February in the care home garden: What’s worth noticing?

February can feel like an awkward month in the garden.

It’s no longer the depths of winter, but spring hasn’t quite arrived either. The borders can look bare, the grass tired, and it’s easy to hear residents say, “There’s nothing to see out there.”

But February isn’t empty - it’s subtle.

And that’s where focal points come in.

A focal point doesn’t have to be dramatic or impressive. In February, it’s often something small that gently draws the eye and invites us to pause. For residents, especially those living with dementia, these visual anchors can make the garden feel purposeful, calming, and full of quiet interest.

Why focal points matter in the care home garden in February

Winter gardens can feel overwhelming or disappointing if we’re expecting colour and growth.

Focal points help us shift the question from “What’s missing?”  to “What can we notice?”

They:

• Encourage conversation and reminiscence

• Support gentle outdoor time without needing a structured activity

• Help residents feel connected to seasonal change

• Offer reassurance through familiarity and repetition

And in February, they often come in the form of birds, scent, and the very first flowers.

Using birds as garden focal points

Two birds that really shine in UK gardens at this time of year are robins and blackbirds.

Robins are wonderfully bold, often hopping close by and watching what’s going on. Blackbirds are usually busier, foraging on lawns or singing from rooftops and fences.

They make perfect focal points because:

• They move, but often return to the same places

• They can be enjoyed from indoors or outdoors

• They spark memories of home gardens, feeding birds, and countryside walks

Simple prompts might include:

• “Did you feed birds where you used to live?”

• “Do you remember a robin following you in the garden?”

For some people, robins hold a deeper meaning and are believed to represent loved ones who have passed, which can make spotting one in the garden feel especially comforting or emotional.

Even sitting quietly and listening to birdsong can be a meaningful moment.

Winter flowers to notice in February.

February also brings us some very special plants.

Hellebores are easy to overlook unless you stop and really look. Their nodding flowers come in creams, pinks, greens and deep plum shades, and they flower when very little else does.

You can carefully remove some of the large leaves if these are restricting the view of the flowers - you won't do the plant any harm doing this.

Try cutting some stems to bring inside too.

Then there’s sweet box (sarcococca) - small, unassuming flowers, but with a scent that can stop you in your tracks on a mild day. That smell alone can unlock memories of front gardens, pathways, or visiting someone’s home in winter.

Look out for bulbs emerging (and some already in flower) in February and use them as gentle focal points in the garden.

Buy flowering bulbs from garden centres now for early varieties. Pots of narcissus (daffodils), galanthus (snowdrops), crocus and cyclamen are ideal at this time of year, bringing colour and interest at eye level for residents.

Planting later flowering varieties in pots allows everyone to enjoy an indoor gardening activity , even if time, weather or mobility is limited. Once they’ve finished flowering, these bulbs can also be planted out into the garden, offering the promise of rich rewards next spring and giving residents a lovely sense of continuity and anticipation.

These plants offer:

• Visual focal points for close observation

• Sensory experiences through scent

• Gentle conversation starters rooted in memory

They remind us that February isn’t loud - it’s intimate.

Structure still matters

When flowers are few, structure steps forward.

Bare trees reveal their shape. Evergreen shrubs provide reassurance. Paths, arches, benches and pergolas become more noticeable without leaves and growth competing for attention.

If you have a huggable tree, make sure that it is easily accessible in, even throughout the winter months. Make sure everyone knows that it loves a hug - some people need to be invited to take part in such a strange ritual. I can assure yout that the rewards outweigh the embarrassment.

Touching bark, tracing shapes with the eyes, or comparing how the garden looks now to summer can all be meaningful without requiring energy or stamina.

Gentle garden moments that support connection and calm

February invites us to slow down.

You don’t need to do much in the garden this month.

Simply guiding attention to a bird, a flower, a familiar view is often enough.

Even on a chilly day you can enjoy a hot cuppa outside, if you are well wrapped up.

Ensure that you have coats, wellington boots, umbrellas, etc. near the doors to invite residents out into the garden.

Next time you’re passing the garden, pause and ask yourself:

What’s one small thing here that I hadn’t noticed before?