The winter blahs aren’t inevitable. Gardeners will find many solutions.

Bring instant cheer into the home with some new house plants or flowering pot plants.

Start planning the garden now before the new gardening season begins. This will also help you determine what seeds and plants to order. Most seed companies have already mailed their 2009 seed catalogs.

As you plan your seed order don’t forget to check out Renee’s Garden website. Renee’s seeds are available online as well as at garden centers/nurseries. For 2009, Renee’s is offering two new seed collections—a butterfly garden and a hummingbird garden. Each collection contains three packs of seed along with planting and design information. Also new for 2009 are some wonderful herbs, and flowers.

Rather than putting it off, clean your garden tools and get things organized for spring. Then, when the new gardening season arrives you’ll be all set to go.

Most gardeners have all sorts of garden-related items that need organized. Create an orderly storage and filing system for your garden seeds. Do something with those piles of clippings and items you’ve been saving. Galison has all sorts of filing and storage aids. New for 2009 is the delightful Dandelion file totes and the Retro Tulip file tote. This comes with sixteen labels. The totes have eight roomy sections for storing garden notes, photos, and the like. With an elastic closure, this has a sturdy diecut handle. Matching file folders are available.

For your garden magazines, get a collection of Galison’s floral magazine holders. These collapsible holders are sold in sets of three. The set also includes six labels. Garden-related styles include the Andy Warhol Happy Butterfly Day, and Garden Party magazine holders.

To help plan your gardening year, Galison has added several new perpetual calendars. The new styles include William Morris Petals and Vines as well as Winterthur Flowers.

For 2009, Galison has added another valuable planning tool that would be great for gardeners. The Galison Weekly Organizers come in a beautifully decorated holder with a magnetic closure. Inside is a memo pad, accordion envelope, weekly notepad, and three sets of sticky note pads.

Winter is a wonderful opportunity to express your creativity. Whatever craft technique you prefer garden motifs are adaptable. Applique can be used for all sorts of sewing and quilting projects. KP Books has released a delightful guide that is sure to be a classic. “100 Appliqué Motifs” is by Deborah “Ismoyo” Green. The designer adds a bold and fresh twist to this craft. These designs are just irresistible. Many of them feature garden and nature themes, including all sorts of flowers, plants, fruits, and wildlife.

In addition to all the general instructions, this has easy projects and motifs that are suitable for beginners. The author provides simple, easy to follow, color illustrated instructions and templates along with fabric suggestions. She has wonderful ideas on embellishments, such as buttons, beads, and fabric flowers. For each project, there is a material list.

“A Touch of Felt” by Lynne Farris was released by C & T Publishing. This features 22 fun-filled needle felting and appliqué projects that can be used for home décor and gifts. Of the 22 projects about half feature garden themes. These projects include a fall foliage ensemble that contains table runners, place mats, matching coasters, vase wrap, napkin rings, and centerpieces. There are also rose decorated items for the bedroom as well as felted fruit decorative boxes and picture frames.

These no-fail projects are suitable for novices. The author provides all details on each of the techniques, such as sculpting, appliqué, and couching. For each of the projects, this has a list of materials, and easy, step by step, color illustrated directions. There is a pull-out sheet with full size templates.