Today is the solstice, the traditional start of wintersowing season. Is anyone sowing any seeds for the solstice?

Not me- I have to get through Christmas first.

Karen

I am not sowing seeds,but celebrating the solstice by ordering seeds.
This was the original reason for the celebration at this time of year.
Now, the winter solstice seems to get lost in
the commercialization which the religious imposition has brought to the celebration.

This year we also have a lunar eclipse to celebrate nature over!

There was no visible moon here last night due to clouds and snow. We got 2" of fresh snow overnight, on top of a few inches already there, so it really does look like winter. My happiness at solstice time is based on the fact that days will start getting longer. It's supposed to get to 35° today, some freezing rain and light snow, but it should melt some at that temp.

Our son is supposed to fly in early tomorrow morning so hopefully weather will be no problem. Much to do today. Have to go to grocery, bakery, etc. today, wrap a few gifts...

Karen

not me either. mid-Jan probably for me to start.

Not sure exactly when I will have the time to get my winter-sowing started. Probably New Year's Day or at least not until after Christmas. Just too much to do here. I will be off the computer a while as well, since we are having company today and Christmas Day.

I, too, was unable to view the eclipse due to a cloud cover. Did anyone get to see it?

Happy Winter Solstice everyone!

I set the alarm ,but slept through it so I missed it.

Merry Christmas everyone. I'm the only one up at my house. Waiting for the rest to show up

Karen

I will probably start my winter sowing mid-late January. That worked well for me last year, and works well with my schedule.

What is everyone winter-sowing this year?

My list will be long again. I seem to do over 100 every year.

I'll have my seed list updated once i get the seeds from the big swap... i keep my database in Google Docs
[url]https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Avcsp97ckJSUdFhPczR6ZjdNLUtjMVA2OERvX1R2dVE&hl=en&authkey=CNKGlIIJ[/url]

that should be the right link....

Never knew you could upload a document. That is so neat! I keep saying I'm going to winter sow but haven't. I need to organize my seeds first.

yea -- Google DOcs is so neat... great way to share documents. A few folks have downloaded mine to use as a template to get their list started.

Donna ~ C-mail me if you want any help in organizing your seeds. I can at least tell you what worked for me, anyway. Now I know where every seed is....except when I pull any out of the system and then misplace them...LOL

Evelyn

Terese ~ What a great idea! I'll have to take a look.

Terese ~ Before I look at it in detail, wow, I can see how much progress you have made in just 3 years. At first you alphabetize by the common names, and then I see they are listed under botanical names...and a lot more of them as well. When do you have time for them all? What do you do once they are all up and ready to transplant ot plant out?

<<At first you alphabetize by the common names, and then I see they are listed under botanical names.

At first, i really didnt know any botanical names... and even though i have learned A LOT in the past 4 yrs... i still use the search/find feature to locate a seed. some I still dont know the spelling or something, or only recall part of the name. but for obvious reasons... i'ts nice to have both.

with the scientific name, you can find/google and find exactly what you are looking for... common names are just too broad.

>>When do you have time for them all?

Last year, sadly - i did not get them all in the ground and some died. I started a P/T job in Wisc, so i'm gone a lot and plant like a mad women when i come home for a few days.

But i also maintain a few beds up in our RV park and give some plants away.

I usually do not transplant any... when they are big enough, they go right in the ground.

You give them away? You must have a fantastic garden(s). Do you still collect seeds just to give away? And what are you going to do with all that you are sowing now? I am confused....

>>Do you still collect seeds just to give away?
Yes, pretty much for the Piggy swaps. The annuals that i really like, i save some for me - all else gets given away.

and if you look at my spreadsheet -- you'll see I have A LOT of plants that i gather seeds from, i'd say at least 50% of what is in my sheet, i gather seeds from.

>>And what are you going to do with all that you are sowing now?
Some will go in my garden at home
some will go to the Upper Midwest Round UP in June - DG thing.
Some will go to Wisc in the flower beds up there
and some will be given away.

I probably may need to make a few beds bigger though. every year i have to prepare an area for seedlings.

Can you post some pix of your gardens?

Here is about half of the 'back 40'
it is actually State Property. I've been maintaining it for 9 yrs.





Here is my "dirt pile'... the cover is now gone -- totally dry rotted, my neighbor plants on one side... though i gave her many plants - plus her Lamb's Ear that is taking over... but it seems i mostly pull the weeds... she doesnt do that any more. But this area now is full of plants. I'll find a newer image.

I think most the other images are on my laptop.