Winter 2016 - And Looking Ahead

 

 

 

 

 

Every fall I welcome the end of another gardening year because I need the rest.  Last summer, I really welcomed the end because my vegetable garden had gotten away from me.  Far, far away from me.  Once I have dug up my dahlias and boxed them up, I am DONE.

 

I worked part-time over the summer while I interviewed for full-time jobs, and then unexpectedly (happily) found a full-time job in September - my first time working full-time since I had my first child twenty-five years ago.  What an adjustment! For the first couple of months I wondered if I would be able to manage anything other than working and coming home to cook and clean (barely).

 

I decided that I am not going to grow all the vegetables that I've grown in the past.  There are plenty of farm stands here in Western Massachusetts.  I even contemplated giving many of my dahlia tubers away and just keeping ten.  Like I could limit myself to 10 dahlias.  I was just tired.

 

But God was very wise when He created the seasons because He knows all things need rest.  After the rest comes new life.  I felt that new life within me after the first dahlia catalogue appeared in my mailbox.  Suddenly, I found energy to spend hours and hours searching the internet in my quest to find the most stunning dahlias.

 

I did enjoy caring for my potted herbs over the winter.  They looked a little unhappy around Christmas, so I stuck them under my grow lights.  I also enjoyed growing this lovely red amaryllis bulb.  I've never grown these before.  I brought it to work when it first started growing, and my coworkers seemed to enjoy watching the flower open into this spectacular bloom.  Note to self:  get more than one bulb next year. 

 

I spent January ordering dahlia tubers, and the last couple of weeks choosing and ordering seeds.  I love this part of the season.  I'm growing mostly flowers this year.  Over the next couple of weeks, I will be starting my lists:  list of  seeds, list of start dates, list of chores to do, list of things to buy, list of favorite sites, list of goals, list of mistakes, lists, lists, lists.