Like many others, we’ve been having unseasonably warm weather. Although below snow level, I’ve usually had at least three or four snowstorms by now – but not a one. We’ll be worried about the snow pack and spring water levels if the pattern doesn’t change very soon. Ever the optimist, I have to appreciate gifts of the warm weather. I’m still enjoying my sweet Pak Choi discussed in my pre-germinating seed post (and there’s more on winter sowing in that post as well). The daffodils are well on their way to blooming soon.
I’ve been waiting on the cold before going gung-ho into winter sowing. For winter sowing, you use containers like milk jugs, put in dirt and seed, water and place somewhere that they will experience the cold and snow. This mimics the natural season while protecting the seeds from birds or being washed away. It also creates a mini green house environment where the seed will sprout and grow earlier than usual in your zone. The same system works for spring sowing, you just wait to put out your warm season seeds until later in the season. The Winter Solstice is the usual start for the cold season sowing. Yet here I am mid February deciding to “just do it”. The seed may germinate too early without the proper cold and late in the season cold spell could kill them. Taking my chances – have 24 jugs of flowers planted, just need to move them to a colder spot in the garden today.
The other unusual bit is that the cuttings I started in early fall are alive and growing on their protected shelf (they should be dormant).
I’ve even been able to harvest my garlic chives continuously all season.
The weather folks haven’t yet begun their doom and gloom predictions a.k.a. not enough snow pack = drought, so for now I’ll remain optimistic and enjoy the gifts of the season.
ceo a's dhraíocht 
This has certainly been the warmest and most unusual winter I can EVER remember here on the now “not so frozen” tundra of Wisconsin.
Snow is beautiful, but you must really be enjoying being able t get out and about this winter Keetha.
Ah Maggie. The photos are so lovely. Although green is not really my favorite color, there’s something about different shades of leaves that is charming. I wish I could have a little garden.
Although mine’s a winter quick shot, Echeveria is a favorite of “real” photographers because of it’s gorgeous coloration. People on Pinterest are often posting photos with the color charts, and this plant is a good one to run against them.
May your optimism be rewarded.
No sooner did I post this than a seasonal chill descended with rain. I should at least be able to get a beautiful spring from my efforts, it’s the hot dry summer that wants desperately to be brown and crunchy.
Very inspiring to get a jump on spring planting!
Well, if it doesn’t work, I have quite a collection of compost bins I can feed 🙂
Let’s dance… 🙂 I’m not a green thumb..but I love to watch and some of them to eat.
I loooove garlic!
Have a great week ahead!
–LOVE your photos.
….puts me in the Spring Mood.
& I adore that gorgeous black panther!!! Xx
She’s quite the little huntress.
What a beautiful! Here in Italy the daffodils have not yet seen because of the cold.
Che belli ! Qui in Italia i narcisi non si sono ancora visti a causa del freddo.
We’re having an el Nina year in the U.S. – second warmest winter on record some say. The crocus are coming up but not happy (they’ll all live, just lose their petals a lot faster if it’s not cool enough for them).
[…] mentioned Winter Sowing seeds before (here and here), something I’ve been a fan of for years – it […]