Temperatures are shivery but what do we expect? Water is wet, at night it’s dark and winter in temperate climates can be bitterly cold. As you snuggle under the covers or huddle by the fire, consider that cold does some good in the garden.

This season, lay plans to keep better records of your gardening adventures. A garden journal is a valuable document of what happened — and what might be improved. It will make you a better gardener, trust me on this.

Well, I’m a sailor so I guess it was no surprise that a New Year’s ritual involving boats would appeal to me. I think of my little New Year’s boats as “burdened vessels,” not in the nautical sense but as carriers of the woes we’d like to send down river. Cast them off and set a new course. On we go - because we must.

When I was a child, there was no night more magical than Christmas Eve, when we were all aquiver with heady anticipation. Would Santa arrive with mountains of presents? Would he find his way? Would he deliver our heart’s desire? In maturity, I know the magic runs deeper but is no less real.

There a Christmas tree shortage this year, they say, but no lack of the iconic holiday flower, the poinsettia. Its ubiquitous use is largely the result of tireless promotion by one enterprising grower. But the story is more complex than dogged commercial success.

Some of you are dragging live evergreens in to deck the halls for the holidays. If you tend to feel chlorophyll-deprived in winter, another strategy is to start some indoor bulbs that produce quick satisfaction with spectacular flowers. Keeping spirits high is important in more ways than one.

We probably don’t give grey squirrels much thought unless they’re raiding our bird feeders or helping themselves to our jack-o-lanterns. But they can cause big problems on the power grid or - god forbid - in our attics. Know the enemy.

Mushrooms are just the tip of an underground organism that spreads far and wide. There are many types we like to eat but don’t go sampling the ones you see in your yard without professional help. No matter how tasty they look, mushrooms can be deadly, too.

If you suddenly have that sinking feeling when you walk across your lawn, it could signal the presence of moles. They create raised runs wherever they search for tasty morsels beneath your turf. Honestly, it’s not the end of the world.

An exceptionally mild October gave us some bonus time in the garden. Now that November’s here and frost is threatening, it’s time to shut things down for the season. Here’s your to-do list.

Who knows what sinister thing grows while we’re not looking? A practically microscopic plant louse once took down the centuries-old vineyard of France. Quelle horreur! This is a real-life scary plant story.

That great autumn ritual, Major League Baseball’s World Series, is nearly upon us. There would be no game without the essential ball and bat, so let’s look into the venerable history of the latter. That takes us directly to trees, the ash in particular.

Nut fall is every bit as much a feature of autumn as leaf fall. Plenty of animals welcome the bounty but if you have lots of oaks, you may think it’s too much of a good thing.

What’s better than a crisp, juicy apple - unless it’s a crisp, juicy apple plucked straight from the tree? If fall is here, so is apple-picking time. Do it yourself or find the harvest at farm stands and orchards.

They’re slippery, they’re slimy and they do serious damage to plants. Slugs also apparently have a vibrant sex life full of peculiar practices. It’s caught the attention of at least one intrigued author. Voyeurs, read on!

How can you resist a chrysanthemums once fall arrives? You can’t — they are ubiquitous, inexpensive and very much a part of the season. Not all of those mass-produced mums are hardy, though. Learn about the true perennials here.

Monarch butterflies are embarking on their fall migration south and you should be seeing them in the air pretty much everywhere. There’s an entire subculture monitoring their annual journey and you can join them. One thing everyone can do: Plant some milkweed, a monarch essential.

With Labor Day at hand, you might be eyeing your tomato plants and wondering if you will get your late crop to ripen. There are actually some tricks you can try now and in the weeks ahead to wind up with vine-ripened fruit. For the best tactics, read on.

There are lessons to be learned in the garden and not all of them have to do with a triumph over nature. We mud-streaked wretches in thrall to our plants discover the hard way just how much can wrong. And yet, there are moments that make it all worthwhile.

If you grow dahlias, you have some choices to make among nearly 60,000 named varieties. Showy in the garden and excellent as cut flowers, they reward those who give them the care they need. Not winter hardy, but can be stored for next season.