Remember last year, and the year before, and the year before that, when you reminded yourself that you needed to start a garden journal, but you didn’t? It’s not too late this year to make the commitment and start writing. Then you will feel like it is second nature to start observing and documenting in February and March of 2024.

Keeping a garden journal has changed since I started in the late ‘80s. Electronic journals are available with spreadsheets and numerous apps. The Seed to Spoon app helps track what you are growing and harvesting. The Planter app is focused on vegetable growing.

In addition to the electronic journals, specifically designed garden journals are available. Leather bound, waterproof, spiral-bound, there are many choices. My choice has always been an over-sized three-ring notebook, a zippered plastic pouch (pencil case) to keep track of plant tags and empty seed packets for quick reference, plastic sheet protectors for instruction book and warranties, grid paper and lined paper to record daily notes. I also have a divided section for perennials. Each perennial has a care sheet that lists date and location planted, plus culture info that helps me decide if I keep it or toss it.

By observing and noting what is happening in your garden, you’ll begin to see a pattern you hadn’t noticed before. My eyeopener years ago was when I noticed when the forsythia was blooming, the daffodils would start blooming several weeks later. That tracking goes back to at least 2009.

I offer the following guidelines on what to look for and record in a garden journal.

Weather. If you live in Central Oregon you can get obsessed with the weather. We get the false spring every year and we get so enthused but hopes are soon dashed with a snowstorm. I start recording weather in January, not every day. Just often enough to realize if it is normal or drastically changed.

Frost dates. You can get average frost days out of books but understanding your own site is what is important. Elevation, wind direction, slopes, can mean the difference in frost dates between your property and your friends across town.

Tender plants. This will tell you what plants are chancy in our climate and should be planted sparingly and given special attention if frost is predicted, plus instructions for winter care.

Leaf-out times. This is important to know so you can plant bulbs and early flowers that bloom before shrubs and trees leaf out and cast dense shade.

Sequence of bloom. Knowing what blooms when will help you with plant selection and placement. By paying attention to length of bloom, you may find some plants aren’t worth the trouble if they take up space and flower for what seems like mere seconds.

General performance. As the season progresses, record which plant rate a perfect 10 so you can plant more of them. Also note which ones were a big disappointment. If it is a perennial, remove it.

Things to do and when. Different plants have different needs. It is important to be aware when a particular needs to be pruned, moved, divided, fertilized, or mulched.

Light changes. Observe which areas get morning sun, afternoon sun or both and how this changes as the year moves on. This can give you insights into how to site flower and garden beds, even a greenhouse. Full sun is six-plus hours per day, light shade is 4-6 hours, shade or deep shape is two hours of sun.

Flowers or veggies that flop. Think ahead for flowers or veggies that will need support. Don’t wait until the need arises. The trick is to have a support system in place. Wait too long and you’ll be trying to truss up overgrown plants.

Ideas from others. A good gardener is original, but is not bashful about copying ideas from other gardeners. In fact, it should be a compliment. The annual OSU Garden Tour will be on July 15, featuring gardens in Tumalo and Bend. It’s OK to take pictures and write notes, the tour is always a great learning experience.

Location, location. It’s easy to forget where bulbs are after the foliage dies. Plan a marking system on the ground and on paper. I read of one gardener who uses golf tees to mark bulb areas.

Resources. Write down interesting new books, seminars, nurseries, shops and events as you hear or read about them. I keep a small notepad next to the computer for adding garden sites I want to check. Then of course, there has to be a Plant Wish List, which never seems to grow smaller.