Read by Michael Flamel

1. “A Zone-3 Sunrise Promise” – Marilyn, Duluth, Minnesota

“Every January I start seeds in my laundry-room window while the thermometer outside pretends it’s the North Pole. My 2026 resolution is to add a cold frame so I can harden off seedlings earlier and give my pollinator plants—coneflowers, bee balm, and milkweed—a jump-start.

I’m thankful that gardening keeps me hopeful during the long freeze. Those first little cotyledons feel like tiny sunrises sprouting right in my hands.”

2. “Compost & Courage” – DeShawn, Kansas City, Missouri (Zone 6b)

“In 2025 my compost pile was more raccoon buffet than soil booster. My 2026 resolution is to upgrade to a critter-proof tumbler and stick to a weekly turning schedule.

I’m thankful for the way gardening humbles me—there’s nothing like a failed tomato crop to keep your ego in check—and for neighbors who swap zucchini like trading cards.”

3. “Desert Drip Dreams” – Lucía, Tucson, Arizona (Zone 9a)

“I finally installed a drip-irrigation system, and in 2026 I’ll expand my drought-friendly herb bed—oregano, thyme, basil, and chiltepin peppers.

I’m grateful that gardening in the desert teaches patience—and for every hummingbird that hovers over my Mexican sunflower as if to say, ‘You did good, señora.’”

4. “Raised-Bed Renaissance” – Harriet, Asheville, North Carolina (Zone 7a)

“Last year I refreshed my old raised beds with recycled cedar. My 2026 resolution is to plant strawberries along the edges as living mulch and sweet snacks for the grandkids.

I’m thankful gardening gets three generations of us into the dirt together: my dad teaches pruning, I teach compost tea, and the kids teach us to find ladybugs before dinner.”

5. “Butterflies & Backyard Beans” – Tamika, Houston, Texas (Zone 9b)

“This year I’m devoting one corner of the yard to a full butterfly garden—milkweed, passionflower vines, and blazing-star liatris—right next to my string beans.

I’m thankful for how gardening stitches my urban neighborhood together. The kids next door chase swallowtails while their grandma swaps me collard-green cuttings.”

6. “Citrus & Second Chances” – Walt, Winter Haven, Florida (Zone 10a)

“My 2026 resolution is to graft a new Valencia orange branch onto my old, storm-damaged tree instead of cutting it down.

I’m thankful that gardens forgive our mistakes: a broken limb can bloom again, just like we can.”

7. “Cool-Season Comeback” – Rosa, Eugene, Oregon (Zone 8b)

“Last Summer’s heat crisped my lettuce faster than a pizza oven, so I’m resolving in 2026 to lean into Fall and Winter crops—broccoli, spinach, and purple-sprouting kale.

I’m thankful for the rhythm of gardening: it reminds me that even after a rough season, another one waits around the corner.”

A Closing Note from Your Intrepid Gardening Reporter

Hello friends,

Reading these heartfelt resolutions from our GreenPrints family fills me with gratitude. As your intrepid gardening reporter, Don Nicholas, I’m thankful for the kinship we share—stories swapped across garden gates, tips for compost tea and cabbage bugs, and the simple joy of knowing that somewhere, in every zone, another gardener is kneeling in the soil with hope in their hands.

Here’s to 2026: may our seedlings be sturdy, our weeds few, our pollinators plentiful, and our hearts forever rooted in this remarkable GreenPrints community.

I’d love to hear from you, too. Use the comment section below to share your own New-Year’s gardening resolutions—big or small—and tell us why you love gardening and what GreenPrints means to you. Your stories inspire not just me, but the entire community of readers who dig into these pages for hope and humor all year long.

Happy planting—and thank you for letting me walk the rows with you.

Don Nicholas

Your Intrepid Gardening Reporter