doodle by andre: shelter in a storm
IF FOR EVEN A MOMENT ANY ONE OF YOU THINKS OF A WAY TO GARDEN as the shelter in dear Andre’s doodle, then I am one happy garden writer. I know at the start of the difficult season we said we’d stick together, and we have. From all the blog activity these last months–your visits and clicks, your comments–you’d hardly have known it was winter. I can say with conviction that my “behavioral issues” and “utter frustration” are a lot less severe thanks to these visits with Andre and all of you. And remember: the days are longer!
I probably shouldn’t speak up either – I’m in the SF Bay Area and we garden year round. In fact my asparagus started shooting up last week and suprised the heck out of me! It’s not all sunshine and plants however, I got my spinach, beets ,peas and carrots in the ground late due to construction and they’re just not performing as expected. The garden drama continues all year round here! But I wouldn’t swap it for anything.
I’m in Florida and most of the plants here have frost burn right now. I want to squeeze my eyes shut and not open them until spring.
I don’t know how people in places with long winters stand it.
Welcome, SFaith. Our Northern plants have the good sense (for the most part) to shed their leaves before the hard times begin, and those that don’t often get wind- or sun- burned if not in protected spots, yup. Ugh. But we do get some bonus moments like fall color and so on to compensate. :) See you again soon.
Welcome, Robin. I lived in the Bay Area for a couple of years eons ago and remember a lemon tree outside my window. Heaven. Sounds like you are in full-wing, and here we are just biding our time still. Sigh. See you soon!
A very dear,heart-warming doodle, Andre. Merci beaucoup before Valentine’s Day. Anyone else clustering those little 4″ pots of crocuses, hyacinths, primroses together under a light in their kitchen (or anywhere?) — as kind of a “methadone” garden?
Hi, Amy. I love flowering quince; there aren’t enough around.
Margaret, is there a reason you see tons of forsythia but not the so-lovely quince?
Mary Jane in Providence RI
I live for this blog! I was discussing this w my husband just last night. I’m getting ready to finalize my order, and your list just made it even easier. My husband, he is actually getting ready to buy me a freezer, and he gave me a food saver for xmas! I’m ready w lots of hope for the new season, thanks 2 u! My goal is to put up more in order to justify the coast. Have you written a book @ this, how and what, and some recipes? I want 2 do it right!
Hello Margaret and Everyone else,
“Shelter” or surviving winter, 1. Look at all those books and gardening magazines I have collected and planning for the future gardens 2. Taking courses at NYBG , NY Botanical Garden, currently a graphics course. 3. Any mild day, above 40, clean up more garden beds and check the progress of the daffodils and hellebores, they are coming! 4.”The Tuilp Report”, planted the first week in January in pots in the garage: many are sprouting! I now realize as they grow I will have to “unstack” some of them to allow growth, hmm? I guess I might park the car in the driveway for some weeks! Does anyone know at what point squirrels will not dig them for food? Then I would put them outside! Happy dreams of spring,
Marianne
I’m with Jeanette, even though I garden in a very different climate (southern California), I enjoy your blog a lot, Margaret.
I am not sure I dare post this in the midst of deprived gardeners, but truly, every winter I envy your forced gardening break. There is a certain year round gardening burn-out that sets in and how I wish then I had a good reason to stop, such as freezing temperatures, as opposed to just laziness. Besides my aphids never die, they keep hard at work all through the winter months.
You all take heart, spring will be here soon!
Welcome, Angela. You know, I agree; I think the idea of a year-round growing season sounds exhausting. I like four seasons, even with one a dormant one. Good point. Thanks for your visit, and do stop in soon again.
Well, if there were any hope of getting beyond the end of my front walk, I would be in Andre’s refuge for gardeners. The Snowpocalypse has just left us here in the DC area, leaving 24 inches behind, on top of the 5 inches from last Wednesday. Fortunately, I have the internet and a credit card and I am not afraid to use them.
I applied to the government but they said they feared we’d spend all the money on seeds and plants. Apparently a bunch of needy gardeners cannot be trusted with any cash, you know? :)
Hey! We’re just doing our part to stimulate the economy!
There is hope this February, less snow than last year, so I can peek and poke at everything.
Soon. And what a sunny spot to come inside to the outside, so thank you!
I long to edge my gardens. I crave the scent of freshly turned soil. I ache for those little squeals of glee when seeing the first sign of green in the garden. I’ve become a seed catalog junkie.. slowly turning each page.. scraps of paper all around with possible order combinations.
I am….a gardener.
*group hug*
Thanks for the smile on a dreary day…I hate February in southeast Missouri. An utter tease of a month.
I think A Way To Garden should be getting some 501c charity funding.
@Andre: I applied to the government but they said they feared we’d spend all the money on seeds and plants. Apparently a bunch of needy gardeners cannot be trusted with any cash, you know? :) and xoxoxoxoxoxox and all of it. Hope you and Mrs. Andre and Pickle are good to go.
I’m the tall one in the middle of the group. My fingernails have been clean for at least three months.
Even though I live in the caribbean, I still find this blog interesting and informative. The shelter doodle is so sweet and funny! Love it! Spring is just around the corner – so keep busy with planning the next garden, everyone.
Welcome, Jeanette, from a land where I assume there is no snow at the moment. :) Thank you for your nice comment, and the encouragement. Come see us anytime, and bring sunshine.
“Hi, my name is Amy, and I suffer from Gardening Deprivation Disorder.” And I ordered plants — rather a lot of plants — yesterday, and I suspect I will order rather a lot of seeds today.
But — Margaret, you have inspired me and I added three shrubs to my order, including a flowering quince, Chaenomeles Toyo-Nishiki, that looks absolutely lovely. I may even allow my husband to rip up at least one of the forsythia bushes.
Sunrise before 7 this morning. Hang in there everybody!
“Hi, my name is Bob, and I suffer from Gardening Deprivation Disorder.” Oh, a shelter for gardeners who have lost hope of Spring’s return! Personally, my very FIRST garden shed in &#$ years of gardening was delivered this very week! I’ll need to research Andre’s 501c to determine if said shed purchase is tax deductible. Regardless, meetings for ‘lost gardeners’ every Tuesday evening…6pm sharp. Adult beverages provided.