Winter Wonderland

As my flower gardens sleep under a blanket of snow, I find myself thinking of, longing for spring.

While it is at least three months before I expect to see new life in my flower beds and four and a half months before I can think about planting seeds in my vegetable garden, I am already thinking, planning, researching.

I have my Vesey's seed catalogue, with pages and items already marked for when I make my order.  I've looked back over what varieties I ordered last year to determine which faired best in my soil and location.

Tonight, we will eat the last of the garden carrots and potatoes from 2010, making me long for spring planting even more.  I have been thinking about what new items I can add to my garden this year.

I am planning which perennials will need to be divided.  What new ones I would like to find to fill in spaces.  Even thinking about the possibility of a new flower garden along the front of the house.

I've been thinking about my shade garden.  I am determined to get it done this year.  I've been putting it off for too many years.

As many of you are enjoying skiing, snowboard and snowmobiling in this snow, I dream of spring when the snow will melt and my crocuses, freshly planted this past fall, will grow and bloom, signalling the beginning of my gardening year.