Sublimations, but they’ll do

Many of you are in the same boat, so I know you’ll relate to this accounting of non-gardening activities that manage to engage me in similar ways.


First, of course, there are the indoor versions of gardening: the houseplants, the plant room, the bulb forcing. We’ve discussed those before. It’s gardening in a way, but not at all the same as being outdoors surrounded by plants, birds, insects, urban noise, strange people passing by, and barbecue smells. Of course not. Still, a gardenia bud is opening in the plant room, and that makes me happy. And let me just say that an orchid has not died in at least 4 months.


Then there is the wonderful world of seasonal décor. I don’t have to bother with this during the spring and summer; I have containers of flowers and hanging baskets as well as whatever happens to be growing out of the dirt. During the off season, however, the house can look kind of stark. Today I visited Lockwood’s, my favorite local garden center, and they did not disappoint. There were hay bales, straw wreaths, pumpkins, gourds, baby Indian corn, and some branches of dried seedpods (kind of pricey). I bought a lovely swan-necked gourd (top) and a few other items.


Love the wreath. You can’t really go nuts with harvest décor though, because very soon it will be time for …

Holiday décor. I’m much more successful with indoor evergreens, berries, candles, and other such items than I am with outdoor decorations. I would really like to do more with lighting. We lack an easily accessible outlet for lights though and until we get one it will be difficult. I’d love LED lights, but in the meantime I am considering some solar options from Gardener’s Supply. Figuring out all this stuff helps keep your mind off the fact that you’re not gardening.

A third and probably the most satisfying option is shopping online for spring plants and seeds. This can begin as early as January (it really should not start much before that) and the order can go in in February. By then your indoor bulbs are in bloom, and before you know it the snowdrops have started and you’re on your way.