It’s time to make the flowers

Well, folks, it’s January in Zone 7b, and while my yard is currently covered in a cozy 5 inches of snow, my flower farm dreams are already blooming! The snow might be falling, but I’m deep in seed prep mode for the 2025 growing season. It’s the calm before the floral storm, and let me tell you, I’ve been busy. Here's the scoop on what I've been up to:

First off, I did what any self-respecting flower farmer would do in the dead of winter—I ordered more seeds. Yes, naturally. Because one can never have too many seeds, right? Along with that, I grabbed some photo boxes (for ultimate seed organization), vermiculite (because I’m fancy like that), and a shiny new seed blocker (because I will conquer soil-blocking this year, mark my words).

Speaking of organization, I’ve taken my seed collection to the next level. I organized them by flower name, sowing method (direct sow or indoors), and how many weeks before the last frost I need to start them. I’m not saying I went overboard, but I did bust out my trusty label maker for this one—each photo box now has its own beautifully labeled life story. They're even alphabetized. Yes, alphabetized. Who’s the boss now, garden chaos?

After my labeling masterpiece, I double-checked my seed plan using my garden journal and my favorite online tool, SeedTime (because I’m a tech-savvy farm queen). Then I did what any visual learner would do: I drew out my garden rows. That’s right—I’m not just planting flowers; I’m crafting a masterpiece.

Next, I tackled the seed trays. Nothing says "I’m ready for spring" like washing out old trays that will soon be filled with tiny sprouts of joy. And just for kicks, I watched a million YouTube videos on soil-blocking mixes. You see, I’ve done soil-blocking before, but I still haven’t found the perfect recipe. It’s like the Holy Grail of flower farming, and I’m on the hunt.

So, while it may be a winter wonderland outside, my flower farm is already in full swing—mentally, at least. Bring on 2025, because these flowers aren’t going to plant themselves!