January’s garden is buried under hard-packed snow and the ground is hard as iron. Subzero temps this week have collapsed any remaining evidence that there were swaths of green in those beds this summer, but. . .

we’re nearly through January, the 2013 seed order is on the way, and Spring will be here, well, soon enough. As a reminder, here are a collection of favorite plantings from the 2012 season – a hedge of pink mallow in front of the tomatoes.

Prostrate astilbe growing in a shady, wet site with gunnera and a royal fern,

and bouncing bet (Soapwort) sprawling over the hot, dry alpine garden.