Thought it might be interesting to share how we spend the winters when our gardens are sleeping....

Mostly, for me, it is planning next years' garden. It usually goes something like this.

- Go through the remaining seed packets to see what I want/need

- Look at all the new catalogs coming in, as well as the websites. Make a list.

- Look at photos of last years gardens and think what I'd like to add/change or delete.

- Look at garden structure- what shrubs and trees do I need to add?
( plan to get 6 Evergreens in a couple of weeks...this is the best time to plant them here.)

- Check my Markers supplies. (Ordered more Eon Markers through the Co-op on CUBITS.)

There's probably alot more, but I need to get a refill on my coffee right now.

The seeds which were collected from my garden are now dry enough to package.
I spend endless hours over the winter researching plants that i want to grow.
I have already ordered my new seeds for spring. Some will be a wintersow.
Others under lights, and still others will be direct sow.
Now that the leaves are gone, I can see what needs pruning and what needs to go.
Gardening is a 12 month hobby.

Is it winter yet? I still have planting to do....

While I wait for the water level to recede a bit for that, I'm sitting in front of the fake fireplace, up to my eyeballs in seeds that need packaging, while occasionally glancing out the windows to admire the newly fallen blanket of snow. Nice, quiet and peaceful occupation.

Hello and Welcome, Caroline!
Great to hear what you are working on.
What seeds are you planning to winter sow this year?
Yes, it does go on throughout the year, doesn't it!?

Chelle, your seeds must be fun to work with! You painted a pretty picture!
I always love looking through them and remembering what each little magic morsel of DNA will become!

I live vicariously through pictures. I love other peoples pictures, because I get some great ideas this way..... I like my own pictures so I can put things into perspective.

Love all of your pictures. Keep 'em coming!

Hello, Carolyn and Welcome!

What a beautiful photo!
I can almost smell Springtime.
What a healthy Alchemilla mollis. Love that plant!
As well as the Iris, peony, Clems and Heuchera!
You captured alot in this photo.

Thank you, Janice.

It is great to be here.

Good to see both of you Carolyns!

Just got off of Thompson and Morgan's seed site - man, have their prices gone up! Ah well, still cheaper than buying even one plant, and exactly what I want. Won't begin seed starting until probably January - even that's probably too early, but there's only so much patience I can exercise!

I'm trying a little bit of winter sowing this year, too.

Other than that, I spend a lot of time on-line, complaining.

Oh, and this year- work on the Plants database!

Sheryl

Good point - I will be working on the plant database as well....

Sheryl and Carolyn, DB work sounds great!!

Yes, T M prices!

What will you wintersow?

Raining here, but outside work today, as it's 62.

I search plants as does everyone else. Some of the new catalogues are out so I make changes or check to see where I have room for new plants.
I also drsign the combos for my deck garden containers.
I use Picasa collages to make color choices and try to limit plants to 2.I have some containers with perennials in them and some that get coleus.

Pretty collages, Jo Ann.

Neat idea for using them, too.

January is the month that I have next to nothing to do with actual plants, so that's my research month. My solid research month, anyway! We're always looking, aren't we?

I'm working on my indoor plants, working on the database, working on writing some gardening articles, and also looking through websites and catalogs like ya'll. I'm so glad I finally started taking more photos of the yard so I have them for reference. It is amazing how quickly things grow even though sometimes other things take forever ... or so it seems.

Very nice work, Jo Ann.

Oh yes, I'm rooting some things.

thanks

JoAnn, those collages are Works of Art, for sure!! :hearts:

Real inspiration and such glorious color and texture contrasts!!

Speaking of recording our gardens photographically, for both the DB and ourselves...

I'm already shocked and amazed when I wander through last season's photos. Much of the time my eyes go big with wonder....did these and those really look that pretty? Wow!

It's just amazing how quickly the constant viewing of a seemingly lifeless garden clouds the memory...pictures really are priceless!


[A butterfly that my young son "saved" and allowed to follow us home (sitting on his pants-leg) from a garage sale. He chose the flower with which to relocate it ]


Out of all the things (mostly toys and books) that we brought home from the sale that day, the butterfly is what he remembers.

Gorgeous Photo!~!!!

That is a beautiful story and a
Great memory, Chelle!!! ......a budding gardener, perhaps?

He's a very accomplished rose pruner! Could care less about pulling a weed, but will sit with me in front of the TV while it snows and blows outside and help me fold hundreds of paper "pockets" to transfer germinated seedlings into. So, yes, to a certain extent anyway! He came up with the plan to buy Mommy flower seeds for Christmas - Dad will help him with that this weekend.

Sweet!
He is learning alot.