Flowers atop the main exhibit of the 2020 Philadelphia Flower Show, themed “Rivera Holiday.”
Kimberly Paynter / WHYY
Horticulturalist Erica Jo Shaffer on dreaming, noticing, and staying connected to the earth
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Asia Tabb
Kimberly Paynter / WHYY
Flowers atop the main exhibit of the 2020 Philadelphia Flower Show, themed “Rivera Holiday.”
AIRED; January 22, 2026
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When winter settles in, it’s easy to assume the garden has gone quiet. No leaves, no blooms, no visible growth — just dormancy. But according to horticulturalist Erica Jo Shaffer, that assumption misses an entire world of activity happening just beneath the surface.
“They’re not photosynthesizing so much because they don’t have their leaves on them,” Shaffer explains. “But there’s other things happening that we don’t watch, that we don’t see.” While plants may appear still, roots continue growing underground, and buds on early bloomers are already “getting a little bit of a quiver,” she says — quietly preparing to wake up.
Winter, Shaffer notes, changes how we relate to plants — especially depending on how “plant geeky” we are. Some people are happy to take a break from yard work, but for gardeners, winter often brings anticipation instead of rest. “There’s a whole bunch of us who are just ready for that ‘gentlemen, start your engines’ moment when spring fever kicks in,” she laughs.
That preparation doesn’t start outdoors. It starts with imagination.
“One of the favorite things to do is when the seed catalogs start arriving,” Shaffer says. “We start our dreams.” Winter becomes a season of reflection — what worked last year, what didn’t, what plants deserve another chance. “Just because we’re stuck inside doesn’t mean our heart is not outside gardening.”
Even experienced gardeners, Shaffer included, are constantly adapting. As trees mature and sunlight shifts, old plans no longer work the way they once did. “I have less sun in areas that used to be super sunny,” she says, which means rethinking favorite flower beds and even surrendering parts of the garden back to lawn.
That flexibility, she believes, is essential. Gardening requires “a dash of surrender and a lot of imagination.” Weather changes, light changes, and plants grow according to their own rules. “You’re not just a witness of the season,” she says. “You become part of it.”
And winter doesn’t mean an absence of beauty. Some plants bloom precisely when the rest of the landscape rests. Shaffer points to winter-hardy camellias, sweet box, daphne, and witch hazel as “tantalizers” — plants that seem to defy the season. “They’re like, ‘I don’t care if it’s winter, I’m going to bloom.’”
Noticing those small moments matters. “There’s not that much going on in the wintertime,” Shaffer says, “so any little scrap of anything just thrills.” It’s a reminder of why gardeners love the earth in the first place.
For those who don’t consider themselves gardeners — yet — Shaffer encourages simple, rewarding connections to growing things. That might mean starting sprout seeds on a windowsill, tending something that needs daily care, or turning attention to wildlife. Winter is also prime time for bird feeding, she notes, especially when done thoughtfully.
“When’s the last time you cleaned your bird feeder?” she asks, emphasizing cleanliness, quality seed, and mindful practices that support birds without waste. Watching cardinals, chickadees, wrens, and woodpeckers at the feeder becomes another layer of gardening — one that supports the ecosystem even when the soil is frozen.
At its core, Shaffer says, winter gardening isn’t about forcing color or growth. It’s about awareness, patience, and connection. “You’re also a plant growing in your garden,” she reflects. And even in winter, that growth is still happening.
