Thursday, March 28, 2024
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MY GARDEN PATH: It's here…at long last!

by ELAINE CERNY
| March 14, 2021 1:00 AM

Believe it or not, spring isn't that far off. March 20 is the official first day of spring! I'm ready and I'll bet you are too.

I'm sure you'll agree that this whole year has been BAD NEWS. Luckily, it sounds like things are finally beginning to improve.

Many of us have been drooling over the newest seed catalogs … what can I grow this year? It's always fun to try something new. I especially enjoy seeing pictures of the new dahlia varieties. I have to restrain myself from trying to grow a lot of them as I just don't have enough room or enough sunny areas.

I do have several old faithful varieties that I grow each year. So far, these “held over” dahlia tubers aren't showing any growth, so they can wait a while before being potted up. I have a feeling that the tuberous begonias may be ready to take off as they usually are by now. I'll go out and check them.

Some of our toughest plants can bloom right through winter. I have primroses in several colors that continue to flower even while partially covered with snow. Violas will also continue blooming all winter.

I've noticed that my backyard bird visitors are eating the suet. They had ignored the stuff all winter until it finally got really cold in February. My most faithful birds include chickadees, pygmy nuthatches and a variety of finches. Oh, and a little guy who's lived out back for a couple of years: a song sparrow. He enjoys feasting on the canary seeds that hang in a special sock.

As noted by today's picture, I do enjoy growing African violets, especially in the winter. They will flower all winter if given enough light. I grow mine in a south window during this time of the year. By mid to late March, I'll either shade them with a curtain during summer or move them to an east or north window. If I don't move them, the leaves will burn.

Other houseplants to enjoy in winter include streptocarpus, aka cape primrose and flame violets, aka episcias. If you have room, geraniums can be potted up and brought into the house in the fall. With enough sunshine, they'll bloom for you too.

On the nicer days, you can go outside and trim your shrubs and trees. Of course, that may have already happened. That is, if the moose visit your neighborhood in winter like they do mine. We had several who would come by every few days and munch their way down the street. They are so tame that they would actually lie down and nap in people's front yards once they got full. Tame or not, I don't take any chances as they are huge and can be dangerous. I only walk the dog when they're not around.

If you're getting itchy to start planting seeds, there are some that can be started in the house using plant trays and either strong window light or special lamps which have grow lights. Just be careful not to plant things too early. You don't want tall gangly plants that need to be put into the ground outside while the calendar is still saying early April. Read those labels.

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Elaine Cerny has gardened most of her life, starting in 4-H. She has belonged to garden clubs in three states and is an active member of the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls. Her column has appeared in The Press every other Sunday from early March to late October for the past 12 years.

photo

Elaine Cerny