Dreaming of Spring
- On January 28, 2014
- By Meleah
- In Annuals, Container Gardening, Indoor Gardening, Perennials, Seeds, Veggies
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Yes, it’s me again, nattering on about the cold, cold, horribly cold winter we’re having here in Minnesota—and a lot of other places too, I know. But, honestly, most of you in other states will be warm again far sooner than we will here in the tundra. So I feel entitled to go on about this a bit more and if you don’t agree, please don’t send me another email telling me that if I don’t love it in Minnesota, I should move. Move where? In with you? Awesome!
Anyway, as I was saying, a local meteorologist wrote the other day that Minnesotans are experiencing the coldest winter in 33 years. I didn’t live here then, but I believe him. Minnesotans are tough, but it’s been far below zero with mind-boggling wind chills for a long time now. Kids are bored at home because schools have been closed repeatedly. Parents are using up precious vacation days staying home with bored kids. And bored dogs wish they could go outside, but they can’t stand how cold their paws get, even with those awful booties that they hate.
We are a stir-crazy lot, motivated to do little more than lie on the couch and drink and order takeout while watching movie after movie. Or is that just me? BTW, I would highly recommend Seven Psychopaths and The Heat, but I thought Iron Man 3 was kind of meh even though I loved the first two.
What does this have to do with gardening? you wonder. Well, in an effort to stop spending so much time eating, drinking and watching movies, I recently tried focusing on spring to brighten my mood and, by golly, it worked! In addition to looking at a bunch of the garden-related photos I took last season, I also spent a few hours going through all of the seed and plant catalogs that have piled up on my living room coffee table. That was fun, especially because our sweet dog, Lily, helped by napping on me the whole time.

Lily doesn’t much care that she’s making it hard for me to take notes on the vegetable seeds that I want to order for next year.
So if you’re bored and freezing and in need of some good cheer, I’ve posted a few photos below in the hope that they help a bit. And if you haven’t already started looking at your seed and plant catalogs, give it a go. I bet it will make you feel better to start thinking about what you’ll plant in just a few weeks or months, depending on where your live. I especially love Renee’s Garden, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (their catalog is a work of art—just ignore the religious quotes that pop up now and then), Seed Savers Exchange, Fedco Seeds, Prairie Moon Nursery and Territorial Seed Company.

I like the way Tangletown Gardens planted this container by grouping plants en masse.

Gorgeous seeds that I harvested from a plant on my boulevard. I planted it, but forgot what it is. Can you guess from looking at these seeds?

Note the ridiculously tall Kentucky Wonder pole beans in my vegetable garden last year. Insanely tall, produced about 40 beans in the last couple of weeks of the season. What gives?

What a great lesson in how to combine different colors and textures. Again, it is the work of Tangletown Gardens.
That’s it for now. Hang in there. Spring is really, seriously, surely on the way.
Leta
This is why I always take a week off at the end of February – beginning of March to attend the Philadelphia Flower Show. By then I just need to see green growing things.
Meleah
Leta, I keep meaning to go to that show. I’ve heard so many great things about it. I’m going to make a note in my calendar right now so I remember to try to go next year. Have a great time, and email a photo or two if you feel like it. I would love to share them with others who didn’t attend the show. Have a wonderful time! – m
Kathy Childers
Wonderful! I’m so with you on this. Hate the cold, won’t move, can’t wait till spring. Thanks for the eye candy.
Meleah
You’re welcome! Thanks, Kathy. 🙂
Linda LaFleur
Thanks for the great article and photos! I’m guessing the seeds are from goldenrod. Probably the showy goldenrod, solidago speciosa. I planted those in my yard, too. They are SO prolific! 😀
Meleah
Hi Linda, Thanks very much for your note, and your thought that it might be goldenrod. It very well could be. I know there is some goldenrod in the mix out there on the boulevard and I didn’t pay attention to what was going to seed. I really ought to take some photos of that spot so I can tell what’s what when everything looks like a dry stick in the fall. – m
maryisidra
Hello. I am new to you. Seems my cold brain cannot remember where from,oh well. The very fact that you live “up-there” is amazing to me. I am one of those southerners that freeze up at the very thought of your temps,although it has been cold for us this year. Thank you for sharing your pictures nice to see some green. I am placing my order with Baker tomorrow. I really love those folks! In fact I think that their catalog has been my winter therapy. Glad to meet you looking forward to more soon. Yes spring will be here. Your new Alabama follower,Mary.
Meleah
Hi Mary,
Thanks for your kind note. I’m sorry for the late reply. It seems that my spam filter has been overly aggressive in blocking emails coming into my blog and I’m just now figuring that out and trying to correct it. I don’t know how I live here either, honestly! And I completely agree that the Baker catalog is winter therapy. Take good care and I hope you’re out enjoying your garden. We’ve still got a month or more to go before we can get out and dig in the dirt, I imagine. – m