Winter. The season of self control.

Winter is not my favorite season.

I sit inside the house, searching for anything green. A sign of life. Growth. Green. But, other than my evergreen friends I find nothing but a frozen mulch pile and snow-covered compost. It's February in Ohio and I feel like a fish out of water.

Garden centers are empty, lonely reminders of days that seem distant now. But I do still have my imagination; My ability to visualize what spring will bring! I can hardly contain the excitement, the anticipation of a new growing season!

Planting in December?
I did it. This December I had the privilege of rescuing hostas and ornamental grasses - even some landscape rocks - from the ruins of a fire at our church. I thought it was worth a try since the ground wasn't frozen yet. Within 24 hours of planting, our first snow of the season covered everything! This December experiment is one reason I can't wait for spring! Did the hostas and grasses survive? I'm confident they did! But I can't wait to see them!

Hostas of many kinds.
Another reason (as if I need one!) for my spring anxiety is the new hosta bed we planted this fall. The variety is extensive and the impact should be impressive as they unfold their variety of foliage! The overgrown, severely neglected island we inherited four years ago has come a long way. Ah-h-h spring!

Apple trees are waiting!
I do get to hit the pruners early... I've got apple trees just calling my name! I'll take care of that later this month or early in March. They should bear edible fruit this year - after four years of working with them. These poor trees were victims of neglect for, who knows how long. I did lose a few, but the remaining trees should do fine.

Spring IS coming and it can't come fast enough for me! In the meantime, though, I'll have to grow my self control. It's going to be an amazing 2010!