From the article: How to Force Forsythia Flowers
If you live where it gets cold in winter and love outdoor plants, winter can be depressing. If you've overcome that depression, then you've found ways to beat the winter blues that you can share with the rest of us. At the very least, we must find outlets for the energy that, in summer, we'd be expending on the plants in our yards (be it caring for them or just plain admiring them). The possible outlets are many, ranging from activities directly related to plants (e.g., reading landscaping books) to activities that take our minds off plants altogether (e.g., skiing or working out at the gym). Either way, let us know your approach to beating the winter blues. Or if you live in a warm climate, by all means say so and rub it in!
Advice: Get Outside!
- I do whatever I can to get outside! It's not the season that can get me down, it's the being indoors. When all else fails, I put on my blue wig! It never fails to make me laugh when I catch myself in the mirror!
- —KimBradley
A Little Humor....
- I go outside, kneel down and start pulling weeds: it's real good therapy. Oh wait, there's snow on the ground, so I can't do any weeding. Instead, I shovel my walk (wish I had realized this before I knelt down!).
- —gonegardening
Beating Winter Blues?
- What winter blues? I revel in each season and deliberately live somewhere where I do have four seasons. Winter is the icy palette for landscapes...blues, greys, with touches of red and greens. Actually prefer winter as I am not temperature-sensitive and usually don't even get cold. Cool, of course, but cold, no. Deep clean my house (spent twelve hours on the stove, for example) and in general enjoy the whole thing.
- —Guest molly
Winter Blues Are for the Birds
- I hang a large stick with holes and landing dowels outside my kitchen window. I cover it with peanut butter and the birds are constant. My friends admire all of God's flying flowers at my window. I may not have plant flowers in the winter, but all the colorful birds are like flying flowers constantly changing. Also, in the summer I put all the house plants like diffenbachia and blood leaf bananas in the shady areas outside around the house, giving a tropical look. In the winter I bring these in the house and have a beautiful small jungle area.
- —Guest shular1
No Blues for Me!
- I love winter. Always have. I love the snow, the cold, frosty mornings, hot chocolate and all that goes with it! I live in the mountains of Pennsylvania, where we get snow, and I couldn't be happier! Of course, after 3 or so months of it, spring is often a welcome sight! LOL
- —Guest Pipper2
Light Therapy
- I spend 20 minutes in front of a Light Box to get my necessary light each day. This helps me beat the winter blues and regulate my sleep cycle, which seems to get off in the winter.
- —Guest Cindy Duggin
UV Helps
- I go to the tanning bed about 10 minutes once a week. This is very low exposure but can give great replacement therapy for those of us who LOVE the summer.
- —Guest Olivia
Cleaning and Sharing
- My title means cleaning out my closets and sharing the things I cleaned out, like clothes that are in very good condition, center pieces that have grown "old" in my house (sharing artificial flower arrangements in nice pots). I'm giving away planters or pots, as they will be new to someone else.
- —Guest Virginia
Getting Ready for Spring
- Winter is time to reboot somewhat. By the time I have managed to get cleaned up after christmas, then the seed catalogs are there and that is great for getting organized for the coming season. I also usually have several other projects I haven't quite gotten finished from the fall (indoor projects, I do lots of needlework). I don't mind hibernating somewhat, recharging my batteries and gearing up for the big push in the spring.
- —slewje
Sun Beats Winter Blues
- Yeah I got them. Trying to rest an ornery sciatic nerve. Real light exercise and for once a lot of nice sunny days also help.
- —BrucesMom
A "Conservative" Approach
- I go out to the conservatories. They're free and help boost one's mood. I did this yesterday because I was feeling blue, took some pictures and now feel better.
- —Guest pam
Plants and Planning Beat Winter Blues
- I LIVE IN UPSTATE N.Y., NEAR ROCHESTER. I BEAT THE WINTER BLUES BY HAVING PLANTS INSIDE THE HOUSE. I BREAK OUT THE CATALOGS AND SEE WHAT PERENNIALS I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT. PLANNING A NEW FLOWER BED AND GETTING EVERYTHING READY FOR SPRING CLEAN-UP.
- —Guest JIM BORUCKI
Read on the Internet
- On days I don't set outside in a grey Indianapolis day, I sit inside with a cup of coffee and read online newsletters like this one. I also like doing puzzle books and just plain reading.
- —Guest Jenny Stanley-Baker
Beating the Winter Blues in Maine
- Living in Maine, we just bought our first house last March. We have discovered projects to help: repainting rooms bright happy colors, going through stuff to initiate yard sale, planning veg & flower gardens, and warm weather projects (chicken/barn), learning foreign languages for upcoming trip, rearranging furniture, and "date nights" where we take turns for an evening of fun together.
- —Guest Lisa
Amaryllis, All the Way!
- Winter sneaks up on me while I prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but when I'm out buying gifts I'm always sure to pick up a variety of forcing bulbs--amaryllis making top of the list. The kits make easy gifts, and they're cheap enough I can buy a few for myself. I stagger the plantings to last me January through March, each bulb taking about 1 month to bloom. They take full sun so I leave my southern window unveiled at all times, letting in all that glorious light. I'm always surprised at how fast they grow, about a half inch per day ultimately reaching 2 feet tall! It also makes me feel good when gift receivers call to tell me how the heavenly scent of hyacinth or the dramatic amaryllis flower brightened their day, too. We just got clobbered by over a foot of snow here in Delaware, and the stunning red flowers of my first amaryllis are just starting to open. Take that, winter blues!
- —Guest cgordy
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