Winter is that season when outdoor plants and gardens are dormant, conserving their energy for spring. While the plants are on pause, I like to pull out a notebook and do some spring planning. 

I ask myself:

What did I enjoy from last year’s garden?

What went well?

What do I want to plant again?

What do I want to do differently?

After visualizing next year’s garden, I do a little research online or in the library on anything new I want to plant and alternative methods of gardening. 

I also consider:

Will I be starting seeds indoors? 

When should I plant outdoors?

Many of my garden mentors relied on the Old Farmer’s Almanac to plan their outdoor planting. The almanac is still a great source of gardening knowledge. However, the internet can also be a ready source of information on gardening or I might stop by a local nursery or ask a neighbor or friend who is an experienced gardener in the area. 

Yes, there is a lot to consider, but no need to worry, there is plenty of wintertime to plan and prepare.

As part of my spring preparations, I have been saving seeds for the past several years for the next season. 

When I have a hardy crop of a particular vegetable or flower that I would like to have in the garden again next year, I save the seeds. 

I let some of those favorite flowers or vegetables go to seed. This year I saved okra, cone flowers, and black-eyed susans. 

The okra, I simply dried on a paper towel in a sunny location. You can leave the seeds in the pod or remove them from the dried pods. (Note: There will be many seeds in each pod. I keep only the healthiest-looking seeds. As in the picture on the right, I will keep the seeds on the right and discard those on the left.)

After my cone flowers and black-eyed susans go to seed, I gather some to spread to other areas and then leave the rest to drop their seeds in place.

Finally, I store seeds in jars or seal them in plastic bags, and keep them in a cool, dry place.

I am always eager to learn more about saving seeds, planting seeds, or trying new seed varieties. 

You can learn more about gardening, saving seeds, or even order seeds from some seed experts like Floret, Uprising Seeds, or Eden Brothers.

Anytime you plant or repot a plant, choosing the right container is important. 

With some plants, you can get creative, like this “baby chick” from a sempervivum plant (hens and chicks) that I transplanted into a shell. 

There are so many fun containers out there, and I am confident you can find something to compliment any personality and home decor style.

However, there are some considerations that should be made for plant health and utility. Almost all plants need their soil to drain after watering; roots will rot in standing water. 

So what can you do when you find that perfect, adorable container – but it does not have drainage holes?

If the container is plastic, you may be able to create drainage holes using a utility knife or drill (Just be safe! Use gloves, safety goggles, and know how to use your tool of choice properly!) Afterward, place something under the container to catch the water drainage.

If the container is ceramic, glass, etc, you can simply find a slightly smaller plastic container (with drainage holes) that fits inside the ceramic container. After each watering, lift the inner plastic container, pour off any excess water, and replace it in the ceramic container.

Here’s hoping you and your plants have a wonderful winter. 

Winter is a time when your outdoor gardening can take a hiatus. 

However, before you hang up your gardening tools for the season, winter is a good time to do a little indoor maintenance. 

Of course, you will want to bring your cold-sensitive potted plant friends inside to winter in your cozy home. Bringing pots inside can also mean bringing in those little gnats or fruit flies that lurk in the soil of your pots. One solution for these pests is yellow sticky traps. A shout out to my friend, Terri, for introducing me to these butterfly-shaped fly traps that you can place directly in your pots.  I tried them for the first time this season and have been very pleased with their effectiveness. 

Winter can also be a good time to see if any of your plants need repotting.

Remember my poinsettias from last holiday season? They are still alive and doing well; yet, they were beginning to outgrow their pots. 

To repot a plant: Choose a container a size or several sizes larger around and deeper. Add good-quality potting soil at the bottom of the new container (there are many good potting soils available; here I do not have a strong preference). Carefully remove the plant from its current container. Place the plant in the center. Add soil around the plant, filling the new container. Water thoroughly initially, then continue with your normal watering schedule.

In assessing my indoor plants, I also found several of my orchids needed new pots and a good trim. This little orchid had come in a small pot and was totally root bound. Orchid roots need room to spread out.

There are several mediums you can use for planting or repotting orchids. My preference is a chunkier medium such as Miracle-Gro Orchid Potting Mix Coarse Blend.

Prepare the new pot with a little medium in the bottom. Carefully remove the orchid from its current container. Remove any old medium or debris and trim dead roots. Gently place the orchid in the new pot, adding your potting medium in and around the roots. 

After repotting an orchid, I like to water it thoroughly using an additive to give the orchid a boost of nutrients. My preference is Better-Gro Orchid Better-Bloom. 

Repotting plants can be stressful for the plant or maybe even for you, but within a day or two, your plants should be looking healthy and happy in their new space.

Dog Days are those summer days when all you feel able to do is lie around because it is too hot to move.  

With the official end of summer coming in just a couple of weeks, dog days will soon be a memory. Many stores, friends, and family have already moved on to autumn decor, scents, and flavors. 

However, I am content to savor summer a little longer. There is much to be enjoyed in these late summer days.

Flowers such as begonias, snapdragons, and roses continue to bloom and are fairly heat resistant. 

Crepe myrtles are bursting with blooms. 

Sunflowers are a favorite bloom of late summer and early autumn.

Soon enough we will have the lovely fall hues of red, orange, and yellow to enjoy. Until then, soak in a sunny summer breeze or take a walk or a hike to discover the wildflowers in your area. Search out those final pink, white, blue, or purple blossoms. Here are a few wild beauties I found near my home.

May your summer delights linger a little longer…

One of the things I really enjoy is rescuing plants. Usually, this means finding that sad little plant on the clearance rack at a home improvement store that just needs a little love –  like this ballerina lilac armeria I rescued a few weeks ago.

This little ballerina needed some sun, consistent watering, and a trim (deadhead blossoms). Now her blooms are dancing again.

Once in a while, I get a chance to truly bring a plant back from the brink of an untimely demise. This was the case recently when I found this Coreopsis auriculata abandoned in my son’s school parking lot.

This plant looked ready for the trash bin. However, I brought it home and immediately put it in a pot and gave it a generous drink of water. 

In just 24 hours the plant had perked up considerably.

A week later, buds are forming. 

If you have a plant that you worry is sick or dying, do not despair. It may not be a lost cause! There’s a wealth of plant knowledge available on the internet or visit a local plant nursery. A little research on what your plant needs in the way of sun, soil, and water, can usually get you back on track. Be patient and don’t give up on your plants – or your plant dreams! (Where have I heard that?)

I love learning from plants.

This rescue experience taught me that coreopsis auriculata is very hardy when given a chance.

I was also reminded that sometimes things look bleak, but a little tender care and support can make all the difference and allow us to thrive again. 

Do something small for someone else – or maybe even for yourself – and see what a big difference it can make!