BLOOM THYME: That January Feeling

Link | January 19, 2026February 26, 2026 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

This January feels a bit different. Yes, we have had cold, we have had snow, but for some reason, the garden has not felt so far away as it usually does. Perhaps it is the temperature fluctuations. We have warmer-than-usual temperatures mixed in with extreme cold, making routine walks in the garden more common. Or, perhaps it the fact that we don’t have snow and ice everywhere! 🤷🏼‍♀️

This week has moved to extreme cold. No measurable snow but yes that biting cold sure feels like January!

POTTING SHED PUTTERINGS:

In January I am more than grateful for my Potting Shed. Oh how this tiny space adds to my quality of life. 😅 And I’m not going to lie… I am particularly crazy about this String of Pearls.

SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS

Right now it’s all about seeds and seedlings. My seed supply has been organized and new seeds have been purchased.

NEW SEED VARIETIES I’M TRYING

Celosia: Celway Terracotta
Gomphrena: Audray Pink / Strawberry Fields
Verbena: Vanity
Coneflower: Green Twister
Paper Flower/Immortella
Balloon Flower (Seeds from a friend)

So far here is what I am winter sowing…

All the above +
Foxglove: Dalmatian Purple & Peach
Marigold: Queen Sophia
Strawflower: Vintage White & Apricot Mix
Onion: Yellow of Parma

APRIL “WINTER” SOWING

Tomatoes
Zinnias: Benary’s Giant Salmon Rose & Wine, Linen, Zydeco White & Queeny Lime Orange
Holy Basil
Boxwood Basil

Yes, January is the time to start! I have sent the first brave starts outside this week to get all the cold they need to be their best selves! They will have neighbors soon.

WINTER SOWING NOTES

If you are new to Winter Sowing, here is a previous article I wrote that has detailed instructions. (LINK)

BOXWOOD BASIL

Have you tried Boxwood Basil? It has become one of my favorite things to grow. Instead of culinary purposes, I use it for borders and garden accents! See below… Doesn’t it look like lush boxwood?

Love how it looks in the herb garden particularly.

If you need a bit of green… here’s a Short YouTube Video of the Herb Garden from last August when the Boxwood was showing off. (LINK)

If you want to see other videos from my garden. Here’s a link to the YouTube channel. (LINK) Most of my videos are short and sweet. Many I do under the umbrella of Bloom Thyme Minute!

PLANTED!

These are planted and under grow lights in the Potting Shed… 🥳

Lisianthus: Lavender F1
Lisianthus: Light Apricot F1
MultiBloom Red Geraniums

LISIANTHUS

Lisianthus is a slow grower, so even though I won’t plant her out until late April or early May, she has to be started now to be more than a tiny babe by that time. Here is a gallery of lisianthus taking her sweet time reaching her glory. But oh, she does! I do “support” my Lisianthus, and have found a grid trellis that works well. I have tried many grid “systems”; this really is the best, and it’s black, so it practically disappears in pictures. (See in gallery below.) (GRID TRELLIS LINK)

Lisianthus Time Machine for those I grew in 2024…

INDIANAPOLIS ROSE SOCIETY

If you are local, it’s time to take a look at the wonderful roses that are a part of our annual rose sale. It is a fabulous list. Remember, place orders now for April delivery. It is first come / first serve and there are limited supplies!

All the details are HERE.

ROSE CHAT PODCAST

While we are on holiday, you can find the past shows HERE.

The most recent podcast was an important one. If you haven’t had a chance to listen you can do so here.

TODAY…

As I look out today snow is gently falling in that snow globe way. Not stacking up but giving everything in the garden a special sparkle – reminding me of the scripture…

The whole earth is full of his glory. Isaiah 6:3

NEXT UP

Now that seeds are underway, my planning is now moving to the roses and making final decisions on what I will add this year. There are so many great ones out there! We’ll talk about that next time.

Yes, January is a wonderful time for planning and for looking back…

WINTER YOU HAVE OUR ATTENTION!

Link | January 24, 2025February 26, 2026 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Hello Winter, you have certainly decided to be record-breaking this year. This week I’ve heard from friends in southern states with record breaking snowfall and plummeting temps! The pictures don’t even look real! My big question now is how long will it last. Probably not too long in the southern states but up here — might be another thing! 😳🥶 This is that time of year that I tell Mr. G that it’s not coming back. Things are too cold and and too dead, it’s not coming back. He hands me a cup of coffee and says, “don’t worry, it always come back.” He’s the best. ……..Ahh spring, oh the miracle you are!! And you’ll be back in about 55 days.

You know who IS enjoying this weather? The birds. G has been keeping them well fed and they have rewarded us by their presence and thier song! SOOOO MANY. Look at this handsome guy…

Bluebirds routinely play in my Potting Shed window box. They are so precious! I hope they nest close by! Take a look…

WINTER SOWING 2025

During this kind of season I hear Mr. Rogers in my ear singing, 🎶”Let’s think of something to do while we’re waiting.”🎶 Anyone remember that one??

One super fun thing we get to do while we are waiting on spring is Winter Sowing!! 🥳

And, winter Sowing is happening here but honestly I was almost afraid to put anything outside. How cold is toooo cold!

Winter sowing truly is one of my favorite gardeny things. So little investment in time and material. It allows me to experiment more too! Each year I plant some seeds I’ve never tried before. If you are new to winter sowing or want to know what I have done in the past… check out another post here.

NEW TO ME THIS YEAR…

(Links to companies provided.)

I’m trying some new colors of Nasturtiums – Tip Top Pink Blush and Cherry Rose Jewel.

Love Coneflowers and want a yellow one, so I’m trying a new variety to me Mellow Yellow.

Phlox Sugar Stars – such sweet colors

Onion: Yellow of Parma – Over the moon about this one! Confession, I have a thing about onions and they seem to be hard for me to grow. Thank’s Stef from Hooked and Rooted for the inspiration. Find her here. https://www.youtube.com/@HookedandRooted

One of my favorites is Gomphrena and I’m trying some new colors: Lavender Lady, Raspberry Cream, Audray Purple Red, and Audray White. SO MANY. I may have to call this garden season the “Year of the Gomphrena”! Last year it did so well!!! This is a no fuss plant going strong from early summer to frost! I used them in so many arrangements and they dry beautifully.

Globosa Purple & a “pink” I don’t remember the name.

Trying a new variety of Larkspur: Katy’s Picot Larkspur.

Trying a new Sweet Pea that someone recommended as fragrant and has loads of blooms but I can’t remember who – Jewels of Albion This is a custom blend esclusive to Renee’s Gardens! Here’s what Renees has to say about it… “EXCLUSIVE – Our custom blended color palette of especially fragrant antique varieties offers both beautiful cool shades and plants with significantly more heat tolerance than other sweet pea varieties. You’ll have a succession in bloom with “Flora Norton” (pastel blue), “Lord Nelson” (deep blue), “Mrs. Collier” (creamy-white), “Lady Grisel Hamilton” (pastel lavender) and “Captain of the Blues” (mauve-blue). This lovely perfumed mix blooms on strong climbing vines that easily cover a trellis or fence.”

And finally, I am super excited about a new, exclusive Zinnia from Johnnys Seeds… Ballerina!! Have you seen it? Soooo pretty!

I’m sure there will be more to come. Do you have a recommendation for me?

GETTING TO KNOW YOU WALL

This week I started the 3rd annual GETTING TO KNOW YOU WALL.

I started doing this “wall” in my potting shed with info about new plants I’m adding to the garden or plants I added last year that I want to keep an eye out for. Since I have a very established garden, this is such a great help in determining just where I want to plant them in the garden. And, not to miss the ones I planted last year!

ROSE CHAT

It is almost time for ROSE CHAT 2025 and I am super excited! The lineup is stellar. So many wonderful rosy people will join me! If you missed it, here’s the ad from New Years. Newley added to this list is Dee Nash of Red Dirt Rambling. Looking forward to a wonderfully rosy year!

The February guests are Jason Croutch of Fraser Valley Rose Farm and Leon Ginenthal the owner of Der Rosenmeister Rose Nursery in New York.

Last year Jason joined me to talk about growing roses in containers. He had so many tips and tricks. LISTEN HERE

The last time Leon was with me we chatted about rambling roses, his garden is filled to the brim with these beauties and he had a great deal of advice and insight! LISTEN HERE

If you have cabin fever, there is a gorgeous video on YouTube of Leon’s amazing garden… check it out here. You can almost smell the roses!

UNTIL NEXT TIME…

Friends, I hope you are safe and staying warm and have plenty of time to dream and plan! I know dreaming and planning is keeping me going! I’ve even found a new place for another arbor with roses!!! 🎉 Can you believe it!! More about that later.

Until next time, sending warm wishes from the Potting Shed where everything is quite crowded but cozy and warm! Outside – not so much!

BLOOM THYME FRIDAY: Sauntering into Spring

Link | February 9, 2024 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

New growing zones, warmer weather, deep freezes, groundhogs and alligators (Texas) predicting an early spring, plants greening up… what are we in the old Zone 5b to do. 😳 I guess I’ll just cautiously saunter into spring – keeping a watchful eye on the weather app and the forsythia bushes. Around here there are always surprises!

POTTING SHED PUTTERINGS

I am not sauntering in the potting shed. It is full steam ahead! Seed starting and winter sowing have been keeping me busy.

WINTER SOWING

I am doing more winter sowing than seed starting as we are traveling a bit and I think the seeds have a better chance outside! I want tons of different flowers and herbs but don’t need large quantities, so many of the jugs are divided up with multiple types of seeds inside.

So far I have planted…

Hollyhocks
Statice
Rudbeckia
Stock
Celosia
Gomphrena
Coneflowers
Bachelor Buttons
Scabiosa
Yarrow
Foxgloves
Larkspur
Snapdragons
Orlaya
Sweet Alyssum
Ageratum
Strawflower
Lady’s Mantel
Mignonette
Sea Holly
Ammobian

As I type this list I am reminded of how many of these I planted last year but they were eaten or destroyed. 😫 Praying for fewer critter issues this year!!!!!

Later I will plant tomatoes, zinnias and cosmos when the weather truly and consistently warms up! I was amazed last year at how wonderfully these warm weather varieties did last year with the winter sowing method!

If you want to know more about how I do the winter sowing method, here is a post I did last year with details. WINTER SOWING LINK

Some of last year’s results…

FLORET FLOWERS

Are you familiar with Erin Benzakein and Floret Flowers? If not, check them out at the link below.

Our Story

Erin and her team have done amazing work as flower farmers in the cut flower industry – adding so much beauty as well as education!

Her latest work is exclusive seed varieties. These exclusive seeds went on sale this week. So many were waiting by computers and phones to place our order. Same as roses, I rarely see a packet of seeds that don’t interest me – especially when paired with the word “exclusive.” I love zinnias and from the pictures Floret has done amazing things with them. My order was small but I am very excited to try two of the new Zinnia varieties.

Rose friends, Erin has an amazing rose story as well. She was the last person to interview Anne Belovich – just 7 months before her death at 97! Anne gave her permission to take cuttings of her roses and take she did. Her team came in and beat down the brambles to find the gems. Anne’s roses are in great hands with Erin! You can read about this adventure here.

A Rose Story Part 4: An Interview with Anne Belovich

ROSE CHAT 2024

Look at this collage!

So many wonderful rosy friends are coming to chat this season. Each one is unique and amazing. I can’t wait!

Sunday, Feb 11 and Sun, Feb 25 the first two podcasts will be released. Both are fantastic!

Gaye packed so much fascinating information from her research on this one. We go back to the pre-historic days!

Randy gives us so much great information on using beneficial insects. Covering all the basic questions and so much more!

Here is a link to find the new ones or listen to any of the previous ones anytime! LINK

SAUNTERING OR FULL STEAM AHEAD?

Are you sauntering into spring too or is it time to be full steam ahead in your garden. I just checked and more daffodils and snowdrops are popping up but it will be awhile before bloom. That’s okay. I’ll enjoy the posts of my southern friends for a bit longer. Seeing the babies come back is one of my greatest garden pleasures. I am happy to saunter and take it all in.

Until next time, here’s a bit of spring beauty from last year…

BLOOM THYME FRIDAY: The Weather App / My Constant Companion

Link | May 5, 2023May 3, 2023 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

The last few weeks the weather app has been my constant companion. Helping me out by alerting me to frost warnings. While I’m grateful to know, I’m really ready for that relationship to dwindle and those warnings to stop! Whew! With each warning fewer things are getting covered!! I know many of you are dealing with the same thing. Many of you have told me you are dealing with up to 3 weeks late on the growing season.

So far, it looks like there’s little frost damage to the roses but the jury is still out on the peonies! 😏 The Sargent Crabapple didn’t even make it through the first one! Next week is finally going to warm up. To say I’m excited just isn’t enough!

WINTER SOWING

Because of the frosty nights I have kept some of the jugs closed longer than was best for them. Some of the babies where screaming to get out!

POTTING UP DAHLIAS

I have a new area that I am dedicating to dahlias so I needed a few more! The bulk of my dahlia tubers came from Longfield Gardens but I did find a few other places too. To give them a head start for earlier blooming, I am potting them up to live in the potting shed while the weather warms.

I potted them up on April 22 and most of them are showing signs of life. Is there anything that looks less promising that a dahlia tuber???? Well, maybe … a bare root rose! Our gardens are rife with miracles!!

Cornel Bronze
Milena Fleur (FAV!)
Cafe au Lait
Labyrinth
Bitsy
Pacific Ocean
Karma

APRIL 22…

APRIL 30…

Believe it or not… the massive one is Bitsy 🤷🏼‍♀️

NEW ROSES

Here is my list of roses I am adding to the garden this year. Some of these are duplicates of roses I already have but love so much!

Crown Princess Margareta (Heirloom Roses)
Earth Angel (Heirloom Roses)
Ghislaine de Feligonde (High Country Roses)
Darlow’s Enigma (High Country Roses)
Generous Gardener (David Austin)
Moonlight Romantica (Jackson & Perkins)
Sweet Mademoiselle (Jackson & Perkins)
Plum Perfect (IRS Rose Sale)
State of Grace (IRS Rose Sale)
Moonlight in Paris (Menards)
Cornelia (Rose Petals Nursery)
Champneys Pink Cluster (Rose Petals Nursery)

This is the first time I am seeing this full list all together. #whatwasithinking Finding places for these beauties may get a bit tricky. Well, there’s always a big container in a sunny spot. Maybe Mr. G wouldn’t mind a few roses on the driveway to keep his tomatoes company. 🌹🍅

ROSE CHAT

The latest release of Rose Chat is ROSES THAT RAMBLE with great rose friend Leon Ginenthal from Der Rosenmeister Nursery. His stories are so fascinating! His roses are so amazing. I just wish he shipped from his nursery in Ithaca, NY. Maybe a road trip is in order!

GARDEN FOR LIFE – Rose Chat Podcast

GARDEN FOR LIFE Strategies for Easier, Greener, More Joyful Gardening as We Age Rhonda Fleming Hayes On this episode of the Rose Chat podcast, host Teresa Byington chat with Rhonda Fleming Hayes about her new book, Garden for Life: Strategies for Easier, Greener, More Joyful Gardening as We Age. Drawing on a lifetime of gardening experience and her gift for storytelling, Rhonda shares practical ideas, helpful information, and inspiration for gardeners who want to continue enjoying the hobby they love at every age and stage of life. The Rose Chat Podcast Our 15th Season MEET THE ROSE CHAT TEAM 🎙 Executive Producer & On-Air Personality Chris VanCleave – RedneckRosarian.com Chris—aka The Redneck Rosarian—is the mastermind behind the Rose Chat Podcast. He’s a nationally known rosarian, speaker, and TV personality who believes roses are for everyone, not just folks with fancy garden gloves. Whether he's talking bloom care or thorny troublemakers, Chris brings heart, humor, and a whole lot of rose wisdom to the mic. 🎙 Content Creator & On-Air Personality Teresa Byington – TheGardenDiary.com Teresa is a Master Gardener, Consulting Rosarian, and one of the kindest garden cheerleaders you’ll ever meet. She’s been growing roses for decades and still gets excited when one bursts into bloom. With stories, tips, and a dash of garden gossip, she helps make Rose Chat feel like a visit with a good friend, who just happens to be a rose expert. Wanna Keep in Touch? We’d love to pop into your inbox now and then (we promise, no spam—just roses). Click here to subscribe to Rose Chat updates!

You might also enjoy seeing a tour of his garden…

Coming up next on Rose Chat is MINIATURE AND MINI FLORA ROSES with Dr. Gary Rankin and Dr. Monica Valentovic. Few people know more than these two on this class of roses!
Release date: Sunday, May 14.

BLOOM THYME

Making the biggest statement is the creeping phlox. Standing up to the cold nights like a champ! The Leatherleaf Viburnums have been glorious and we have several of them!

While not blooming, the self-seeded larkspur game is very strong. Only a few weeks and we will see the spectacular blooms!

Hopefully we are saying goodbye to those cool nights and hello to more of what we love — blooms! Serious Bloom Thyme is coming … SOON! 🌸🌹🌱🌼💐

Happy gardening friends!

Lately I have been thinking about those wonderful days at the Biltmore Rose Trials. What a special time it was!

’til next time… 💐

Bloom Thyme Friday: More Winter Sowing

Link | February 17, 2023February 16, 2023 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Yes, the winter experiment continues …

Here are the additional seeds I have added to the winter family tucked away in their mini greenhouses. The original list was on my last post… here.

Tall White Alyssum / grows to about 12″ / Baker Creek
Blue Star Columbine /grows to 24″ / Burpee
Kilimanjaro White Marigold / grows to 18″ / Botanical Interest
Nicotiana Lime Green (Last year’s seed)

Next sowing will be in April when I will start warm season seeds like tomatoes, zinnias, cosmos and such.

LOOKING BACK…

This is my third year doing the winter sowing method. There have been many successes and some failures but it is still such a fun project! Below is an assessment of the previous years…

✔️ Some germination
Ⅹ No Germination
⭐️ Outstanding Germination

2021…

Larkspur (French Alouette) ✔️
Delphinium (Magic Fountain) ✔️ (took an extra long time)
Lavender (Munstead) ✔️ (took an extra long time)
Ammi ⭐️
Sweet William (Double Blend) ⭐️

2022

Munstead Lavender ✔️
Bachelor Buttons (Cyanus Double) ⭐️
Strawflower (Tall Double Mix) ⭐️
Candytuft (Old Seed) Ⅹ
Delphinium (Magic Mountain) ✔️
Verbena Bonariensis ⭐️
Orlaya (White Lace) ✔️
Phacelia (Lacy) ✔️
Larkspur (White) Ⅹ
Poppies (Buttercream) Ⅹ
Foxgloves (Carousel Mix) ⭐️
Celosia Pink Champagne ⭐️
Scabiosa (Fama White) Ⅹ

SNAPDRAGONS

I have always loved snapdragons, my kids loved snapdragons and they’re not only beautiful in the garden but also a completely fabulous cut flower.

For several years I’ve found flats of little snapdragon seedlings for sale at Menards. Each year I was on pins and needles to see if that would have them again. Bonus: They were the tall “Rocket” variety I love in solid colors – both pink and white! PERFECT! It was risky to wait but I didn’t have to start from seed.

This year I have gone snapdragon crazy. Have you seen how many gorgeous ones are available from seed??? If they do well in the jugs, my cutting garden will be very happy. If they don’t — well I’ll be scampering back to Menards! Seriously, who am I kidding, I’ll head to Menards anyway for the basic white and pink ones! If you want some, you better get their early and often! They show up without warning.

Snapdragons I’ve been seduced by this year through seed catalogs and online sources:

ROSE CHAT

The lastest podcast to be released was my chat with Gaye Hammond on up-to-the-minute information on Rose Rosette Disease. Next will be Dr. David Byrne on The Research Journey of Sustainable Roses.

Coming in March there will be several released over the next few weeks as part of the SPRING FLING…

Here is a podcast player where they can be found…

GARDEN FOR LIFE – Rose Chat Podcast

INDIANAPOLIS ROSE SOCIETY

Local friends, on Tuesday, March 14 at 6:30 pm the Indianapolis Rose Society will have it’s first in-person meeting of 2023. Your’s truly will be giving a program on English Cottage Gardens. Click here for details.

BLOOM THYME

There is only one bloom in my garden and it has come much earlier than previous years. Actually 3 weeks earlier than last year. The beautiful crocus. Welcome back!

BLOOMING INSIDE…

MOVING FROM BROWN TO GREEN

With the warmer temps and tons of rain, I am seeing more green than usual! Someone told me this week that we are on course for spring to arrive 3 weeks early. That is exactly how early my crocus are.

Even the evergreens are beginning to lose a bit of their bronze winter hue. Green is certainly welcome here. Yes, green is not only welcome as it speaks to the coming season — it is so peaceful and soothing. Reminds me of a favorite scripture…

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.³He restoreth my soul:

Psalm 23

Yes, green is very soothing and such a welcome sight but we won’t forget about winter. We know just how fickle it can be.

Friends, I would love to hear about seeds you are growing this year regardless of the method. And, what about snapdragons – thumbs up or down?

Until next time…

BLOOM THYME FRIDAY: WINTER SOWING

Link | January 20, 2023February 1, 2023 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

This is my third year using the Winter Sowing method and I am a huge fan. It is so simple, cheap and requires sooo little time. One of the big advantages is that there is no “hardening” off process. Those tiny miracles know when to germinate and they get tough during their time in the those “jug microclimates”.

Even though not all of the seeds I’ve sown have done well (most have), it’s incredibly fun to see what happens! I’ve found it to be a great return on a small investment.

BIGGEST SURPRISE OF 2022…

For the first time last year I planted tomato seeds using the winter sowing method.

I put them outside in a jug on April 2, left them alone and had amazing plants in mid May ready to take their place in Mr. G’s driveway garden. The 3 varieties I planted were Gardener’s Delight, Steak Sandwich and Beefsteak.

I also planted the same seeds in the potting shed and put them under lights. The shed may be small but I have a great set up for seed starting. When it was time to plant the tomatoes outside I would have to say that the indoor plants had the advantage on uniformity and look but the tomatoes in the jugs where very hardy and ready to go and initially were out performing the ones shed grown. In the picture below, the tall ones were winter sown. In the end they all caught up with each other and performed very well giving Mr. G a bumper crop of tomatoes! All’s well that ends well!

MY 2023 WINTER SOWING LIST (so far)

Milkweed
Foxglove
Larkspur
Phacelia
Sweet Pea
Bachelor Buttons
Snapdragons
Strawflower
Orlaya
Yarrow
Scabiosa
Lavender (Munstead)
Poppies

These babies are already out in the elements… more to join them soon.

If you look closely you’ll see some wire fencing I have around them to protect from night marauders.

NEXT UP

In late March or early April, I plan to start several warm season flowers and veggies – especially tomatoes. I may even try Zinnias with this method even though direct seeding works very well.

For those who asked, these are the Zinnias I’m growing this year:

Queen Lime Red ⭐️ (Fav from last year!)
Queen Lime with Blush
Queen Lime Orange ⭐️ (Fav from last year!)
Giant Purple
Isabellina
Double Violet Queen

SEED SOURCES

I buy seeds from everywhere … the Dollar Store, Rural King, Amazon, Esty, Big Box Stores, garden centers and all the usual online sources. Amazon is great to save a bit on delivery especially if you only want a couple of packets,

Fabulous online options…

LOCAL NOTE: FREE SEEDS will be one of the booths at the Hendricks Co. Master Gardeners annual spring event — Gardening for All Ages / April 29. Come join us for a day of garden fun! Event details here.

HOW TO…

If you are new to this process, below are the steps I take. There are numerous videos on YouTube where you can see this in action. Always note the growing zone of those doing the video to adjust for your zone growing needs. (I’m Zone 5b.)

WHAT YOU NEED:

Clear water or milk jugs cut around the middle preserving 2-3” by handle for hinge (discard lids you won’t need them)
- I’ve seen people use rotisserie chicken container, take-out containers and all kinds of drink containers. As long as there is room for them to grow, they drain well and light can penetrate – most any container would work. I love the jugs because they are not only sturdy, they have that built in hinge. The jugs are large so I often plant more than one variety per jug.
Potting Soil (Not seed starting mix.)
Duck Tape
Labels / Garden Marker
Seeds

SIMPLE STEPS:

Cut container and add 4-5 drain holes in bottom
Fill container to about 1″ below rim with pre-moistened potting soil.
Lightly tamp soil.
Plant seeds according to the direction on the packet. DO READ THE SEED PACKET! Some seeds need light to germinate (Snapdragons, poppies etc) so you do not want to cover those. Some need darkness (Larkspur, & Calendula etc. ) and you will want to cover them well.
Once seeds are planted, mist the container well.
Add label inside the container! Use garden marker not a sharpie as they don’t last very well and if you are like me – you will not remember. Frankly many seedlings look the same! I tried using wooden popsicle sticks but they fade quickly or grow mold so I use plastic labels.
Secure the container with duck tape. I like to put the name on the duck tape and the date.
They are ready to go outside. I have them next to the potting shed where they are protected from wind and I can keep an eye on them. They also get plenty of sun but not full sun.

The fun really begins when you see this…

Friends, if you are doing the winter sowing method, what has been your experience and what are you sowing this year? Have you done Zinnias or Cosmos?

For my cold weather friends, remember summer?

Until next time … happy gardening or happy garden planning!

BLOOM THYME FRIDAY: SOWING, BOOKS, AND A GIVEAWAY

Link | February 11, 2022February 14, 2022 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Winter sowing has finally begun. Probably, like you, February is a month where my plans for the garden and the reality of summertime and energy clash.

Starting seeds inside under grow lights is extremely fun for me but, there is a lot of time between start to finish on that process and the end of that process gets a little tricky and requires the gardener to be very engaged.

So, in comes winter sowing! Seriously, it is a very easy and economical way to get a ton of seedlings up and ready for planting with minimal work for the gardener. Last year was the first time I tried it although so many of my fellow master gardeners raved about the process! At first, I was concerned that my garden would look “unsightly” with all those water jugs strewn about. But this year I am embracing the milk jug garden art even more than last year. Every time I see them I am giddy with anticipation of what is to come. If you’d like to know more about the Winter Sowing Method and what I did last year, read on here.

My cutting garden is the main focus of winter sowing. The cutting garden is a raised bed directly behind the herb garden that will be home to the dahlias I chatted about last week. In my “winter gardener’s dream state,” I see hundreds and hundreds of blooms to pick! Oh, did I forget to mention the zinnias? Well, I think they are getting a new space so there’s more room for them to be their best selves.

IN THE WATER JUGS ARE…

Lavender
Bachelor Buttons
Candytuft
Delphinium
Daucus
Scabiosa
Verbena
Orlaya
Nicotiana
Larkspur
Phacelia
Poppies
Foxgloves

If these all do well, I’ll have enough for the cutting garden and to add to the borders! A bit later in the season, I am going to try sowing tomatoes using this method.

Potting day process looks like this…

In other potting shed news, the basil and Lisianthus seeds are up and looking sooo sooo cute.

REALITY CHECK: CRITTERS (or varmints as my dad would say)

We’ve talked about how all the critters from miles around showed up to have lunch – regularly. I have Mr. G working on some sort of easy to move around fencing so that my babies will have a better chance of survival against the cats, groundhogs, raccoons, o’possums, rabbits and deer. Yes, our critter cam caught all of them munching on my babies last year or in the case of the cats … having way too much fun scratching around – if you know what I mean. 😏

I also purchased several mesh wire wastebaskets (Link) to use as cloches for protecting small plants. I know my parsley will need extra help and the Daucus. Everyone loves anything in the carrot family!

BOOKS AND GARDENING

This quote says, “if you have a garden and library you have everything you need”. Well, that is isn’t quite true for me, however, books are a huge part of my gardening experience.

In January I pull out some of my favorite books where the author takes a month-by-month approach. The best one is Rosemary Verey’s, A Country Woman’s Year. When I read her words, I am transformed to her time and place. And want to be where she is and meet who she meets and see what she sees.

Rosesmary’s words from “FEBRUARY”…

Philip Miller, gardener to the Worshipful Company of Apothecaries at the Botanic Garden at Chelsea, wrote in 1732 that December was the darkest month of the whole year. Adding up the hours of darkness I am sure he must be right but for me February is the most dreary month. We are almost at the end of the tunnel and perhaps it is the accumulation of dark days that do their best to get me down. Luckily they do not succeed as there are wonderful promises to come. Yesterday as I drove down Welch Way, a 200 year old lane near our village, I got out of my car to examine the nut trees. They grow on each side of the lane making a wonderful canopy, joining hands in the middle. At night, headlights full on, you feel as though you are driving through a magic tunnel.

Okay, who wants to join me for a trip to see the nut trees?

Another author who has the ability to transform me with her words is Christie Purifoy.

GARDEN MAKER … Growing a Life of Beauty & Wonder with Flowers

I liken her new book to walking at daybreak in the morning fog, coffee in hand to take in all the nuances of the quiet garden. Few things are more enchanting to me than foggy mornings. Christie’s book is filled with all the feels of an enchanting morning stroll with a friend where there’s endless time for garden talk.

BOOK GIVEAWAY

Garden friends, I would love to give one of you a copy of Christie’s book. Actually, I’d like to give all of you a copy but of course, I can’t do that. All you have to do to be added to the drawing is leave a comment below and share a favorite garden book. Deadline March 1. (US addresses only.)