Seed catalogs, a cup of coffee, and a cold morning.

I am just finishing up a nice, long vacation at home which has been especially nice since my husband and youngest daughter were around for most of it.  I am thankful for those lazy days we spent with each other in the comfort of the living room as well as the walks that we shared as part of his knee rehabilitation.
This morning I woke up and knew that this was the day that my indoor gardening was going to have to take priority.  To start the day, I got myself a cup of coffee, my seed catalogs, my box of leftover seeds, and a notebook.  It was time to start planning this summer's garden.
Planning is the key to enjoying garden the most.  If you don't lay out some sort of structure to where you are headed in the coming season you will be disappointed.  I like to order my seeds early so the varieties I want are still in stock.  If something is not available, it gives me the time to get something as a replacement.  This is really important if you are starting some of your plants indoors yourself.  It is important if you want the newest plants that the magazines tell you you just have to have.  It also gives you time to seek out sources for some of the plants and seeds you saw last season but didn't get.
If you don't have one already and you are saving seeds from year to year, now is the time to invest in one of those cheap, plastic shoe boxes and a few index cards.  You probably have your seeds stuffed into jars and envelopes and aren't really sure where they all are.  By dividing your seed into categories such as herbs, leafy veggies, garden start veggies, greenhouse start veggies, annual flowers, and perennial flowers you are able to quickly access those seeds you will need earlier.  Don't throw out your empty packets just yet.  I will come to that soon.
Now that you have all your seeds in one place start to make a list by categories.  Note the varieties of each type of seed, the year you purchased them, and the approximate quantity especially if it is low.  Many seeds can be used for several years and you may have more than you need already in your possession.  If there are seeds that you don't like, pass them on or toss them out.  Make room for what you really want.  Now you have a working inventory so you know what you need from the catalog and what areas you have more than enough in.  You can spend your seed money much more wisely now.  This will also open up avenues to try new things that will fit into your budget.
I do something with my empty packets other than stick them at the end of my garden rows.  I put mine in the back of my seed box so I have them there for information reference to germination, thinning, and transplanting.  They stay there until the next year when I order so I remember the varieties that I planted and really liked.  Those go on my must-buy list the following year.  I also remember the ones that I didn't like and don't reorder again.  If you are a seed saver, you can reuse the envelope for the saved seed.  I wish I had the refrigerator space for my seeds, but they get a cool, dark corner of the basement instead.  I cold treat the seeds that need it when the time comes.  
After several cups of coffee, I finally had the list I really want for this spring's seeds.  I am going to do more of my own annual flowers and I also had a few varieties of vegetables that I want to try.  I finally got down to my basement and transplanted my cutting plants and cleaned things up.  It really feels like spring is on the way and it is only January 2nd.