Hi Donald, welcome to the Winter Sowing Forum. *It's recommended to basically make flats of somekind out of materials at hand, put soil in them -> sow your seeds --> set flats outside in a "safe" area --> wait till spring to see what comes up.* Yep, that's basically what it is, and the nicest aspect, I think, of the method is that you get to do it your way with what you have and within the size of your own wallet. *Wouldnt it be easier to just direct sow in the soil where you want the future plants to be?* All seeds that can be WinterSown can also be Direct Sown, but they should be sown heavily because Mother Nature takes the vast majority of direct sown seeds to feed her critters and biota. Direct Sowing, also called Direct Seeding, is a traditional method for sowing seeds outdoors. It involves preparing the soil bed, sowing the seeds, and keeping them moist throughout germination. The Winter Sowing Method is better because the seeds are protected in their mini-greenhouses. When you direct sow in the ground the seeds are at the mercy of Mother Nature....they can get washed out in downpours, be eaten by critters and bug and birds, desiccate in the wind, or can rot in the soil. In a WS mini-greenhouse the seeds are in a protected environment. They get the same weather as the seeds in the ground...same temperatures, and the little slits in the lids allow both rain and melting snows to keep the soil moist and the flats watered. But they areprotected so more of the seeds will survive to germinate in Spring. The germination counts are generally astonishingly high. *My reasoning is that, if the seeds had dropped from a parent plant already in the garden, that successful germination is just as likely from "semi-natural" re-seeding as it would be if I used the recommended winter sowing method suggested in the FAQ's.* Plants which reseed in temperate climates are those recommended for Winter Sowing. *I guess to me it just seems like the recommended method over complicates the process and just adds more work, after I've spent the growing season pruning, deadheading, weeding, mulching, topdressing etc.* Just sow the flat and stash it outside on the picnic table or wherever your dog won't grab it or your snowblower won't hit it. *Again those are just my thoughts on the winter sowing process and in now way am I trying to gainsay the method recommended by others.* Don't worry about it, WS is very incredulous when you hear about it--you like to direct seed in your garden. I do both. I have a veggie garden and direct sow many of my leafy greens. Many posters do any or all of WS, DS or GUL. *I just have a terrible time trying to start seed indoors, and so I've amassed, what I consider a ALOT of seed packets, that are waiting to be planted but due to my iffy results starting seeds indoors "6 weeks before the last frost", which here in central OH could be as late as the end of April.* You've come to the right forum. Winter Sowing removes a lot of the frustration that comes with indoor germination, it's a big relief and gives you a gazillion seedlings. Nice plant list, it can all be WSed. Your yard will be a butterfly party. T PS, Did anyone tell you that Winter Sowing can be addicting?

Naturegirl, I can honestly say I dont even own any insecticide, im not a organic or else person, its just growing on tables really helps with diseases and insects in south Fl. I can honestly say to my knowledge I have not seen a critter or insect problem this year, with the exception of the 4 mockingbirds that love maters as much as I do. I just cant make myself kill em. " its been colder then a well diggers > but off the ground helps so much its incredible. How much does it really cost for concrete block and PT 2x10x12's? Once you have them there good for years. Not only that but the weeds are practially eliminated. My 60 yr old back thanks me every time im in the garden.18 blocks, 3, 2x10s by 12 ft long PT, try it I think you will thank me. Sam

Hi, Mimi! You've received some wonderful advice here so all I can do is reiterate what they suggested. My Mom always enjoyed the National Inquirer as well as our local paper..she loved politics and even smacked your president's picture in a Time magazine I brought her while she said, "I don't like him."! haha! The lady still has good taste in my humble opinion! ;-) We bought her a child's book last Christmas that illustrated birds in it, and if you pushed a button on the side, you'd hear that bird's call. The buttons don't work anymore, but she still enjoyed her birds. She loved watching figure-skating, so she also had an album of skaters during their performances...she loved the costumes. We also coloured in colouring books...so sad to see her trying to stay within the lines, but it was all good and we enjoyed those times. She wouldn't understand anything I read to her, and even talking can frustrate her, but picture books are so nice...and yes...gardening books, photos of flowers, gardens...lovely for them. I just sit with Mom without saying much and we flip the pages and she strokes the photos...if she talks it may or may not have much to do with the photos, I just smile, and nod and agree with her. Funny you mentioned nails....she loves when I do hers....it's another bonding time. She loves her stuffed animals. Although she doesn't know what exactly is on her tv, I've been "shushed" more than once during a soap opera! LOL! I've taken flowers from our garden, and hope to find some really nice fall leaves to bring to her, but we're a little past you, and so many of them have become less than lovely. And as far as what "home" is....when my Mom says she wants to go home, she means her own room and bed....that's comfort for her now, altho' I panicked when I first heard her say that! I tried to change the subject, thinking she meant our house, and wheeled her to her room and when we got there, she said, "Oh. It's good to be home!" Whew!! Dodged another one! So just an fyi....conversations just don't make sense to her and asking questions just befuddles them and makes them anxious. When she says she's confused, just go with it...say, Yes, Mom...I know...It must be difficult...Then change the subject back to the book or whatever. Mimi....please don't distress yourself about those changes....her move could have had NOTHING to do with her drop...they just do that from time to time. They just lose more and more...One nurse told me that (at the stage my Mom is at) it's more difficult for US to see them that way, than it is for them to BE that way. For now...my Mom is in her own comfort zone, and your Mom will be there one day, too. It's more difficult now, because she realizes things are changing, but as there's nothing we can do about it, just keep calm with her and speak of other things. Hope this helps.... Blessings Linda

Even though my marriage was over after just under 10 years, I still think we did the wedding just right. We were married at Niagara Falls with just our families. Yes, it was a destination wedding but we weren't requiring anyone to come. We were eloping and if our family wanted to be there they were welcome to be there. We knew it wasn't a financial hardship on anyone except maybe my cheap FIL but my MIL was thrilled because it was the only real 'vacation' she ever had. I don't think she's ever even been to the beach and she is over 60 (and she lives within just a few hours of the beach!) The weather was beautiful and everyone had a good time. We were married outside on the American side of the falls and my parents paid for dinner in a private room at the Red Coach Inn. The kids did the touristy stuff, the adults got to gamble at the casino. My sister was able to bring her dog who is part of our family. It was just a great, fun and relaxing weekend. My cousin had a HUGE fancy wedding and her marriage lasted less than a year. I have never seen so many gifts at a bridal shower. I just feel sad that she wasted that on her first husband since she has a great marriage with her second husband and they didn't do a big thing since, well, it just didn't seem right after the first wedding. Actually I have at least three cousins who had VERY short marriages after big weddings. Our generation just hasn't been very lucky in that respect, no matter how big the wedding was.