Half-way through February, which is good, but still 13 days left, which is not so good. February is the nastiest, dullest, most tedious month of the gardening year...so here are some tricks to get you through it.
1. Do some dreaming. Dream of daffodils moving gently in a warm breeze, dream of a tiny brook trickling among the roots of blue irises, dream of the sweet smell of roses early in the morning....
2. Work on your excuses as to why your main perennial border is a dud in August. Write them down because you are going to need them.
3. Sow some fern spores. It's such a tiny job - a tiny pot, a tiny lid, a tiny bit of soil, teensy-tiny spores, but if you do it right it can take half an hour and give you a real sense of achievement. And maybe, eventually, some ferns.
4. You can order seeds. Way too many seeds.
5. You can remind yourself that you are warm, you had a nice dinner, the dog is behaving herself (more or less), and a little bit of snow isn't that much of a problem. I know, doesn't work, but you can try.
6. You can start an argument with a friend about what is a native plant. If you win the argument, start another one with another friend. Just for fun, take different positions with different friends. No two people agree, so this a great February waster, and can get your blood pressure right up.
7. Forget to water your houseplants. You're bored with them, you can't remember when you last watered them, and who wants 18 pink geraniums anyway. Then when they wilt you can feel bad, which makes a change.
8. Make impulsive decisions about the garden, such as deciding to plant carrots and beans in the suddenly-about-to-be-former herb garden. And decide to put some asparagus roots into the fence row garden because that's the only place in your whole garden that gets sun all day and the daylilies are a dead bore anyway.
9. Collect all the garden pictures on Pinterest into a new board called 'Antidote to February'. Look at them a lot. Actually, collecting all the garden pictures might take the rest of the month at that.
10. Dream some more.
Let me know if any of these work for you.
I did the order seeds part. Had a surprise went it arrived and I saw how much I had ordered. I started pink Chinese celery in January so I would have something new growing. Also ordered some Astrantia and Sea Holly. The Astrantia may last a few seasons, the sea holly not so likely. I am planning flower arrangements for the summer fair.
ReplyDeleteI'm noticing how the days are longer. Any day that has some sun, I make sure to go for a walk or do some shoveling.
I spend some time hanging around the bird feeder listening to the chickadees and nuthatches, and enjoying having them flutter by as they get seeds.
I listen to upbeat music, LOUD. Maybe dance a little :)
I do some watercolour painting of flowers and landscapes to remind me that summer does indeed come again. Plus working with colour is cheering.
Since my birthday is in February, I anticipate getting chocolate which is always helpful.
I'm thinking of my little patch of primroses that always makes me happy. I have a very vigorous bright yellow one that looks great against the reddish ones.
Also hoping the little flycatcher will nest on our window ledge again, and maybe the robins will nest near the house.
I remind myself that I don't have to worry about ticks in the winter.
I think spring is all the sweeter for us because by April we are so desperate for it.
Happy dreaming.