A long time ago when the internet was so big, and GardenWeb didn't have as many forums, I received seeds from Alaska. On the pks., it said the seeds needed stratification in the fridge for a certain amount of time. I remember asking in a forum if I could just put the seeds outside in the winter, because I figured it was a logical thing to do. I was told no by a couple people, I should follow the pkg. directions. I decided to plant them out anyway. I didn't get any to germinate the next spring. I don't know if they blew away, got eaten by birds, or maybe they were just bad. I also attempted this with a few other seeds a few other years and got spotty germination. Trudi's idea of giving them a nice safe environment in cheap(or free) containers is innovative and great.(Kanuck in "See ... Winter/solstice Sowing" I believe this is a direct reference to Wsing when Americans using cheap plastic containers are mentioned. No one was recommending cheap throw away plastic containers before this forum.) I first attempted this a few years ago and to have whole containers full of seedlings in the spring was great. Many of them sprout so well, the containers looks like freshly grown grass! Since the success rate is so high, it gave me, and others, the ability to start hundreds of varieties in an easy and inexpensive manner that other wise it would of taken me years to attempt growing. Remy

Hi Ada, My dear friend, my posts here are so long and wordy that writing each of them is like writing a book. Is that close enough for you? I appreciate that you think I should write a book. I am very flattered. Honestly, I am. I am both flattered and humbled. A book isn't going to happen though. There are tens of thousands of gardening books out there, and I cannot imagine that I have anything to say about gardening that hasn't already been said 10,000 times, and probably much better than I could ever hope to say it. I'm a contrarian too. In a horticultural world where the trend is towards larger multinational corporations, I like to seek out and support the small (heck, even tiny) seed companies. In a horticultural world that gives us dazzling plants with flowers in types and colors that I am sure the Good Lord never intended us to have, with gene-splicing and GMOS, with crossing and outcrossing and all kinds of manipulation of genetic material....I seek out the old antique, pass-along varieties that my dad, grandmother, great-aunts and others grew. In a horticultural world that promises bigger and better and brighter and fancier, I seek old and sturdy and reliable and dependable. No bells, no whistles, just good solid results. In an agricultural world that promotes chemicals and unnatural fertilizers and fungicides and pesticides so strong you have to wear a mask and other protective gear in order to spray them, I seek natural solutions and good "predator" bugs to kill my "bad" bugs. In a home landscape world that worships uniform green lawns so perfect that they look like astroturf, I prefer native grasses interspersed with native wildflowers, and the natural look it gives is preferable to me, but it would never work in a standard modern neighborhood with a Homeowner's Association and all their rules. In a home landscape world that seeks to chase away ALL the bugs, I plant many plants to attract the desirable ones. And, even though I fight to keep the deer and bunnies from eating my veggie garden, I faithfully put out food and water for them every morning and every night so they can survive the hard winter times....and sometimes the hard summer drought times too. I am obviously out-of-touch with modern trends and methods, and I could care less. The way I garden is not for everyone. I can't imagine who would want to read about it because sometimes I feel like I do everything wrong or backward....or, at least, I march to the beat of a different drummer. If anything that I say here is helpful, then I am grateful to know that. Honestly, though, I am just an old dirt gardener, not an author. I love what I do, and I do it my way...but I would never try to tell anyone else that they "should" do it my way. Each of us has our own philosophy and our own style and we do what works for us. I learn from everybody on this forum and that is what I love about this gardening community. None of us has all the answers, but every single one of us has some of the answers. Maybe, together, we all could write a book. Dawn

I'd like to write about my gardening experiences and somhow magically make them interesting...a tall order when I think how boring my life has been. But I guess if I could make it humorous it would be interesting wouldn't it? "A year in Provance" could have been pretty dry, if not for the author's ability to see humor in every little one of life's bumps. What would I like people to say about me after I'm Dead? Now that's an interesting question. When they file past my coffin, I'd like them to say, "Hey look, I think she's breathing!" Cheryl

debrak2008, yes you certainly got it right! I'm surprised/flattered that you remember. That was a few springs ago. Did I tell you guys this winter I had a raccoon peer down at me, as I was lying in bed contemplating my day? I'm not sure who was more startled, but I sure didn't poop on HIS pillow! flwrs_n_co, I wouldn't know where or how to start. I'll drop you a line, but I think you guys are being kind. NG-POC-EX-GC-DH is a long one, isn't it! But you all fleshed it out. I'd not done the NG part, but No Good Piece of Crap, ex-General Contractor D***** Husband is now the full translation. Have I told you he's fat? hahahahahhahahahha mwahhhhhhhaaaaa Deedles, please! That's a poor woman's Botox! I should put a chin strap under my chin, though, for an instant, youthful visage. I like the idea of chocolate, chocolate chip cookie dough, but we'd have to work in wine, espresso and Reese's cups. I have expanded my dietary regime recently. I've been having a chicken curry sandwich at work. Don't much like the chicken part, but the curry elements are deeeeeeelishhhhhhh! So, if we were to write a book -- because I couldn't do it without you guys -- where and when should we start?