WINTER SOWING AND NATIVE SEED SOWING

    

         A year ago, almost to the day, I wrote a blog about Winter Sowing. It does not surprise me that I crafted that article, because I love this method of starting seeds. Stroll down several blogs to see last years detailed blog). There were just a few changes, I made this year and I feel they will enhance the process. So I am expecting excellent results. 

        Listed below are the problems that required attention with the solutions I made to my traditional Winter Sowing method.

#1. Over the past couple years, I have occasionally had an issue with  the drainage holes. In some incidences, I did not have enough holes so the plants were not able to enjoy the natural rainfall. Also the lack of good drainage holes caused the existing ones to clog up. Which in a few of the containers resulted in mold on the soil. 

**SOLUTION 

    Upon listening to my A Way To Garden Club  Ken Druse explained how he heated up the tip of a large nail by using his gas stove. Resulting in an easy tool to go right thru the plastic jugs.  Well, I don't have a gas range, but my husband suggested his soldering gun. (Last year he hand drilled each jug for me)  Much to his delight it worked perfectly and he did not have to help me at all.

#2. Labeling is always an issue. Although I have gotten much better, I doubled down and labeled two. places and made a chart.  Last year I thought I was good but my cat, visiting squirresl and even annoying  raccoons decided to pull out the tags and actually knocked over the lighter weight containers. Causing chaos and confusion on IDing some of the seedlings. 

**SOLUTION

   This year I double labeled each container. I did not use the lighter weight salad containers and will try to redirect marauding critters. My dog Maggie spends more time on the porch and loves nothing better than to chase and bark at anything that moves. 

#3 Some of my containers were under the eve of the house. I had them up against the house because it can get very windy on the deck where they were growing. Consequently, they did not get adequate water. This resulted in a couple of the containers having low germination rates. 

**SOLUTION   

    I moved the shelving system closer to the railing and spread them out, thus allowing all the jugs to have equal opportunity to enjoy natural rainfall. As I mentioned, having my dog Maggie out on the porch with me is a great deterrent for critters domestic or wild. Plus I intend to be more alert to such shenanigans 

 "WILD SEED PROJECT" 

        Having listened to many webinars and podcast on sowing native seeds. I decided to give it a try. There are many great sources online for obtaining Native Seeds. Prairie Moon Seed Company, American Meadows and Eden Seeds are a few of the many great catalogues.  

        I particularly enjoy the website wildseedproject.net  They have excellent information and clear directions thru videos and text.  Although Maine is not local to Indiana, they have a reasonable selection of natives that I am very familiar with in Indiana. 

        Upon arrival of the seeds, I placed them in the refrigerator, as advised, until I was ready to sow. Yesterday I pulled out all my supplies and set to work. 

        Using four inch recycled plastic pots, I filled them with a good organic potting soil and then snuggled them into a plant tray. Then I lightly sowed the seeds making sure as directed to cover them with a light layer of sand. Labeled each pot and then water them carefully. 

        In both the podcast I watched on A Way To Garden garden club and the written directions, it was emphasized the importance of critter and bird protection. So I again followed Ken Druse's suggestion and took another plant tray(which had a hole of holes in it) and secured it on top. 

        The tray rests very comfortable and safe on my Winter Sowing station. I am very excited for the masses of all these amazing plants this method will provide. 

   

 

 

NEW YEAR...NEW RESOLUTIONS

  

      For the last year and a half, I have been blogging in my head at night. I just have not had the spirit to put pin to paper. So I am back-tracking here to bring things forward and then proceed onward. 

     I loved my life in Kentucky, my gardens, my garden friends and especially my house. But it was time for a change. I was overwhelmed with trying to maintain gardens but not really gardening. 

     So we moved. This property we purchased had been in our family for over 60 years. My parents bought land in Brown County Indiana to get their six kids out into the country and out of the big city."Columbus'   

    Thank you Mom and Dad. 

    All of us loved this property and it was Mom and Dad's dream to have all of us have houses around the lake and spend summers together. Well that was not going to work. So one day Randy and I came to the realization that it was time for a change and Brown County Indiana was calling us home. 

    As a result of that revelation we bought this amazing property and have not looked back since that lifechanging decision was made. It took us about 3 years to move up here. Specfically I was really struggling with letting go. Again I loved my house in Kentucky, my garden friends and life. It took me a while to realize that letting go was a positive way to move forward to our next life adventure. 

    A very ambitious wonderful women bought our house in Kentucky. She has elevated it to a new high and loves the and the flowers left behind. She even has bee hives. So my beloved old house is in loving hands. 

    Flash forward to January 2025.... we have been here for almost four years and  have owned it for six years. Life is different, more challenging in an excellent way.  Gardening here is so unique. It centers around projects done, such as ridding the land of invasive that have taken control. Then prepping these areas and reintroducing native plants. Plus the wildlife I love, is a constant challenge. Striking a balance between good and evil can be hard. But I am anxious to share these stories. 

    When we first moved here I tried to plant over the invasive plants. Of course that does not work. So I backed off and have been clearing the land bit by bit. It is working slowly. Inch by Inch I will make this garden grow and nature and native plants thrive. 

    I have learned so much over the past six years and feel I am a much better gardener. I love being immersed in nature, gardening and wildlife. I am thrilled to spend some time each day with my hands in the dirt, with my heart and soul totally dedicated to this property and our new life. 

    We have had great adventures exploring the USA and beyond. Always looking for gardens and nature to explore. Spending so much time really slowing down and enjoying family and friends.  Life is good 

 

   So come along with me and enjoy while together we explore all aspects of gardening, nature, family, friends and travel.