Sometimes change comes slowly; seemingly not at all. And sometimes change happens all at once. All the leaves are swept from a tree in the space of a few hours. Heavy frost scorches flowers and ferns. Mist rises from ground and water in a thick fog, blanketing the landscape, enclosing everyone in their own soft and fuzzy cocoon . And then it burns off again in a burst of brilliant sunshine piercing through the clouds.

Winter came suddenly this week. A cold front brought record low temperatures mid-week, and we had lows in the 20s for two nights in a row. Daytime highs remained in the 40s, and it felt like February. Those cold nights left the limp stems of our ginger lilies lying on the drive and a few hardy ferns changed from vibrant green to dark grey. Some fronds still bravely stand, a shadow of what they were just days ago.

This is when everything evergreen pops in our garden. All of the evergreen shrubs stand out crisp and shiny against the fog, fallen leaves, and bare limbs and trunks of the trees. This is the season I plan for with every evergreen perennial and fern we plant. Italian Arum pushes up through the chilling soil and unfolds its beautiful leaves. Hellebores produce fresh leaves, preparing to bloom in the weeks to come.

I planted a few new Arum tubers and some Cyclamens in early November. But I failed to spray them with Repells-all, first. I just came home from the bulb shop with my fall order and went out on a mild, sunny morning and happily got them into the ground. Oh, how quickly I can forget what precautions are required for success in this garden.

When I checked the area early last week, it was pock-marked with shallow holes, evidence of the squirrels digging it all up. I found one Cyclamen lying on the ground and re-planted it before grabbing the granulated Repells-all to treat that area, and all areas the deer frequent. As the weather turns colder, the animals still need to eat.

We had a bumper crop of seeds and berries of all sorts this year, despite the heat and dry weather. We can really see all of the wonderful food available for wildlife now that the leaves have fallen. The shrubs are full of birds, singing as they search out their next bite. Beech nuts litter the driveway. I haven’t seen but a handful of acorns this year, however. Apparently, it isn’t a mast year, which will make it harder for the deer to make it through winter.

Sunshine and warmth held on through early November, but December has brought true winter to our garden. We are grateful for the rain that has come along with the cold fronts blowing past us, and I won’t be surprised to see snow before the holidays.

There is still much to do: bulbs to plant, frozen stems to cut, leaves to mulch and sticks to gather. And that is before we even consider the pruning. There are evergreen, invasive vines I can see clearly enough now to finally attack, and later, the usual February pruning. So much to enjoy, even as the wheel of the year turns to winter once again.

With appreciation to Jim Stephens of Garden Ruminations, who hosts Six on Saturday each week.