Natural Garden News from Grounded – January 3, 2026

January 3, 2026

Inside this edition of Natural Garden News

Staying
If you want a Grounded garden…
The myth of finished
Five quiet recognitions
New here? Start with these articles
Catch our new show on Canoe
Remember summer?
In a hole lot of trouble
Today’s recommended reading
Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant)

I hope you enjoy the newsletter! If you have any questions or feedback, please reply to this email.

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Simon Payn
Grounded

Email: hello@groundedgardens.ca
Web: groundedgardens.ca

Staying

It’s cold outside and snow is on the ground. The land is waiting. Plants are living in their roots. They’re not gone, just quiet in their lives below ground.

So what does the land need from us? At the height of July, it needs tending. But maybe, as January begins, it wants rest.

It just needs us to stay with it until it’s ready to wake up.

At Grounded, we’re learning to rest and stay with the land the same way.

Happy new year.

Simon

If you want a Grounded garden…

I’m currently booking garden and shoreline installs (and management services) for summer and fall 2026.

We start by having a quick call to see if it makes sense for me to come look at your site in the spring.

Learn more

To see some of my recent work, please see this page.

The myth of finished

“Finished” is a lie our culture keeps telling itself. And the pressure to get there is why your property feels like a chore instead of a place. Read more.

Five quiet recognitions

As we enter 2026, are any of these familiar? Read more.

New here? Start with these articles

Native plants and natural gardens 101

Links to my most important articles. Read more.

Myths about native plants and natural gardens

I hear a lot of myths. Here’s the reality. Read more.

All about shorelines

A look at shoreline naturalization: why it’s important and how to do it. Read more.

Catch our new show on Canoe

I’m delighted to be co-hosting a new show and podcast on our local community radio station.

It’s all about gardening and the environment in Haliburton County.

It airs every two weeks, with the first episode on Sunday (January 4) at noon. You can listen to Canoe at 100.9 and 97.1 FM, and at canoefm.com.

Remember summer?

In case the cold is getting to you, here’s a reminder of summer. This is a picture of a sunny prairie meadow we installed. It will be celebrating its second birthday in June 2026.

A NEW SERVICE BY GROUNDED

Professional landscape maintenance with an ecological twist

Property care that creates wildlife habitat. Backed by our Monarch Guarantee.

Find out more

In a hole lot of trouble

I know some of you read this newsletter solely to find out what Rufus is up to.

Well, he’s been digging in the snow.

Today’s recommended reading

Mind the gap: What happens when a plant doesn’t work out and you’re left with a hole? You make the most of an opportunity, that’s what! Read more.

Too long, too much? “It is only to the gardener that time is a friend, giving each year more than he steals.” True. Until the body gets too tired. Read more.

Inspired: A detailed look at the creation of a naturalistic garden in Mono, Ontario. Read more.

Looks familiar: An example of matrix planting – the kind we do here at Grounded – from Austria. Read more.

Nurture of nature: What if we replaced the burden of maintenance with the joy of nurture? This article is about cities, but the theme of stewardship resonates with the theme of this newsletter. Read more.