March can be such a finicky month! Several years ago, there was a long warm spell followed by two nights of extremely cold temperatures. The result was a massive dieback of Hydrangeas and a resulting loss of blooms for that year! Some years we see snow storm after snow storm, while some years it is merely rain. So far it has been a somewhat warmer winter with less than average snowfall. Keep referring to your notes or diary from last year as to when you sowed seed and performed other chores as you need not reinvent the wheel.
Bruce Crawford
The month of January had near to above normal temperatures, a theme begun in December. February is now the month to finalize any design considerations for the year to come since March becomes busy with outdoor gardening activities. This month is also the time to complete the ordering of seeds, since many of the more popular varieties will soon, if not already become sold out.
January always begins with the festivities surrounding the Holiday Season, but reality soon returns as gardeners face short and often cloudy days, cold temperatures and a sleeping garden. Looking on the positive side, we now have the leisure of working in the Garden when our time or the weather suits our schedule, since the garden is in a state of suspended animation so to speak.
The hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season is finally upon us! Autumn continued to provide ample moisture for new plantings, although November was drier than the previous months. The temperatures of November were seasonal, allowing plants to prepare for winter to come. Although there are ample distractions this month, early December is the time to finish the last of the autumn chores before the sub-freezing temperatures of winter arrive in earnest. As time permits between baking and shopping, continue your ledgers with notes on the weather and how plants are performing. Wishing everyone a very Happy and Joyous Holiday Season!
November is here! The cool to cold nights of October, combined with the ample rainfall has allowed most of our trees to erupt into a bonanza of spectacular colors. In addition, the soil is adequately moist to bring plants safely into the start of winter without the worry of drought. The light to heavy frosts of October have started to impact our annuals but very soon, they will need to be removed with the onset of truly cold weather. Even though the weather is becoming cooler, there is still much to do in the Garden before it can be put to bed for winter!
