With COVID finally becoming less impactful in our lives, the act of getting out into your Garden still remains a great option for getting exercise and fresh air. Many of us have come to appreciate the beauty of plants and the calming act of working in the soil. Sales of vegetable and annual seeds continue to remain strong as we eagerly await these warmer days of April for seeding! As the sun and warmth of April unfold, take a deep breath and prioritize what must be completed vs. what could be postponed for a day or two. Also, spring is a time to begin anew, so give thought on how you could change things up a bit, whether it be containers or perhaps a new garden! HAPPY SPRING!
Bruce Crawford
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 multitude of Hydrangeas killed to the ground! Some years we see snow storm after snow storm, while some years it is merely rain. So far it has been a mild winter with a few cold snaps that may prove damaging to some early bloomers. Fingers crossed! 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. Also, keep making notes for this year so that you can see if any of the changes you made yield better results!
The month of January finally had some seasonal temperatures, a distinct difference from the cold temperatures of 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 become sold out. On warmer days, make it a point to walk through your garden, enjoying its beauty and giving thought to exciting new spring improvements.
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. Continue making notes in your journal on the temperatures, snowfall or rain amounts along with the sightings of visiting birds, all while enjoying your favorite winter beverage by a warm glow of a lamp or fire.
