Don't think I can beat that one. Not that I would want to. It's too special to the heart and your little smiley... well, you are right. It is his plant. You'll have to post pictures this summer.

Nicole.

Wow, that's a long time. You might want to be careful. It may not play well with others.....;-)
Please keep us updated on it's progress.

Last year was definitely not a good gardening year for me.

My mother died six weeks after my father died (and it was quick. She went in the hospital, got diagnosed and died all in a weeks time). My father, we had known since October 07, and then he died in February 08 (which was pretty quick, but at least we had more time than with my mom).
They both died a good 20 years before their parents ever did, which was also unexpected, considering they had better health care and better lives than their parents ever did.
So, no, I don't usually wait that long, and I don't make it a practice :-)
There's a few other jugs of things that are left over from last year that I was waiting to thaw out before I tossed them in the garden beds. They're getting dumped very soon.
A tri-color sage seedling survived the fall and winter too, so I won't be surprised if these other left-overs wind up germinating when I dumpt them!

I'll be sure to get pictures of the Sweet Rocket when it blooms (I'm really liking the leaves on it! Nice :-)

Linda

Oh Linda that is so special! My Dad died in Oct of 2007 suddenly. I swear it still hurts. I sure wish I had planted something that day. Wow, that would have been nice.

take care of that plant.
Karen

So sorry about your parents, Linda. Hope this year is much, much better for you.

Debby

I can certainly understand, Linda and Karen. My grandfather, who was more like my dad, (he helped raise me) died unexpectedly after a fall backwards down some stairs. I was 5 monthes pregnant at the time, so that was in 1994. I guess some things we just never truly get over.

They're still around us... grandpa shows up in the most unexpected places... I know he's there.

Sunny,
I just understood what you wrote (too much studying is keeping me from understanding the normal, regular way human beings talk (lol)
"It may not play well with others"
You know, I wonder if that isn't why the thing lived so long as a young'un in that little juice jug. I hope it doesn't grow up to be a thug!! I'm keepin' my good eye on it!

Karen,
So sorry to hear of your loss. Solstice becomes more special to me now each year because of the people I've lost. On the one hand, I hate to see my seeds sown for "Remembrance" getting longer. On the other hand, it's nice when the flowers bloom. Maybe you can think of something in particular to sow for your dad next WSing season?
Nancy,
Sorry to hear about your loss as well. That had to be really difficult to lose him before he could hold and see your child.
Loss really is a strange thing. Even though it happens every day, it just never stops feeling weird.

Linda

Linda, Wow - losing both parents so close together - that must have been so very very hard, I'm so sorry life dealt you that blow.
I just came up from sowing seeds for my Mums memorial garden, I lost her last spring. It was the wintersowing seedling plunk and run chaos that kept me busy and able to grieve 'in my own way', I was very glad I had something to 'Do' all summer.
WinterSowing, its not just for breakfast anymore! ;)

Linda, your post brought tears to my eyes. My dad passed away the first of Oct '08, and the other day I went out to the deep freeze to get a pepper for something I was cooking for dinner, and thought, I picked this pepper the day I left to see him for the last time. It's funny how something insignificant, like finding a seedling, or pulling something out of a freezer, can trigger an emotional memory. I am very sorry for your loss.

Bonnie

I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to be confusing. I was just thinkin that since it had been over there all by it's lonesome for a while you might have to socialize it some. MAke sure it minds it's P's and Q's. Who knows? It might just be a show-off and grow bigger and stronger than everything else. Take that, little plants!! lol

Linda, back to the original question...

Hellebores just might take the longest to sprout!

From Hellebores.org:
"Hellebore seed may take 6-18 months (or more) to germinate; however, if you start with fresh seed and sow it soon after harvest, then your chances of achieving
high germination percentages are quite good."

One of these days... years... I just might summon up the patience to winter sow some of these beauties!

Here is a link that might be useful: Growing and Propagating Hellebores