A few weeks ago, I remember being in the garden on a mild Sunday afternoon….donning only my thermal sweatshirt. I cut some branches of Forsythia and Jasmine for forcing indoors, I did a little left over fall garden maintenance and anticipated mild weather going forward. Today this is part of my Saturday morning vision…
I had not planned on snow interrupting my visions of Spring. I am about to go to the Philadelphia Flower Show and get my Spring mojo on, get inspired by the displays of beauty pulled together in one “warm” place and shared by all who attend. I am about to teach a class on making a natural burlap ribbon wreath to inspire others to welcome Spring…I am about done with snow!!
When I saw my Hellebore’s peeking their heads, about to stretch their stems to show off awesome blooms…not happening today that’s for sure…….
I noticed my Camellia buds swelling, ready to show off some magnificent, voluptuous blooms……hmmm, I think the pause button has been pushed on this thought….
I noticed my tree peonies showing promise of swelling buds…I also noticed some seed pods from last years blooms…I can’t even get to them now…Spring…you tease with total abandon.
Perhaps I was pushing my Spring gardening agenda. According to my garden planner, this month I was to begin digging a new path as I renovate my garden…..well that is SO not happening today. I am not mad, nor is my resolve to get things done in my garden suppressed by this winter cloak of snow on my garden. Instead I will join the masses and attend the Philadelphia Flower Show, be inspired that Spring will come – sooner than later and I will compost this garden planner, as I am at the mercy of winter…almost.
What I will do while I patiently await warmth and thawing ? Here are a few tips I came up with:
Start seeds indoors for cool weather plants like fragrant sweet peas (a little iffy, but I love the blooms in bouquets), snapdragons, heliotrope, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, some early lettuce (if I can get to the greenhouse) and perhaps some hardy herbs. I will start these inside for now and then move them into the unheated greenhouse, when the weather permits.
Replace tool handles that might be broken or if wooden, the fiberglass handled are easy to find and switch. Check your screws and blades on pruners, lopers, etc. Take power equipment in to be serviced in advance of the season beginning. Also, it’s a great time to see if you are in need of a tool that might prove to be useful in the garden this year. I am looking at a long handled Cobra tool. I hear they are awesome!!!
Read those seed and plant catalogs. Some of the specialty items that are usually featured on the cover to entice one to take a peek inside, usually sellout fast. Order now for proper shipping according to your zone. Also KNOW YOUR ZONE. If you are a Zone Pusher, what lessons did this winter teach you??? Is it colder than we think??? Will you continue to try new and different things??? I will!!
Visit home and garden events to see what is exciting and new for the 2015 garden season. What is the HOT color,what is the HOT plant, what new things will be trending that you MUST have?? Visiting these shows can not only inspire, but sometimes the vendors offer show specials.
Look for notifications about plant sales from your local garden clubs, schools, community groups or arboretums. Sometimes it is easier to buy your flowering plants and veggies from local groups and it will help their efforts to raise needed money for great causes. Supporting local and cultivating a strong community is always a good thing. When you recycle your money in your community, you build a stronger and more cohesive community.
Finally, if you are good at growing something like tomato’s and your neighbor is good at growing potato’s, think about a community share. Knowing where you get your food from is very important. In the past people grew and shared what they grew within the community. It brought people together, which in turn created a tight knit community. It is a great way to create new friendships, share growing tips, swap recipes and create memories. I remember my neighbor helping me prepare and can hot pepper relish for gifting at the holidays. Jan was not a gardener, but she loved to cook. We shared our skills and created pepper relish (among other things) that we could savor over the winter.
Don’t let the lingering winter get you down. Try some of these tips and trust me…Spring is coming….a groundhog was in my front yard yesterday. Now that is a surefire sign of spring!
by 
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