By Staff
As I look about me in my garden, I can see sooo much to do.
My garden is bursting with forthcoming promise.
The birds with all their "talking" and activity are probably only slightly more electrified and exhilarated than me.
I noticed on my lilacs expanding buds of green.
Crocus, daffodil, primrose and hellebore are now starting to bloom.
Bright red shoots of the peony and bleeding heart are also emerging from the rich brown earth.
All of this reminds me of a poem.
Count on me to be old-fashioned, sentimental and mushy. Some would call it being "corny." That's me, full of corn.
For each and every joyful thing. For twilight swallows on the wing. For all that nests and all that sings. For fountains cool that laugh and leap. For rivers running to the deep. For happy, care-forgetting sleep. For stars that pierce the somber dark. For morn, awaking with the lark. For life new-stirring 'neath the bark. For sunshine and the blessed rain. For budding grove and blossoming lane. For the sweet silence of the plant. For bounty springing from the sod. For every step by beauty trod. For each dear gift of joy. Thank God!
– Florence Earle Coates
Oh, one last thing. Did you know that our current USDA hardiness zone 5 is outdated?
Last revised in 1990, and because of global warming, based on outdated climate data.
Our new hardiness zone has been changed to zone 6.
Knowing and understanding our zone is the best guide to helping us gardeners with what will flourish, perish or struggle – or plants which we can't grow at all in our area.
To view both maps (1990 and current), go to www.arborday.org.
Our old zone 5 put us in the -10 degrees through -20 degrees for the average annual lows.
Now, in zone 6, we are 0 degrees through -10 degrees.