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An Armchair Gardener winter

Gardener In Winter

Been awhile. I have spent most of my time inside, since the temperatures plunged and there is either snow or freezing rain. There was a day with freezing fog, that is always pretty as it laces all the twigs and bushes with a frosted sugar coating.

I have one catalog so far, the Bluestone one. I haven’t had time to make my list, but the sooner I do and actually send in an order, the more likely to get the selections I want. I read some garden advice that is worth thinking about: accept no substitutions in the order when you have chosen based on certain attributes. I just never thought of that.

It is time soon to test the viability of the seeds held over from last year. You stick some in a moist paper towel ( keeping slightly moist with a bit of bottom warmth… then you see how many of the seeds sprout. The percentage is supposed to give you an idea of the germination viability. You can also read up on what seeds are known for longevity and which ones have short viability. The experiment with the towel is easier. I have to find where I stashed those leftover seeds, first.

Yes, highly disorganized. That is me.

I have been reading some gardening books, however. Haven’t made this years plans yet…. but I am considering chewing up yet more sod and making an area nearer the house, with more sunlight as well, for the tomatoes. The garage area is not sunny enough, since I had forgotten about the trees keeping off the afternoon sun.

The birds have stript off most berries and regularly make appearance outside my window foraging the pyracantha. It is so cold that I hope my new lavenders make it through this winter. They didn’t have any snow cover in the worst of the low temperatures, and lavenders can be iffy in my climate. I was glad I had interspersed with rue and iberis. At least if I have to start the lavenders over, there will be something of the sidewalk hedge left.

I need to remember that I want to plant lots of marigolds this year. They discourage nematodes.

Lots of bright gold marigolds! That sounds so cheerful 🙂


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Oh, hi there!

I was a garden blog pioneer, and began writing on this blog in 2003. Before that I had begun a garden website that has been at its own domain since 2006, Ilona's Garden.

I still love writing, gardening, and art after all these years, although travel and grandchildren have become a big part of my life, now.

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