LOL auntyara,

You got it bad! I'm aunt shawndi to my neices and nephews. Or as they say- my favorite aunt. Yes, I'm bragging!
Bad nerves + lists = calm, are u my long lost sister? If you want/need seeds Laura, give me a shout.
After this weekend I have time to get a package in the mail for you. I did the exact same thing you are doing. What is that? I want that. Ha Ha! You make me smile when I see your posts. Winter sowing is SO good for the soul.
I'm very thankful for this method of growing from seed *(((((Trudi))))* and all the amazing people on this forum.
Winter sowing has changed my life!

Shore

LOL auntyara,

You got it bad! I'm aunt shawndi to my neices and nephews. Or as they say- my favorite aunt. Yes, I'm bragging!
Bad nerves + lists = calm, are u my long lost sister? If you want/need seeds Laura, give me a shout.
After this weekend I have time to get a package in the mail for you. I did the exact same thing you are doing. What is that? I want that. Ha Ha! You make me smile when I see your posts. Winter sowing is SO good for the soul.
I'm very thankful for this method of growing from seed *(((((Trudi))))* and all the amazing people on this forum.
Winter sowing has changed my life!

Shore

LOL auntyara,

You got it bad! I'm aunt shawndi to my neices and nephews. Or as they say- my favorite aunt. Yes, I'm bragging!
Bad nerves + lists = calm, are u my long lost sister? If you want/need seeds Laura, give me a shout.
After this weekend I have time to get a package in the mail for you. I did the exact same thing you are doing. What is that? I want that. Ha Ha! You make me smile when I see your posts. Winter sowing is SO good for the soul.
I'm very thankful for this method of growing from seed *(((((Trudi))))* and all the amazing people on this forum.
Winter sowing has changed my life!

Shore

LOL.

Make a list of what you want to accomplish.

Then separate the list into smaller lists.

As an example--you want to redo the bed along the side of the house.

So, list the tasks.

Prune back shrubs/trees.

Identify the perennials you want to keep.

Remove everything else. Move it to a holding bed, another bed or the compost heap. Don't feel guilty about tossing plants onto the compost heap.

Think about which parts of the bed have more sun or more shade.

Think intent...attract butterflies, cutting garden, salad garden, herbs, etc.

Think about your time...can you tend this bed frequently? Or not?

Think about the water? Is it easy to water or will you have to lug the hose there every afternoon?

Once you know the purpose and what energy you can put into maintaining the bed then you can select your plants and the seeds for them.
=================

Preplanning is a good way to focus that passionate energy that all Winter Sowers feel as we get closer and closer to Soltice.

Also, makes plans for the Winter Solstice. Celebrate the celestial event in subtly ways. Make a grain or bean dish, use that crockpot and let something simmer, do something life giving--maybe drop off some canned goods at a food pantry, make some suet and seed balls and hang them outside for birds, etc.

T

Yes, and I find that lists of the seeds I have are calming too. I have a chart on the computer that I put all the seeds into then I stare at it. Also I count the numbers and think about how much soil and time it will all take till I start to panic about that and don't want seeds for a few minutes. :)
I will say the panic lessens as you put containers out and if you are a first timer then it gets worse until the sprouting starts.

Thanks Trudi and Floodthelast,
Yes,making lists always calms my nerves for some reason.
I just feel like I should be planning on growing more things because it's so easy and I'll need them. At lease right now I feel I need them.
This is my 2nd year W.Sowing so I know if I sow it it will grow. And I see all the beautiful post and I want that. I need that. What is that? you know?
Aaaah, off to work on making "reality lists".
Thanks
:)Laura

Identify the perennials you want to keep.

Remove everything else. Move it to a holding bed, another bed or the compost heap. Don't feel guilty about tossing plants onto the compost heap.

Oh, that is so hard to do. I have plants that I just plain don't care for, but I find it incredibly difficult to remove them.

I know, I know. But WS is so cheap it takes the financial attachment out of the picture. In the beginning I couldn't get rid of a single plant, but it got easier, especially when I started to rationalize the amount of time I was using up in taking care of plants that just didn't thrill me anymore.

I still yank out a bed or two in the garden every year, some plants go right into pots and are designated for a charity sale to benifit a shelter, but the rest go onto the compost heap. It doesn't really bother me anymore when I do that.

This year I'm planning on yanking a hibiscus bed--some are just fine but an entire bed of them are too much. Now. They weren't when I first put them in but now they're enormous and I'd like to put in something smaller, like daylilies from divisions or grown from seed.