What a difference a year makes. Looking back at my January 2020's 'This Month in the Garden' post, I see the shoots of daffodils and crocuses were pushing up through the ground and there were fat buds on hellebores, rhododendron, and Pieris. At the time, I didn't appreciate this wonderful beginning to the (disastrous) year. A walk around my gardens yesterday --dressed in so many layers against the bitter cold that I felt like Ralphie's little brother in A Christmas Story-- revealed no shoots nor fat buds, nothing but a ground that is frozen solid. This is one of the reasons I blog; I love to look back and compare years. The ground is now blanketed in snow from the 'great blizzard' that started today, Sunday, and is forecast to last until Tuesday. An event that hasn't happened for some time. I'm thinking spring may be a little late this year.
As with the every winter season in the Northeast, all gardening activities have moved indoors. I'm forcing bulbs, taking care of my houseplants, and planning my spring gardens. I showed some of the bulbs I had forced in my last posting. Here is a short photographic tour of more January (indoor) garden activities.
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| Amaryllis 'Aphrodite' may be my favorite. This bulb produced nine gorgeous blooms. |
My little hydroponic garden on the kitchen counter has produced lettuce non-stop for more than a year now. I have a second one for herbs, but I am waiting for new seed pods. The Aerogarden systems are rather expensive (I think) but so much fun.
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| The lettuce doesn't need much attention. I just top up the water each morning and add plant food when the green light turns red. I snip off no more than a third of the leaves for our daily salads. |
Houseplants are not my forté, but I think I am getting better at caring for them. I've found that if I keep them well groomed, they don't look so bad. So I'm careful to snip off dead stuff daily. I purchased an inexpensive gauge that shows me when a plant needs water, and that really helps. I don't have a whole lot of houseplants because I feel this house doesn't have enough light, and I definitely have little room.
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| A few of my houseplants |
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| Every winter, Duane buys me a potted primrose to place on my writing table. |
January is for the birds! The first two pictures were taken earlier in the month -- no snow.
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| Red-bellied Wood Pecker |
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| American Mockingbird |
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| Two tufted titmice on the feeder as the snow fell this afternoon |
Grandson Jon visited last weekend. We 'shopped' for seeds and plants.
He browsed the catalogs for plants for a new miniature garden that he is
planning. He persuaded me to be more adventurous with seeds for the
Kitchen Garden. 'You have to try something new,' he said. We decided on
pak choi, that he loves to cook with, but I have never used. OK, only
one new thing, but you have to start somewhere. We did choose different
zinnias for the cutting garden, as I do every year. I decided to order
from Johnny's Selected Seeds because they have my favorite 'Zowie! Yellow Flame'. We
put together a substantial order, went online to place it, to find out
that Johnny's is selling to farmers only now. They stopped selling to
home gardeners because of the enormous amount of orders they were
receiving. Bad news for me, but it means that the new gardeners, who
began last year due to Covid, are still interested. That is wonderful!!
Oh, and I ordered from the reliable Burpee and Annie's. I received the Burpee order today. No 'Zowee!' though.
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| New seeds mean a countdown to spring. |
I am linking with Sarah at Down by the Sea for her 'Over the Garden Gate' meme. She has been watching the birds, too, in England this month. What have you been up to?
Stay safe and well!
Love,
Pamela x
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| Just a couple of inches of snow by mid afternoon |
I love reading your comments. I hope you leave one so I’ll know you visited!
I look forward to visiting your blog in return.
Lovely! Your Amaryllis are so stunning! The peach color is so awesome.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea growing lettuces in the kitchen. Thank you for sharing!
So nice to see you again, Endah. Yes, that amaryllis is special. And the petals feel like velvet.
DeleteIt's always fun to try something new amongst the old favourites. My amaryllis has three flower shoots on it, I've only had two at the most on previous plants. It won't be long now until it's in flower.
ReplyDeleteWow! Three flower shoots -- that means 12 blooms. It will be stunning. Please post it on your blog.
DeleteYesterday I cut branches of Ozark witch hazel to force. Every year no matter the temperature, this heavenly scented shrub opens in February so ringing in a few branches now is worth it. I also planted two trays of geranium and snapdragon seeds which are under lights in my office now. Spring will come!
ReplyDeleteYou accomplished some lovely tasks, Mary. I can't wait for my witch hazel to have branches. It's just a baby that I planted last year. It has buds though.
DeleteInteresting to hear that the new gardeners are hooked.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see if their new passion for gardening will exist beyond Covid.
DeletePS snap - we both have Sansevieria - but mine is 'out in the snow'
DeleteSo many plants here that originated in South Africa. I'm thinking of growing gladioli since I saw them in the wild there on a tv show. Your country must be the wildflower mecca of the world.
DeleteI love your beautiful Amaryllis and hydroponic kitten garden, and the capture of the Red-headed Woodpecker is gorgeous. As the snow comes down in my Long Island garden I am enjoying your views!
ReplyDeleteYes, it is a big snowstorm. We have had about a foot and a half so far.
DeleteLovely to see your plants growing inside the Amaryllis is beautiful! I have just been reading your review of the year too which was fantastic. I hope the blizzard isn't as bad as your feared.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining in again this month. sarah x
Again, Sarah, thank you! Your meme gives me the discipline to review my garden every month. It becomes a valuable resource for planning.
DeleteBeautiful blooms, and I love the lettuce.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Judy. I've been growing lettuce in my kitchen since there were several outbreaks of salmonella on store-bought ones. I know mine are 'safe.'
DeletePam, The Amaryllis is stunning! Kat
ReplyDeleteCan't wait until Covid is gone and you can come inside to see these things. I miss our games of Rummicube.
DeleteYour hydroponic garden is doing really well and what a great way to get fresh lettuce in the winter.
ReplyDeleteWe moved to the Poconos from NC. I really miss my herbs. Any thoughts on growing herbs up here?
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the Poconos, Christina. Gardening is a bit more challenging here. I grow my favorite herbs in a trug on the patio in the summer -- I plant out starts at the end of May. During the winter I grow herbs in an Aerogarden. I have one for lettuce and one for herbs. You could just grow herbs from seeds in a pot on the windowsill. Hope this helps.
DeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteSimply beautiful!
Love the flowers! It definitely made a great change in the house.
I loved the pic of the birds too.
Adriana from Real Gramas
Hi Pam, your amaryllis are gorgeous. Do you keep the primrose till spring and plant it outside? Seeing the success with the lettuce. I've been planning new beds and new plantings,rhubarb for example. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and photos.
ReplyDeleteYes, Joan, I plant the primrose out in the spring. I have a little collection that I can see from the garden room window.
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