Nathan, Sorry I did not get back to you earlier, and you are correct. The outside weather is going to get colder here, I looked at historical data and it appears that the average lows and highs reach their lowest around the last week in January. Meaning the outside temperatures will get worse. There is a 4-5 week lag in sun angle and what we feel on the ground (same happens in fall...) What I am happy about is the daytime temperatures inside my greenhouse will start to rise on a sunny day. For the past couple of weeks there has really been no point getting all wrapped up, battling through snowdrifts and fighting my way into the greenhouse carrying a mug of coffee to find the temperature in there is in the mid 50s... All I do is take off my gloves and woolly hat and drink my coffee. Now, in a couple of weeks even though it is colder outside the greenhouse will be over 80F in the afternoon even on a below 32F day. Then it is great to make the journey, strip of the arctic survival gear and be warm!!!! My greenhouse is usless as something to grow plants in for the next eight weeks at least, but it is a great place to sit and read in the afternoons.... Oh, I got to tell all of you this. One of the most amazing experiences is to sit in your greenhouse on a sunny day when there is about six or more inches of snow on the roof. It is bright in there but the silence is out of this world.... Makes your ears hurt!

I am happy to find this thread, I and my family will do a Solstice in remembrance of our daughter who God rose from this life Christmas eve 2003. She was 9 and taught us about God. She went into a coma on the 21st, this will be a great tribute to her. Thank you for the post. Remembrance- Daisies she picked these one day for Virgin Mary to pray for her protection and she received protection. Life: Lily Bulb, I have a picture of her with the tree of life cross on her fore head and a white lily over her chest. I am unsure what the lily mean, but it is there and it was not taken in the winter picture, nor did I own a white lily, nor is the cross a man made cross, this is a very ornated cross with detail in it of light. Sorry I don't spell great. Nature, Dogwood tree, Legend has it that this tree grew as a large strong tree and was used for the cross that Jesus died for our sins on. He then altered the tree to grow has a small twisted tree, with a flower in the shape of a cross, with four rust spots, with red in the middle to resemble the nails in his flesh. A thorning center as a reminder of the mockery of him being king. Faith, Burgandy Gaillardia and fairy snow ballon flower. I really would love to plant seeds of Ashley Nicole Scott Day Lily seed because the red and white is in one flower and maybe a baby would have the the color, but I am sure I will not be able to get them this quick. The colors are important to me because they are colors of a little Girl Saint that showed up to me in a night of terrible term oil and announced "Do not be afraid, God sent me, I am St. Philamena and I will protect her though the night and Arch Angel Micheal will be over seeing your child also, though out the night. God sent her, St. Philamena, to let me know he is real and we have an afterlife, some are here a short time some here for a long time. All are gifts from him. I was pretty much on the fence, if God was real, up to this point. This was a conversion in faith for me. Any one have a flower that blooms red and white on the same flower and would send to me seeds, expec. a lily, I will gladly pay for postage. This is my experience in a very short form, of many blessings God gave me, my husband and children. This is a happy season for us, we know where she is, miss her but know with out a dought she is in a much better world than we are. This will be great activity for the whole family, I know some will pick out plants other with listen to the history of the my plantings. Merry Chrismas to All Tammy

Once my first seed order from Swallowtail arrives (which may be not until after Saturday, but we will see), I shall be planting these: Remembrance- "Soulmate" Milkweed. Anything that attracts butterflies reminds me of my one best friend who passed away tragically six years ago in a car wreck the summer before senior year in high school. Life- "Milkmaid" Milkweed, since the Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweeds. Trees-I don't have any tree seeds, but for that, I shall plant either "Blue Globe" Globe Thistle or some "Pretty Betsy" Jupiter's Beard. They both look like a miniature tree or remind me of the structure of a tree. Faith- Veronica "Sightseeing Mixture". I haven't had much luck with WSing Veronicas/Speedwells. So, I shall plant them and have faith that I shall see sprouts when the warmer weather arrives. Brad AKA Moonwolf

I hadn't intended to actually sow on the solstice, but now that I've read this thread, I will definitely sow 4 containers. The solstice has always been celebrated in my culture, though I admit I have not been the best at carrying out those traditions since I became a mother. Life - Canterbury Bells - In the town I grew up in, the local church always rang the church bells when a wedding happened or when a baby was born in town. Bells symbolize the beginning of life to me. Mother Nature - Siberian Iris - I threw all my Siberian Iris and Blue Flag seed pods in one bag all mixed together. This will be the opportunity to see what survives! Remembrance - Moonbeam Coreopsis - This original plant came from my grandmothers house. She has since died and the house has been sold - so saving seed has been the only way I can get more of my grandmothers gardens. Faith - Luminaria - aka Money Plant. Though my family has not suffered through this multi-year recession, it has taught us that money is not as important to survival as once thought. You need to have faith in your own abilities. By growing luminaria, we will always have plenty of money!