Hi Ginny! I was wondering why the forum was so quiet too. I've started my winter-sowing, and finally dragged (most of) my potted perennials into the garage for the winter.

I've been too busy with hockey to do much else. My son plays for his high school team and my daughter plays on three teams, so between getting up at 4AM for practice and getting home at midnight from 9:30PM games (sometimes in towns an hour away!), I've been pretty busy (and you can't forget that small annoying matter of having to work for a living!). You'd think being up for 20 hours a day would give me more time, lol, but there never seems to be time to do any of those "projects" that I always say I'll do in winter because I'm too busy in summer...

:)
Dee

I'm still around, but don't really have much garden-wise to talk about. The birds are the most interesting thing out there right now, and I fuss over breaking the ice on the birdbaths and blocking the bitter northwest and west winds.

The spring plant orders are done (of course I've said that before...). I'm surrounded by houseplants, not to mention eight (8) large helichrysums that I thought I could overwinter in the little unheated greenhouse. That was until the night temperature dropped to about 10 degrees and I gave up and brought them inside.

I check the NE forum every day along with some others that are more active, and I'm trying to reduce the pile of unread magazines.

I hate to say it, but I'm close to starting my income tax return.

Claire

Hi everyone,
It has been quiet on the NE forum. Good idea Ginny for people to check in. I have been wondering what people are up to...

I have orders into Fragrant Path Seeds and Old House Gardens and have already gotten seeds from New England Wildflower Society. Considering putting in an order to Brent and Becky's bulbs also as they have a nice selection of glads and dahlias. Also picking up some misc seeds starting to show up in the big box stores. Just last week picked up new to me: Cosmos 'Double Click'.

Like Claire I am busy catching up on reading some of the new gardening books I got for Christmas and enjoying my subscription to People, Places and Plants Magazine.

Also doing some indoor forcing. I have started 4 amaryllis bulbs: Honeymoon, FairyTale, Exotic Star and Apple Blossum and am trying some water forcing of tulips and crocus bulbs. For some pictures, see the link below. Unfortunately my digital camera is on the fritz and is out for repair so the plants are a lot further along than the photos show but gives you an idea what I've been up to. Still in the garage are a couple of planted pots of daffodils and tulips in soil. Hoping to bring these up starting in late Feb.

Have stopped by local greenhouses just to get a feel for spring and see what is up. Recently stopped by Lake Street Garden Center in Salem NH. Lots going on there. Also planning trips to Mahoney's in Winchester, Russells in Wayland and Logees if I can ever find the time!

In Feb, planning to go to the RI Flower Show.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Picture Trail Winter Forcing

Hi All - I can't remember if it's always this quiet in February, or if this is unusual. There are a few interesting threads here, but few responses.

I'm spending more time on the perennials forum, where there are still active posts going on, but I check in here just about every day. And, I'm working on our calendar of events with Solana and Katy, scouting web sites for workshops etc, and planning to attend some of those events. And, of course, really looking forward to the RI Flower show!

Stay warm - DtD

Hi Ginny and all! Although I generally read a few of the forums everyday I just haven't felt the urge to participate. I know people are just trying to generate participation but alot of the discussion topics seem redundant. Work has been busy and I've ramped up my workout schedule to close to 2 hours 5-6 nights a week. Most nights it gets to be 9 o'clock before I even have time to sit a bit before getting ready for bed. On the bright side, winter is flying by and I've barely noticed.

The Hartford Flower show starts two weeks from tomorrow. I'll probably do my usual picture tour. Come March I have a long list of woody plant shuffling to do. We usually take a ski vacation in March but that isn't happening this year so I'm toying with maybe hopping on a bus trip to the Philly flower show. My garden is open through the Garden Conservancy this year so we'll be addressing all those little lingering hardscape projects and I'll focus on trying to come up with some semblance of design for a couple of problem garden areas.

Only a month til daylight savings...

Sue

Like others, I am busy with other projects, and haven't much to say about gardening these days. I am taking my last plant id class at the Arnold Arb, and am preparing to volunteer in their children's ed program. I have mentally revised my front beds, and my biggest order is in. I am occasionally contemplating the back yard, and planning a trip to Broken Arrow in early Spring for much needed shrubs and trees. I am also wondering how I can sneak off (without kids) to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in cherry season (whenever that will be this year!) and Wave Hill. Otherwise, per DtD's recommendation, I am reading Ann Lovejoy's American Mixed Border and Gordon Hayward's Welcoming Front Yard Gardens (or something like that). I do check in regularly for interesting threads. I am sure we'll all pep up in the spring.
Best,
ML

I haven't had much to say, except I really want to find the person who wanted to trade last fall.(my note is posted) I got a new computer and a lot of correspondence got deleted.

Which leads me to ask, when I did a search on my name )ideabean) were there no hits? Has something on gardenweb been "updated?"

I am searching for a job in chaplaincy. Have an interview tomorrow. I'm also pulling together boatloads of materials for my next professional step, which is much more boring than Gardenweb. I have been following all of Runtun's posts, though. The perennial garden thread could be used in my garden!

My husband is bringing home rocks from a construction site, with plans to build the next half of our stone wall that encloses the garden. We'll take down the chickenwire enclosed vegetable garden and put in raised bed for veggies, herbs and cut flowers.

For you all who came to one of the swaps at my house in the last two years, the original perennial bed looks terrific with a stone wall enclosing it! Mindy with her great designer's eye encouraged me to go for it!

I"m enjoying catching up on y'll
marie/aka Idabean

idabean - Did you build your own stone wall??

vtskiers - Tell us more about the Hartford Flower Show. I have relatives in Hartford and have never heard about it. Is it good?

Hi Whitegarden,

A link to the Hartford Flower Show is below. It's not a bad show although I certainly wouldn't rank it up there with Boston or Philly. I go every year and take a bunch of pictures. It gets me out of the winter doldrums and into the gardening spirit.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Hartford Flower Show

Thanks for the info vtskiers. It sounds like a nice show. Unfortunately, I am away until the 25th - drats!

As for the Philly show, I went twice when I lived there and didn't think the crowds were worth it. Then again, I had to go on the weekend. I worked a 9 to 5 (or a 7:30 - 6) back then.

The Boston one was okay the one year I went. I thought the best part was the canoli from Montillios!

WG

yes, whitegarden, my husband built the stone wall. It is more refined than the short 'rough' walls you'll find all over New England fields and woods, but not artistically sophisticated one, either. In fact, I think it fits the landscape perfectly; homegrown talent. If you are ever around Lexington MA you are welcome to come see it. (I'm not sure its worth a long drive, however) One thing for sure, these are native stones....

Your name is not familiar to me, but I have not been in conversation much recently. Let me peek at your member page. Where do you live?

idabean

I've been quiet the last 1/2 year because I left my stressful corporate job and have been writing a book about gardening, and trying to find a publisher. I check in on this forum now and then but have curtailed my posting because I should be working on my book :-)

I have done some winter sowing already (with seeds from NEWFS) and am enjoying planning my containers and window boxes for this summer.

This cold weather is ideal for me because it keeps me indoors working on my book instead of playing outside!

Ellen

This is a great group of replies. It's nice to have people check in and report on their activities, gardening and otherwise, and hopefully others will as well. I agree that January and February are perhaps the best time of year for projects, work or otherwise. Lots of time to concentrate and not a lot of distractions.

With the RI show coming in February, it does seem as if the gardening season gets earlier each year. I won't make it to that one but I hope to go to the Central Mass show. I went some years ago and it wasn't great but I hear it has improved considerably. And of course, the Big Kahuna, the New England Spring Flower Show in March. That means it is serious gardening season for me.

I have ordered seeds from Pinetree, Chiltern, Burpee, Park, Select Seeds, Seeds for Change, Baker Hill Heirloom Seeds, Onalee's, Territorial, and Swallowtail, and plan to order a few more from a prairie seed resource. I should therefore, place no orders for plants, but will certainly do so. I need to get cracking on cleaning up my area for seed-starting in the basement.

Hi idabean,

I don't post too often. I should post more, but work keeps me really busy. I live in the Framingham area. I ask about the wall because I am getting ready to start an improvement project to the front of my house and am considering doing the stone work with my husband and a male friend. I took a course on building stone walls at Tower Hill and have done a little stone work myself in my younger gardening years.

I think I am going to attempt it.

Feb. is the worst month for me. It's usually frigid (like now) and I hunker down and try to do my best to get through it. I don't like the cold. I was really enjoying all the warm weather we had up til mid-Jan. I guess it could be worse; we could be getting pummelled with snowstorm after snowstorm like some years. We are going to Fla. in less than two weeks and I can't wait.

I have started some seeds inside, onions and perennials. Am holding off on starting any more until we get back from our trip. One is a leafy, fuzzy, silver salvia from Thompson & Morgan that will go in the rose garden. Another is agastache 'Purple Pygmy'. I haven't tried agastache yet and don't even know if it's hardy here as you never see it for sale.

I have been lurking about causing trouble on some of the other regional gardening forums. Not real trouble, just my usual rant directed at "zone changes"--particularly in the upper Midwest where they have been experiencing day after day of below zero weather. And also waiting patiently for this BORING weather to break. A snowstorm would be nice! Down here on the south coast it is not really all that cold either--I mean I can't really get that excited about afternoons in the 20's and nights in the teens--day after day after day--all with unlimited sunshine. What a snooze.

LOL, rockman! Only a weather junkie like you would think this weather is boring! I suppose Tricia would agree with you. My mom is the same way - a five day stretch of sun, sparkling blue skies and fairly even temps like we've been having has her anxious for a good cold front or high pressure system or whatever it is they talk about on the Weather Channel, lol!

Me, I'm enjoying this cold, windy, but beautiful weather, and despite the benefits of snow in a garden, I'm grateful for the lack of it, especially since what snow we've had so far this year always seems to fall at the evening rush hour.

In the meantime, I just keep plugging away at my winter sowing, and keep on trying to resist opening the garden catalogs too many times.

:)
Dee

You are not alone, Rockman. I agree that this weather is boring, boring, boring. Even a cloudy day would be mildly interesting. I've been hoping for a big snowstorm--OK, on the weekend so it's not too much of a problem for people, tho the kids are probably dying for a snow day. Weather is interesting and in New England it's *really* interesting, but not this winter.

Does anybody know a good snow dance? While I hadn't really thought it through, boring is a good word for this weather. As DH said last night, it's too cold to do much outside. But if there was a couple of feet of snow on the ground, we'd all be out there playing in it, and probably talking about how nice and warm it is.

As it is, I'm very glad the lows have been so warm because of the lack of snow. We don't usually have open winters like this, and the last time we did, several species of perennials were totally wiped out.

HI Everyone,
Here's the view from Chicago; I'm visiting our daughter in her new "home" for several days. It has been cold; we came in on the tail end of 0 degree days (not nights, and no wind chill factored in)
She lives in a nice section of Chicago, where there has been a lot of urban planting. Small planting areas of good looking hardy shrubs and grasses, with non fussy low iron fencing. But what is shocking is the enormous number of cars in the city, and the amount of salt they use. They have about 2 inches of frozen snow, but the streets, sidewalks, cars, even bikes chained to fences, and steps to houses are covered--really covered-- with dense salt residue. Never in Boston, the Boston burbs or anywhere I went in NH (even when it snowed alot) have I seen so much salt.

So I wonder how these fine looking plantings will survive.

We lived in the midwest during college, and I mercifully forgot the low, gray midwest sky. The people are lovely, the place feels like urban Fargo.

A little more than a month till spring. I'm glad I'll be home, on the East Coast, with my nose in the mud.

Idabean

Greetings all..
the Newfs and I have hunkered down for the winter-but I do read the forum every few days. This spring is my BIG front yard re-do and I have done lots of thinking about it-but nothing yet on paper. I need to save my money so I am thinking of laying my front stone/brick/paver?? walk myself. I go back and forth with that idea-sometimes it seems like I am a genius other times a dimwit-depends on my mood and caffeine level. And my daughter has decided to get married with only 4 months notice, while she is in med school to boot. I have the snow blower (aka "The Beast") all gassed up and ready to go awaiting the coming storm. Stay warm...
Carole

Carole, I've laid brick walks and bluestone patios - you may actually be a genius, but you don't really have to be one to do this. My DH thinks he's the "real" paving expert, but my original work, which is now more than 10 years old, has held up really well. (Some of his newer projects have not fared as well, I might honestly add!)

The only project we've done that didn't come out as well as I'd have liked was A. a curved path, B. on a slight slope, and, sadly, C. right out front, near the street. Anything straight and flat is just a breeze - if you have the time to do all the prep work carefully. It's very satisfying work, too.

Idabean - stay warm! I sure hope my kids never move to some gawd-awful place like Chicago! I'm rooting for Paris, or California, somewhere I'd enjoy visiting often. (I know, lots of people LOVE Chicago, I just can't see the allure.)

I'm still in existence, too :-)

Heading into Year 3 gardens with drawn plans (we'll see how long that lasts) and about 20 varities of seeds to start. Most nurseried materials look good and I'm really, really glad I didn't think I needed to place everything year 1 and 2. The bones are in, thanks to a ton of muscle from DH and son, and only one new bed will be dug this year.

Have been reading and lurking but like Sue, feel I can only say the same thing in two or three different ways. Do know that once Spring arrives they'll be much going on, here.

Best to everyone!

Martie

I have been buried in work so that curtails some of my gardenweb time. I also started english riding lessons several months ago, so when I'm not dreaming about horses, I'm reading the tons of emails I get from a Friesian group at Yahoo. I also found youtube, so I have been watching a lot of horse videos.

As far as gardening goes, I've been battling bugs in the greenhouse as usual. I'll be glad when the weather is warm again. I'm not too fond of the snow and cold, but I need the rest. I'd like to try some winter sowing, so I'm getting together supplies now and going through my seeds for appropriate ones. I hope to get some started this weekend.
I have been quite entertained this winter with my free-range chicken that adopted me last summer. She is doing fine living behind the greenhouse. She has a nice snug roost back there and a friend gave me a heated dog bowl for her so she always has fresh water. So do the bluejays and whatever else hangs out in the yard. Chicken (that's her name) is not people-friendly, but she is getting tamer. I'm getting here to come over when I show up with food-one day I hope to be able to call her to me without food.

hey Terryboc - so glad to hear you are taking riding lessons. Horses are good for the soul...not to mention their manure is really useful in our gardens :-)

Yes, my soul gets a workout trying to remain patient when my silly lesson horse with cabin fever feels that he needs everything in his mouth, including my jacket :) I do plan on taking my shovel once it warms up this spring. One of the members of the garden club I belong to has horses right up the street from my house, so I got a load just before last winter. I spread it out this summer, so I plan on getting more and composting it until next year. I'm having a blast with the lessons. I wish I could ride more often, but time and budget are both somewhat limited. I'd love to have my own horse again some day

I'm back. My FIL passed away & we've been preoccupied. Just starting to get our lives back together. Anxiously awaiting spring. My Bluestone order's supposed to arrive in four weeks...that's not too long! Boy, did it ever rain today. Must have gotten well over 2". Warm rain too...temps hit 50 degrees. Going to be cold again though next week.

Well, bed time for me...just checking in.

Tricia

I'm here, too. I have survived February & now I feel slightly justified in having garden fever. We are halfway through our 4th year in our fixer-upper & are working very hard on finishing the upstairs. I think I started winter sowing this week - we'll see how it goes. I have my 2 yr old & a 4 yr old as my overzealous assistants. :) Counting down to the thaw- I can't wait to turn the compost!

Just checked in. Worried that the cold weather w/o snow might have lost me some of my perennials, which suffered last summer from the constant rain. Have been having a hard time thinking garden because I do that best when there is snow on the ground. Finally got some. Well, lots. Four feet in three days. Now everyone is going around with smiles on our faces. Snow is part of how folks in Vermont define ourselves, and it just didn't feel right without it.

And now I can start thinking about spring and my garden.

Dayle Ann

I'm still here, though I didn't expect to be living in New England by the spring. We've decided to stay put, so the garden projects will be taken up again this spring.

I've been so busy with dog rescue for the past year that I don't have much time for anything else.
Jo

I'm still here, too. Not terribly inspired, either.

Trimmed up the climbing Hydrangea the other day, am still waiting for the windowboxes to thaw enough to relinquish control of the last of the evergreens.

Surprised that Jo is still in New England. What kind of dogs do you rescue?

So Jo, I guess we'll be seeing you at the spring swap? Speaking of which...time to flush Ron out of lurkdom and pick a date.

Be careful with the rescue wok. I've seen alot of people burnout in the various groups I've worked with over the years. I know, it's hard to say no.

Sue

I'm over on the Winter Sowing board most days, and more recently drooling in the Daylily room.
I don't have a lot of New England type questions, but more specific to what I do and have in my yard, which is Winter Sowing, and a new love of DLs.
Sometimes I'm on the Round Robin board, or playing in the exchange boards.
But HI to everyone!!!

Hi guys, yes we decided to stay in CT after having our house on the market most of the winter. What a pain.

I'm rescuing small breeds, see our website at the link below. Also, we're raffling off a quilt (handmade by moi) to support our work. That's my foster Georgie modeling the quilt.

I'd love to attend the spring swap, I didn't bother last fall because we were planning to leave CT.
Jo

Here is a link that might be useful: Shih Tzus and Furbabies

Good to see all these familiar names!

I've taken a several-month break from gardening, which means I missed my chances to get the roses I wanted by mail order. Phooey. :P Right now I'm still cudgeling my brains trying to figure out what to do with that front yard, while at the same time scheduling painting, electrical work, window work, etc. for the "new" (to us-- it's actually almost 120 years old *laugh*) house. My goal for this weekend is to get a sketch together for the front yard planting!

A little late to the party here, but good to hear what everyone's up to. I started winter sowing this year--I hope to catch up on the process with Dee and any other wintersowers at the swap this spring. I've also become mildly obsessed with houseplants (clearly I must get out into the garden soon--well, as soon as the snow melts!). Also happily tending the red wigglers I got from WildBill last spring. Houseplants are happy and healthy with their homegrown compost! Happy spring everyone!