I have sunk to a new low. I am not a short days, cold weather person. I am wandering around outdoors, enjoying the sunshine but feeling the chill and longing for summer.
My eyes fell on a lone rosemary bloom. I was so excited that I couldn't resist sharing... Hope you don't mind. No, I don't care if you mind! Sorry. : ))
LOL, my rosemary just put up a couple of late season blooms also, and I was delighted beyond reason!
Thank you! Nice to know I am not alone... : )) pod
I'm keeping mine going as long as I can... luckily winters aren't all that long around here. Just think of it as a good time to wear each sweater once -- that's about all I have time to do here.
Brigidlily ~ your rosemary will do great outdoors. The winter won't bother it. This one is a trailing plant which bloomed well the first year in ground. Nothing this year, I think too dry. This is a first bloom so I was double excited! And Amen to winters not being that long. I just am not a cold person and own far more warm clothes than I do summer clothes... go figure.
I have never seen Rosemary bloom, so thanks for sharing! I have mine in pots that I bring indoors for winter, great on roast lamb, eh?
podster, can you grow a few herbs indoors during the winter to keep your spirits up until spring?
You know, I should quit griping. Most will do well outdoors here. I have two different rosemarys, a licorice G. glabra, and am leaving the oregano out this year. I have a plant shelter (not really a GH) and keep the basil, lemon balm and lemon grass there. It is not so bad. I just resent not having as much daylight or time as I want... : ) sorry. pod
Yeah, the lack of daylight really bugs me too. I mentioned to DH the other day that it wasn't the cold or dreary weather that got me down in winter, that I really wouldn't mind winter if only the days weren't so short... He just looked at me... LOL, he's right, the temperatures and the daylength are pretty much connected!
I understand perfectly what you mean.
and all of you have shorter daylight than I do, now I should be ashamed... pod
It's called SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, and you don't need to live at the north pole to experience it. Nothing to be ashamed of. Our modern lifestyles wreak havoc with our circadian rhythms. Plants are the only lifeforms affected by daylength. Ever wonder why so many northern mammals hibernate?.........so they won't get depressed during the short days and long nights of course! :)
http://www.outsidein.co.uk/sadinfo.htm
There are several light therapy devices that you can use to help during the short daylight months:
http://www.outsidein.co.uk/sadrange.htm (I know this company is in the UK, but they probably have a US distributor, or you can google on like products).
A few more useful links.
http://www.sada.org.uk/
http://www.claorg.org/
Hi,
Would working outside in the garden under floodlights after dark be considered light therapy? We've had several good rains, and now the greens are all taking off and the clay has softened further and I've been digging a bed under lights this evening (it's warmed up a bit from the freezing temps we had last week). I've almost completed this 100 sq ft bed.
Nataraj
I guess it would depend on the wavelength of the light. If you were using a full spectrum, natural daylight bulb like an Ott light, it might work.
We're gardening in the dark too, but with lanterns. I'm looking for the solar camp light that we saw (but foolishly did not buy) last summer, so that we could let it charge during the day and switch on at night. You can tell who the dedicated gardeners are by the foul weather gear and lanterns they've put to use for the task. LOL!
I can relate on the hibernating. When the days start getting shorter, I find myself wanting to eat all the wrong foods and can not get enough sleep. I have mentioned that to many people and they give me a blank look. Maybe that was related to growing up in really cold country.
My frustration though is really just not enough hours in my day. I now have nice weather to get out and work and many things I need to be doing. The lights would be great but there is not enough spare time. From Sept on thru Christmas is our busy season at work. I bring paperwork home that I can't get done at work. Then, we move right on to tax time. That is a must do and DG is my time to slip off into my garden... Thanks guys... pod
pod - you need a massage! (my daughter is going to school for massage therapy) tee hee.
I agree! and I would let her practice on me all she wanted to. We actually have a young lady here with a practice and all that use her say she is excellent. I hope to someday, but again, not enough &%@# hours in the day. Maybe someday... Thanks : )) pod
I so know what you mean, Podster! I dont get off work until 5 pm. and it is dark when I get in the car to go home. I only see the sun on the weekends during the winter :(
Katy
You bet! Even the morning light is dim. I am counting the days till.... Happy Thanksgiving!
Podster, move up here! Seriously, your days are longer than mine by about an hour. Thankfully, I don't suffer from SAD, just suffering from ugly winter garden, yuck. Makes me appreciate spring all the more.
I concur with the one who posted about keeping some herbs indoors over the winter; I didn't do that but maybe next year I will.
Ahhh yes, and in the summer you savor longer daylight and twilight that we do... you lucky guys! I do love the northern twilight and I always wanted to spend the summer solstice in Ak. : ))
Not to mention those northern lights!
Now I have witnessed them... I grew up in Minnesota. The Northern lights are beautiful! Even tho I had to freeze my &%? off to enjoy them... : )) pod
Thought y'all might wanna see another rosemary blossom.
Keep those chins up! It all turns around on the 21st!
Great closeup shot of the rosemary bloom! Bless your heart for the uplifting thought too. I am on a countdown, tomorrow is 37 seconds shorter. : )) pod
