Is anyone else beaten by the dark and the cold

Hello Everyone.
I loved being in my badly in need garden all summer and then the dark nights came and now its freezing cold. I find by the time I get home from work its too dark to do anything in the garden and at the weekend I'm either too busy doing other jobs around the house so that I can't get in the garden, or its raining or too cold to want to go in the garden.
Just wondered if anyone else has this problem or is it me being very lazy?
:confused:

 

Yes

 

Not sure how you're meant to take that answer, Painted Lady! Definitely a bit ambiguous!

I certainly freely admit that I've been spending a lot moretime indoors than out recently..... although I did spend all of Friday and Saturday digging and shifting stuff, planting and weeding. But the weather is incredibly yucky most of the time!

 

I had SAD syndrone. I moved to Portugal! :D

 

I know just what you mean PL I have same problem.

 

Whilst I do agree with you Painted Lady, in some ways it is almost the opposite for me. There are several jobs yet to be done, but the weather has been so mild (ie not frosty) that I keep putting them off. However today I did lift the rest of my Dahlias. But there are still some plants in pots to be cut back and overwintered in a summerhouse, but they are still flowering, and it hurts to cut back plants in flower.

 

Moving to a better climate is a good solution if its possible but yes the British winter is an evil dark satanic time,many of us get depressed we stay here because we have so many commitments but you are not alone in despising the season it is better to stay in keep warm and dream of springtime, I lived and worked in the middle east some years ago whilst it was very Wram in Riyadh one day it was 40 degrees celsius, i eventually began thinking of England and then i had to come back europe is a better option and much safer.well i have waffled completely off the thread?? good night my friends,

 

Yes, I always feel like hibernating in winter. We've had so much rain here and the garden is wet and slippery and not at all inviting.
LOL, did you try the SAD lights? I don't know anyone who has used them, I'm reluctant to experiment as they're so expensive...

 

In my greenhouse i have a high pressure sodium light and one that replicates red and far red spectrum light i wonder if they will do any good.

 

No, Liz, I didn't ... I was always just too SAD. To be honest, even here on grey. dark, rainy days it's the same BUT within an hour or two typically it goes and if we are in the "real rain season" then I just have to occupy myself with writing (children's books) painting, sewing, other crafts ..... or GC .. ha! you all...

 

I bought a light for my plants in the GH but haven't had the energy to hang it up- perhaps I'll try it for me!
Anyone else get depressed in winter?
My beautiful new roses have arrived and even that hasn't cheered me up...I think they'll get drowned if I plant them! I've got:

Rhapsody in blue
Ashwednesday
Guin�©e
Paul's Himalayan Musk
Rosa helenae
Souvenir de la Malmaison Climber

[ 12. December 2006, 10:19 PM: Message edited by: Liz ]

 

I am lazy as well, and I just do housework or garden work when I feel like! Though I wouldn't say that i get depressed in winter, because I find it also very nice to be indoors in the warm and watch the rain or the snow falling. I think that water is life and i don't get tired of rain so easily.

 

That's a lovely selection, Liz!

Guinee is one of those lovely climbers I ordered a few months back, when someone was talking about it and golden showers - looking forward to those next year!

Yes, I get depressed in the winter, but not nearly as much as when I was teaching..... I wouldn't mind being given one of those lights as a present - but I reckon they're too expensive to find they're a waste of time and money.

 

I spent a few years working down coal mines. Shift work in winter meant that I often didn't see daylight at all for a week or more but I was younger then and it didn't seem to matter too much.
Latterly I found November to March really horrible months as I was cooped up in an office from 8am to 5pm and had only part of the weekends to get out in the air and light. Left home and arrived at work in the dark. Left work and arrived at home home in the dark. And the bit in between I was always kept in the dark!
Now I've retired I rise with the sun and spend as much time as I can outside. In winter I'd far rather be outdoors in daylight and wet, cold and mucky than indoors and warm and dry
SAD is a real thing. I had it. But with the new lifestyle it doesn't figure quite the same.

[ 12. December 2006, 11:33 PM: Message edited by: Dave W ]

 

Miraflores, do you actually sometimes feel like doing housework? I always have to be driven to it....
Dendrobium I found working gave me a structure to keep to which I haven't got now I'm retired- I rely a lot on the dogs, cats and garden to get me to do things!