Comments on: Dark days are brightening!

By: Gail

Gail — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 01:28:03 +0000

I make impulse orders and grab packets off the shelf! I am a seed scatterer and never really pay attention to germination rates either. I do keep the seed packets for the season! gail

Gail, I’m with you at home. (– Although this year I’m making actual orders – the new-fangled way) -kris

By: Gioia

Gioia — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:21:19 +0000

I’ve just finished a winter project to create a spreadsheet with all the plants, trees, shrubs and vines I have. I’ve used both a Wellies-on-the-ground survey I did last year and the old invoices that have been piling up. It felt soooo good to finish this! I know that it’s not 100% accurate, but at lest I now have some chance to sort of which is which of my gentians, primroses and others that have lost their labels. The challenge will be to keep it up to date.

Gioia, this is exactly the project we’re thinking about embarking upon – right after I (re)learn how to use excel. I’m a little worried about how long it will take to put together especially hearing how relieved you are to be done with yours… -kris

By: Ginny

Ginny — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 22:54:34 +0000

Can you imagine Marjorie Lyon ordering online?

“Nuff said.

My journals are stuffed, stapled in with invoices from plants purchased over the eons of gardening. I agree with Susan that the bills bring back memories. For example, I have the postcards from Montrose Nursery with handwritten thanks and comments from Nancy Goodwin… which I treasure. Alack alas, those days are gone and I am a fossil.

Ginny, I love thinking that we’re carrying on Marjorie’s traditions in the traditional way! And I think your journals are works of high Art – they really tell the story of your garden. I wish my own had such a story. But it’s young yet… and I’d have to be better about writing it all down and saving stuff… -kris

By: Susan Sims

Susan Sims — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:29:28 +0000

Yes. You are blissfully, awesomely behind the times. I order fruit tree benchgrafts from a nursery in California that insists only on snail mail, and phone calls. I love that grower. I keep track of my orders by writing them down in an unruled garden journal, which I use more and more all the time. I think I will enjoy looking back at it far more than blog posts or internet orders a few years down the road.

Susan, I agree – there’s nothing like holding a book of your garden in your hand. The blog is a great record too but very very different. -kris