My garden file box used to be a very private spot until Cathy started to take pictures of it!

My first file box was a shoebox. I would throw in clippings from magazines, seed orders, lists of plants to try, plant labels etc. It was never organized but I always (usually) knew what was inside.

Then one Christmas I received a green cardboard photo box as a re-usable gift wrap. I can’t remember what the gift inside was but I used that box for years! I took it shopping, to the garden, to the greenhouse, on vacation, everywhere, and filled it with useful information. It held 3×5 inch cards and alphabetical tab cards as well, so most of my “finds” had to be condensed or clipped down to the most important information.

I was on my way to being organized! That photo box lasted for many years but sadly, it had to be replaced.

continue reading "Mary’s Garden File Box - The Inside Scoop"

The methods we gardeners use for recording and keeping track of garden plans, plant successes and unfortunately at times, garden failures is varied. Some gardeners rely on simple spiral notebooks, scraps of paper or file boxes, while others prefer to use specially designed garden journals, online garden journals, garden journal software or their own computer spreadsheets. For those of you just getting started in this glorious pastime of gardening or those looking to improve upon their current system I thought I’d provide a few examples of some of the different options available for garden record keeping and the type of information you may want to record. Hope you find it helpful!

continue reading "Garden Record Keeping - Journal Options"

How to remember all those little jobs that need to be tackled in your yard, monthly or seasonally…..

Use that new gardener’s journal and start a checklist for each month. Make a chart listing the tasks to be done and highlight the time through the year that applies.

For me, the best way is in my handy little index card box where I keep all my information about planning and planting.

continue reading "Gardener’s To Do List - January"

In the fall garden, when the summer annuals are being pulled out and the perennials are being cut back, it’s the perfect time to take note of how well each plant in your garden grew this year.

Some questions to ask yourself about each plant:

continue reading "Update Your Garden Journal"

This is the time of the year we gardeners are thinking of what changes we should be making in our gardens for next year. Actually we are really thinking about this all the time - but fall is the logical season for clearing out and planning ahead.

Some of us keep all those ideas in our heads as we clean up the fall litter, and can envision where those new perennial cuttings will go and what new annuals will fill in that empty spot come June. Who knows if those well-thought-out ideas ever are truly put into motion. Many gardeners carefully write everything in their journals so that during those restless winter days they can read back through their notes and make decisions about spring planting. Some depend on keeping records on file cards in a box. My dad kept a little notebook in his pocket as he worked. Sticky notes will work for anything!

continue reading "Fall in the Garden - Easy Tips for Planning Ahead"