Letter from the Publisher

t’s late January as I’m writing this, but my heart is already leaning into February—not the calendar version of the month, but the quiet, watchful one that lives just beneath winter. This is the time when I start scanning the ground for the earliest signs that the earth is getting ready to wake up again. In my yard, that moment usually begins with snowdrops. Tucked into little clumps near the base of trees and along the house, they’re hardy, unassuming and persistent. By the end of February, they often already have buds. 

Right outside the back door, there’s a small group of snowdrops that always emerge first. A quiet hello. A hint of spring.

This week, while shoveling snow after one of our many clipper weather systems, I heard a few notes of birdsong: a cardinal calling out his cheery birdie-birdie-birdie from a nearby tree. That tune typically belongs to spring, when male cardinals start establishing their territory, but sometimes can also be heard on a sunny midwinter day. Standing there in the cold, listening to those bright notes wafting through the air, it felt like another gentle reminder that a new season is already stirring, even if winter isn’t quite done with us yet.

Those small moments feel like a perfect path into this month’s theme, Nurture the Heart. February is Heart Health Month, and in this issue, we take a practical, grounded look at caring for our hearts. But heart health is about more than numbers and charts. It’s also found in simple, centering moments.

Our feature story, “A Whole-Hearted Life: The Daily Choices That Help Our Hearts Thrive,” by Hannah Tytus, explores heart health as something shaped quietly over time through how we eat, move, rest, manage stress, stay connected and find meaning. It reminds us that nurturing the heart isn’t about perfection or dramatic change, but about small, consistent choices that support well-being. Also by Tytus, “Nature’s Cardiologist: Herbs and Nutrients That Heal the Heart” examines how food, herbs and targeted supplements can support cardiovascular health as part of an integrative approach to be used thoughtfully alongside practitioner care. And speaking of food, “Garlic Therapy: Eating Our Way to a Healthier Heart,” by Marlaina Donato, celebrates this aromatic bulb’s well-researched cardiovascular benefits, showing how nourishment can support the heart, tummy and spirit. 

This season offers its own kind of heart-nurturing magic if we take the time to notice it. In “Winter Finches Brighten Chicagoland’s Coldest Months,” Sheryl DeVore reminds us that this is the one time of the year when visiting birds like pine siskins, redpolls and evening grosbeaks may suddenly appear close to home, offering a brief glimpse of more northerly birds in our yards and nearby natural areas. And when nurturing our hearts means simply soaking in beauty, the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Orchid Show: Feelin’ Groovy offers a chance to step inside their greenhouses and surround yourself with color, warmth and a hint of spring.

As always, I encourage you to get outside to reconnect with the natural world and reground. Watch the full Snow Moon rise, take a brisk walk in a forest preserve or catch a winter sunset. Check out an indoor winter farmers market. Stop by an area independent greenhouse or garden center to treat yourself to a plant or a joyful bouquet for your kitchen. And find any excuse to embrace the quiet joys of these 28 days of February. May this month help you nurture your heart in ways that feel simple, sustaining and real.