My garden is my sanctuary. I find refuge there between tense meetings, when I need creative inspiration, or really any time I can spend there brings me joy. Well, at least when I’m not running out of my house like my hair is on fire to rescue my freshly planted bulbs from those darn squirrels! So, as you can imagine the dormant winter season, when I’m inside could leave me quite bleak, but au contraire. As the saying goes, for everything there is a season to:
1 Get Nails Done. Sure, I’ve seen gardeners on social media claim they can maintain a manicure during the height of the planting season. They show their elaborate double-gloving method. What!! I can barely find or remember to put gloves on, much less 2 pairs. My fingernails get beat up the most when I’m digging or planting. Okay, sometimes weeding too. I always break a nail or two even when wearing gloves (just a single pair, who can find multiple pairs around their garden.) Maybe I’m using my hands wrong– yes, that is a thing – or my pace is too frantic when I attack these chores. At least in winter, my nails can look nice, except for the chipped polish due to washing dishes.
2 Identify lack of Winter Interest in the Garden. I try to come up with a plan to have 4-season interest. That’s what all the cool gardeners do. It is one of the meditative states I can slip into when just sitting and staring at my space. Trying to visualize what would look and do best throughout the space. However, a tight budget always makes me focus on immediate rewards. Since I’m less likely to view my garden during the winter, I’m much less likely to get let’s say the red twig dogwood shrub, which is stunning in winter. Sure, having pussy willow branches to bring inside for projects would be great. But, I never get around to buying or planting the shrub. Maybe once I’m done getting all the other seasons completed, I’ll focus on winter interest. Whatever, that will be.
3 Conduct a Seed Inventory before Buying More. Who am I kidding? I’ve done this once. Last winter I whipped up a spreadsheet after researching different methods people use to track their inventory. Surely there must be an app for that. Then I simply ignored my spreadsheet and bought new seeds. This led to the dearth of zinnia seeds and a plethora of snapdragon seeds, which I never got around to starting.
4 Shop Online For Seed and Plant Sales. Pre-ordering can, in fact, save you lots of money (which means you can buy more). Or, at least that is how gardener’s math works. When you are saving 20% on a $4.00 seed packet, you aren’t really saving enough to retire early. However, there are usually pre-order sales on dahlias which can be expensive and does make pre-ordering worthwhile. I usually buy and then figure out later where I’m going to plant. There is a sweet spot during the winter for the best bargains. Order too early you might be missing out on the best price – too late and inventory is low and prices are up. I’m working on an algorithm to determine the best time. (Who am I fooling? Actually, I usually just wait to get the emails announcing the sales.)
5 Pretend You are going to Winter Sow Seeds. Sure, I collect the gallon milk jugs. Because I always forget which seeds can be started this way, I spend days looking for resources that can impart that advice for my zone. I’ve done this 3 years in a row. And yet, I never get around to the actual sowing. People swear by this method and it makes complete sense. After the initial planting, care looks incredibly easy – just set and forget. Yet, for some reason, I don’t do it – I always find some excuse, like I don’t have the soil or the duct tape needed to seal the jugs. They’re always easy problems to solve, but I just can’t get it together. The gallon jugs end up in recycling, and I feel jealous as I see the success of other gardeners who have executed their winter sowing plans. Maybe this year?
Winter sowing is a method to start seeds outside during the winter. Certain seed varieties can be planted in containers, placed outside until they break dormancy, and planted out in the garden once the spring arrives. Watch this space for my efforts to do winter sowing this year.
6 Look at Last Year’s Garden Pictures. This is the favorite winter pastime of most gardeners with a smartphone. It could just be me, but I occasionally feel weird when I spend so much time taking flower pictures in my own yard. Maybe it is the thoughts of my neighbors that creep into my brain. I may forget to bring my gloves out to the garden, but my phone is always with me. You never know when you are going to get that one shot that will provide the memories you will need during the depths of winter frosts that give you that exhilarating reminder that the true gardening season is just around the corner.
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