It’s been a wonderfully warm week. The January thaw has overslept, and temperatures during the day have been in the ’50s and 60’s. The groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter. Traditionally, Imbolc is the halfway point between winter and spring (approximately six weeks). But, I am beginning to see signs of spring!
Garven Dreis, the character in Star Wars, Episode IV, The New Hope, strains to say “Almost there” when trying to down the Death Star and Darth Vader. Now, it’s a classic meme, but I can’t get it out of my head that we’re “almost there” to Spring!
Wandering around my garden, I am itching to weed and rake. I followed the practices of a few articles I read on not raking up the bulk of the leaves and leaving them for critters, particularly birds. I can truly say that the bird population on our property has almost doubled this year. When we step outside in daylight hours, you can hear the whoosh of many wings as they scramble from leaves and into bushes and trees.
But I digress. Today, in wandering the garden paths, I spotted snowdrops in bloom! They budded earlier this week and bloomed in our 63-degree weather today! The Lenten Roses (aka Hellebores) are perking up, and I see one flower pushing its way out of the ground.
I have unearthed my garden journal and have stacked garden catalogs nearby. I’m making plans to renovate more gardens this year. I will be planting a variety of hydrangea in a small garden room of the past. In a garden that I share with my dear friend and neighbor, I’ll be planting swathes of Black & Blue Salvia and tall, red marigolds. (Unfortunately, I cannot remember their name and will update this piece when I remember or begin to work the spring season at Groffs Plant Farm. ) In the woodland garden, I’ll remove pachysandra and add hellebores, brunnera, and fern.
I can hardly wait. We’re almost there!
