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Gardening in the Winter
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No doubt we always think of springtime as the time for gardening. The birds chirp and all that stuff, the days slowly get warmer and our sleeves shorter. After being pent up indoors hiding behind frosted windows all winter we like to stretch our legs, venture outdoors and play in the dirt while we tell our children that we’re not really playing in the dirt.
But before we know it, the summer is over, the plants we grew are all dead and it’s time to forget about gardening until next year.
To hell with that.
I really enjoy gardening. The irony is that for the last couple of years, I haven’t had all that much time to garden. My wife has tended to our gardens far more than I have been able to. Momentarily free from the burdens of a job, I was disappointed looking at the garden bed I was turning over because I never really got to play in its dirt.
To hell with that too.
You see, if I wasn’t so determined to become a teacher, my second choice would actually probably be a gardener. I love plants. I can kill them and not feel bad. You just can’t do that with people. As much as I disliked my bosses at my job, I would still feel bad if I killed them.
I swear.
Besides the lack of guilt that might come from poor behavior though, there are lots of other reasons I love gardening. It’s a great way to nurture life. I can plant things and see what happens. I can make things blossom. I can grow nice green things. I can smell nice smells.
I can watch my daughter put handfuls of dirt in her mouth and gulp. Then I can watch her smile and wonder if she really enjoyed the ball of mud she just ate as much as her big grin tells me she did.
I can look carefully around me for any potential onlookers moments before I kneel down in an apparent act of picking weeds so I can steal a bite or two of mud for myself.
Kidding.
I swear.
So when winter is coming, all the joys of gardening fade. Unless you do what me and my wife did when we went looking for bargains. Sure enough, we found houseplants of all things on clearance prices that no doubt left retailers losing money. Gigantic Boston Ferns for $0.50, Ardisia, Pilea, Philodendron and Croton plants for less than a dollar, and Schefflera and Rubber plants for eager chump change.
I’ve now got a small tropical forest in my home and we only spent about ten bucks (which included dirt–for planting, not eating–and even several pots). All I need now is a CD with jungle music that I can play in the background and an industrial humidifier. Something tribal would be great if anyone has any suggestions.
If you enjoy gardening as much as I do, I suggest just moving it indoors. Pretty much every store is clearing space for Christmas merchandise. You’ll probably find some real bargains. Most of the plants we found were originally between $6.95 and $19.95.
Is getting many houseplants a little hippie? You bet. It’s that whole return to nature thing, only I can’t do that so well in the ‘burbs of Indianapolis so I just brought the outdoors in. Forget that constant electronic hum emitted from a television that creeps into the center of your brain. Try calcium oxalate from a Dieffenbachia rubbed casually in your eye. It’s way more fun.
I swear. 
16 Responses to “Gardening in the Winter”
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This is my first year gardening in the winter time.
Those are some really good deals on houseplants!
Dora Renee’ Wilkerson
Dora Renee’ Wilkerson´s last blog post..
There are so many deer in my neighborhood that indoor gardening is the only type I could do.
My grandmother used to keep a bunch of plants indoors but that’s something I’ve never done. I should get a few.
Paul´s last blog post.."Why have you farrrrrsaken me?"
Am I crazy for feeling bad if I kill a plant? It’s only happened twice but I was devastated.
Porsche´s last blog post..EasyBloom Plant Sensor
You remind me that we haven’t yet replaced our houseplants after moving cross-country … the house is devoid of any greenery (though I also have no worries about forgetting to water the plants — with 1 kid, a husband, two cats, a dog, and a yard, I can forget these things sometimes …)
Jennifer´s last blog post.."When are you due?"
I don’t have a garden in my beautiful 5th floor apartment. I like the idea of an indoor rain forest but the only problem is that house plants take an instant dislike to me (and die!). I must be doing something wrong but unfortunately I haven’t yet learned how to listen to their pleas for help as they wither away.
And I’m still chuckling to myself at the mental picture of you following your daughter’s lead and gulping down a handful of dirt. Nice! Ian
Ian Peatey´s last blog post..Protecting our children
The funny thing is that even when is spring the flowers that I try to grow never come to live. I finally might have found the answer to this dilemma however. As it turns out I placed the seeds too close to each other, so when the plants started to grow they fought with each other over the available soil. Next spring I will do a better job at it…I swear
carlos perea´s last blog post..Baby Steps to a Better You
It’s not a little hippy, it’s just a good idea. We can never have too much oxygen (I think). I love plants, I just kill them almost instantly. I suppose it’s my background in cut flowers.
Writer Dad´s last blog post..Bright Ideas
Great idea! I need some new plants for around the house. I have to be careful as I have five cats, but I can usually find some that they won’t bother with and that won’t kill them if they do.
On another note, it sounds like you need a greenhouse. If gardening is a huge passion of yours, perhaps you should start growing those plants and sell them yourself. It could be a lot of fun.
Ian´s last blog post..New ‘Up’ Trailer Released
@ Dora – That’s awesome. What are you growing? As to the prices I found, if I had more moolah, I’d probably go clean them out
@ Paul – I hear ya. Remember, deer don’t like cactus plants. Ok, that doesn’t really help. You just reminded me of the house I rented for a couple of years. It was near a large park and reservoir here in Indy. There were so many deer that they would just sort of amble around our yard, sometimes come right up to the bedroom window and peek in at us. What magnificant animals.
@ Porche – At first I was going to tell you, “Yes.” But then I remembered how bad I’ve felt when I’ve killed them. It is disappointing, really. I always feel like I want to vindicate them by buying the same kind again and making them flourish.
@ Jennifer – I’ve been wondering about that. If someone moves a great distance, do they bother taking plants if they have limited space and time? As to your list of responsibilities: gosh, that sounds like the list my wife has. I better go load the dishwasher right now.
@ Ian – I’ve always wanted to live in an apartment several stories up. I hate imagining having to carry groceries and such up that far though. Honestly though, killing plants is pretty easy. Don’t feel bad. As to the dirt — shh, our secret.
hehe
@ Carlos – I’ve had a hard time with some things. Like herbs for crying out loud. They’re so simple, yet for whatever reason, we have huge problems getting them to sprout. I’ll be checking in on you next year to make sure you do
@ Writer Dad- haha. I thought of you several times while I was writing this. I can see you: “Oh hello there….what a nice stem you have…”
@ Ian – I was just reading about some cool cat versus houseplant strategies. One thing I hear people are getting into is the use of cat’s grass, a plant just for the cats to mess with.
As to the prospect of propagating them and selling them as a side venture: I’ve been thinking about how cool that very idea would be. Not sure if I could actually pull a greenhouse off, but I’d love to do something.
Reading what you are describing of your winter (I am sorry for any perceived gloating- it is just pure enjoyment) I am relishing the warmth that has finally arrived after one of the most interminable winters I have ever experienced. It was not like many other harsh winter others have- it was wet and grey.
I don’t think I have ever witnessed both humans and animals enjoying the change of season- and they’re talking about it too- it is just fantastic! It is definitely a bonus given my countries recent political change for the worse!
DAGS “Planet Drum” for theme music.
@ Veronica – No gloating necessary, I prefer the winter
Referring to Australia, eh?
@ Bill – This might be good
Where from in Detroit? That’s my home town.
Dereck
I loved the comment about bosses vs. plants. I too love to garden, though after 13 years in a house with a large yard, I’m getting a little burnt out. I thought that turning part of the yard into a native landscape would mean less weeding, but sadly, no. So the last two years I haven’t been able to keep up and it’s getting weedier.
I’m still determined to plant more tulips this year–they’re my favorite flowers. I especially love the “native” tulips that are small.
Beth Partin´s last blog post..Fridays at Restoration Nation: Farmer in Chief I
Tulips are great. You have any pictures of native ones?
Also, I love the idea of having a native landscape. Here we have corn, oh and soybeans.
Too bad it’s weedy. If I ever go out west, I’ll stop by and help pick them all out
No not Australia. I don’t think they had a change of government recently.
I saw whales at the beach today- it was spectacular! And just has fabulous was how happy it made people to see such a wondrous thing.
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