Winter Work, Spring Promise

 

Dear Garden Lovers and Mother Earth Enthusiasts,

 

As winter settles in, I want to pause and share my deep gratitude for the care, energy, and generosity you have already poured into our rooftop and ground-level gardens this year. Even in the quiet of the colder months, the work you’ve done continues beneath the surface—preparing beauty that will soon emerge.

 

Winter gardening is often unseen, but it is essential. Thanks to your efforts, our rooftop now holds 72 planted containers, many of which were thoughtfully extended into our ground-level gardens to strengthen and unify our green spaces. Already, we are seeing encouraging signs of life—hyacinths pushing through the soil, quietly announcing that spring is on its way.

 

This season, together we planted:

We also planted three young trees—a Redbud, Tulip Poplar, and Red Maple—with more to come. These saplings represent a long-term commitment to shade, beauty, and life for years ahead.

 

Winter gardening is about preparation and trust. It is about mulching, planting bulbs deep enough to weather the cold, protecting roots, and believing in what cannot yet be seen. The work you’ve done now ensures that, come spring, Roberta’s House will be surrounded by color, texture, and renewal—offering comfort and beauty to everyone who passes by or walks through our doors.

 

This season of quiet growth carries personal meaning for me as well. This summer, my mother, Mary Lou Satorie, died in a sudden car accident, and my father was seriously injured and continues his recovery. In the midst of grief and uncertainty, my work at Roberta’s House and my faith have sustained me—much like these gardens, teaching patience, resilience, and hope even when the ground feels cold and uncertain.

 

There is much to look forward to, and much to be grateful for. Thank you for helping create spaces that bless the spirit, invite reflection, and remind us that growth is always underway, even in winter.

 

I invite you to join me in lighting a candle in honor of your special someone and, if you are able, supporting the life-changing and life-saving work of Roberta’s House:

 

 

With gratitude for each of you—and for the earth we care for together,

Chair, Roberta’s House Garden Club