makes plants much better able to withstand the hot and dry times. Watering in the mornings rather than the evenings is a good idea now too.

Our seasonal changes are certainly not extreme here. Subtropical gardeners can certainly garden now and rejoice in this delightful weather.

What to plant in January

The weather is cold at night and in the early mornings but warms up nicely in the afternoon. At the viveros, look for pansies, Petunias, stocks and Bergenia. For the flower garden, from seed try Brugmansia (syn. Datura) Angel’s Trumpet, Corydalis for its attractive foliage, Michauxia with its exuberant white flowers, and lady’s mantle for future flower arranging.

You may want to prune your roses and do the first pruning on the poinsettias late in the month. Continue watering when necessary, remembering that the native plants know it’s the dry season.

Indoors, sow more broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, chamomile, caraway, cauliflower, chervil, chives, coriander (cilantro), dill, fennel, lettuces, marjoram, mint, oregano, curly-leafed parsley, sage, spinaches, tarragon, and thyme.

If you simply pinch dead blooms and feed your pansies and Violas, this will keep them looking good and blooming for a longer period.

If you were lucky enough to be gifted an Amaryllis, it is easy to make it bloom again. After it’s through blooming, cut off the bloom stalk about an inch above where it emerges from the bulb. Place the plant in a warm, sunny place to grow. Water it generously and fertilize regularly. Watering with a quarter-strength houseplant fertilizer solution each time will provide constant feeding for gradual growth. Don’t let the soil get dry at any time, as this will disrupt the cycle. During the summer, a spot in filtered sun outdoors is fine. Flower buds set better in fall when night temperatures are cooler, from 50 to 55 degrees.