Projects for the Hardcore Gardener or Landscaper During the Winter.

It is a depressing time of the year for most of us gardeners, albeit we are getting a rest.  Unless of course you are like me and neglected the INSIDE of your house all year.  I have been sweeping up dust bunnies, washing windows, and practically doing my spring cleaning.  Are there any other gardeners that do their spring cleaning in fall? I have good intentions during the the year to stay indoors once or twice a week.  Here is how it happens and maybe you can relate: I come home from running an errand or taking the kids to school.  I think: "While I am out here I might as well water the plants." Then, I notice a weed poking through. I pull it.  I notice another weed.  I pull it. Before I know it I am covered in dirt (usually in my good clothes and sometimes heels) and splitting plants, trimming the shrubs - which inevitably leads to 2 hours of dipping them in rooting hormone and starting new plants.  As good as my intentions may be, I simply love being outdoors playing in the dirt so much that I tend to easily get sidetracked and neglect my household chores. Since its almost Thanksgiving, I've been working on Mt. Washmore all day.

Winter is coming and while I am not out playing in the dirt, like a true gardener, I can not stop thinking about getting out there.  Ive been thinking about things I can do this winter that will keep me happy (ie: gardening related). Well, we have a wood stove, and we cut our own wood to burn. Not my favorite chore, but one I enjoy because I get to spend it with the entire family. I have discovered some beautiful things that can be done with the extra pieces of trees.  It makes cutting the trees a little longer, and perhaps sorting and storing the pieces are a little bit of a pain, but the creative outlet and joy we will get in return will be worth it.

First thing we started working on is the gate.  We live in whitetail country and I can not have a garden without a gate.  First of all, I think its beautiful. Second of all, the only cost is time, a few screws, and some extra boards. It is actually more time consuming than I thought, and we are not quite finished with it yet.  It certainly takes time to make it sturdy enough, make the stems cross at the right places, and such. We just used the branches from the trees we have taken down. Here is our inspiration:

   The next project that we get to start on, the kids are going to love.  Its fun, it is kind of functional, it is free, and it is creative. I have written about a secret garden that I am going to make for my kids and I think that having this project in it, or by it, would be a great memory for them. When we cut these, and lay them down, I think that we will first pack down a bit of ag lime, and packed sand. I would hope this would make the wood last a little longer rather than rotting in the wet clay soil.  I am sure there are many uses for this, but I can just imagine my children hopping from one to the other, trying not to step on a crack.

This next project is more of a doozy, but since I am just as much into hardscaping and design as I am plants, I think this is great. It also wont leave much firewood, but I think I can get my husband to build it with me just the same.  To be honest, I don't even have a place in mind for this.  Maybe off the side of a barn, or over a small patio. I thought I would share it anyway.  Grapes growing on this would be lovely.