Winter Fun

Like most gardeners I get a little restless this time of year. Catalogs are arriving every day and my winter days are filled with garden dreams for the new season. I’ve compiled a list of tasks that could never be completed in one summer and a list of plants I don’t have enough room to plant! I’ve reviewed my saved seeds to prepare for ordering (still waiting on a few favorite catalogs) and started my onion seeds (I prefer those over sets so I can pick different varieties). The season can’t start soon enough for me.

The other day, while suffering through another cold winter storm I browsed the internet and stumbled upon some garden forums. I spent some time on one browsing the topics without joining (called lurking) to determine if I wanted to join. I did join and spent hours in the forums, posting occasionally. What fun!

Of course all good things have a price, right? While some sites have nominal fees, most are free. Many free sites come with ads and possibly spam or worse, so it’s best to be sure and investigate their policies before signing up. Many out there pose no risks and are just fun and informative. Keep in mind that people post from all corners of the world, so in addition to being jealous of those that can grow plants you can’t, remember that gardening techniques mentioned might not work in your area. Some of that can be narrowed by finding the right forum and/or the right topic threads.

If you haven’t explored the forums yet, you really should try it. There are topics for every gardener’s taste and experience level. The people out there are so friendly. Some, noticing I was a new poster, even sent welcome messages. So Google some garden forums today, it’ll scare those winter blues away and provide for some winter fun. You might just learn something, or better yet help others.