topic Re: Winter Solstice in Garden

Winter Solstice

Susan Louise — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 02:53:32 GMT

Only 17 more days, and counting, til the days start becoming longer again. Although it was just last week I had finally completed our holiday decorating, my mind is more focused on the 1st seed catalog's arrival.

The warmer, (near balmy some days) weather we've had here lately has also sparked thoughts of next Spring. Even the long term forecast for the next few weeks keeps our temps in the mid 40's-mid 50's!

Anyone else dreaming of gardening, birds returning to nest and longer days again?

Re: Winter Solstice

ivey — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 02:56:14 GMT

Count me in.

Re: Winter Solstice

JustJazzmom — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 15:43:51 GMT

I've got my eye on several new hybrid teas for my garden that I am researching where to purchase.

All are Kordes roses.

Souvenir de Baden-Baden hybrid tea

Madame Anisette hybrid tea rose

Re: Winter Solstice

PamelaSue72 — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 16:04:56 GMT

I'm in. I love to look at the seed catalogs and work on garden planning. Love the longer days of warmth and sun. I love getting my hands in soil. We put in a new shed this fall, so I have been planning the landscaping around the shed. I can't wait for spring to start putting in the new shrubs and flowers.

Re: Winter Solstice

Sweetbay magnolia — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 07:03:49 GMT

Yes! I can almost smell the warming soil. I'm enjoying my houseplants immensely right now and I see and hear woodpeckers, titmice, wrens, cardinals, creepers, blue jays. flickers, robins, nuthatch, chickadees out my kitchen window. The squirrels bury, my dogs dig up . . . on and on it goes. Hubby is getting a book on composting for Christmas.

I had a friend who had solstice/equinox parties every time they happened. Decadent but enlightening! We always danced.

Re: Winter Solstice

Julie928 — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 08:03:43 GMT

Hi Susan Louise!

Yes, I'm dreaming of springtime already! I don't mind winter, I just don't want to experience another winter like last years! That was brutal!

We had a pond put in our backyard this past spring and currently have five koi and one goldfish living in it. I'm a nervous wreck worrying about them! We have done all the winter prep we're supposed to do but I still worry (that's what I do best, lol)! They seem to be hibernating now and as funny as it may sound, I miss them! I miss sitting there feeding them while enjoying my own lunch. The waterfall has been shut down for the winter so I don't even have that sound to enjoy. I guess starting it up in the spring gives me something to look forward to (as well as all those seed catalogs that will be arriving in the mail)!

Thank you for posting this ~ 17 more days until the days start getting longer? YAY!!!

Merry Christmas, Susan Louise!

Re: Winter Solstice

Mominohio — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 19:33:02 GMT

I am always in great anticipation of the winter solstice. I hate these short days, and can't wait to be on the other side of the mountain on this one!

While I long for the end of winter even before it begins, I am not that eager to dream of the outside work. Our large vegetable garden, and fruit orchard are lots of work (along with twice a week mowings in the spring), and I can wait for all that to start again. If we could have winter without the bad roads, I'd be fine, and late spring is one of my favorite times of year, but I can wait for all the work it brings.

Re: Winter Solstice

Sweetbay magnolia — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 20:21:45 GMT

Agree, OHmom - I love that transition period when things are happening as the earth warms (in my hemisphere, anyway), before the real work starts up again. The urgency to get necessary things done. I hope I've done enough to prepare for the winter, and I'm fortunate to be able to avoid driving if the roads are bad. We are entering what looks like a period of rain so the slippery elm and red maples should be very happy. I just hung a new suet bag on my dogwood, so the birds are eating the fruit from the tree and discovering a new source of food. It's fun to watch the hierarchy of the birds as they find it.

Happy Holidays!

Re: Winter Solstice

ValuSkr — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 21:15:22 GMT

We have a few hard months of winter to go but can enjoy planning next year's gardens. Before we know it, Philip Watson and the Wallien Family will be back on Q.

Re: Winter Solstice

Snicks1 — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 22:17:07 GMT

Ah yes, looking towards Spring also. Just 3 days ago I did rake #7 of my yard for this Fall and was thinking then that I wished it was Spring clean up of the yard. Usually in Feb. I start looking at catalogs and planning what I am doing for the coming season. That's in between shoveling the driveway of course, lol.

Re: Winter Solstice

Kathlen — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 22:38:52 GMT

I've had to change my schedule a bit with the early sunsets. By the second week of January I'll be back on my usual schedule.

I live in a City apartment ... no gardening for me!

Re: Winter Solstice

Lilysmom — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 23:48:53 GMT

This fall I cleaned all my gardens of leaves rather than leave them over the winter. We have a lot of old oak trees surrounding the property and they take forever to fall. As I speak, there are still three large oaks half full of leaves and some of them stay even to Feb. Not like we don't get wind here either in Nova Scotia. They are fairly well sheltered sadly. I just finished a huge bed on Dec 3rd and it took me almost three hours crawling under shrubs to get them clean. And my DH, a tree fanatic, wonders why I raise the roof when I see him planting oak trees!!!

I am happy to take a break from gardening for a few months but I am already planning new purchases for next year. My neighbour and I were garden shopping in the snow in April last year so, yes, we are garden addicts lol.

Merry Christmas gardening friends!!! LM

Re: Winter Solstice

CalminHeart — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 23:53:21 GMT

I'm in Iowa and thoroughly enjoying the balmy 40s and 50s too. I hope to do some yard work tomorrow.

Re: Winter Solstice

stevieb — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 03:09:25 GMT

Nope. I'm hoping to actually see winter before my thoughts turn to spring... So far, all I've seen are a very few cold days, mostly moderate and rainy and it's getting old, but spring is followed by summer and once it arrives, I'll be looking forward to fall. Don't like hot, humid weather, but do like fall and winter.