Digging in the Cold Earth
It would be easy to say that it is too cold to be gardening. It snowed a few days ago. Enough to cover the ground and stick overnight. The ground however, has seen enough warm sun that it is thawed once again. As plants start to come up, I like to take stock of what's survived, what has done well, and what has thrived. "Taking stock" is a great expression. It implies that you can formulate a plan by becoming aware of the big picture. By thinking carefully, one might gain insight into the decision that needs to be made. Hmmm. Yeah, I'd say that works. It is easy enough this time of year to keep my hands jammed into my coat pockets and my collar turned up against the chill wet winds. With the slightest warm breeze, the coat is traded for a fleece that I dont mind getting covered in dirt. As soon as the ground is thawed enough to stick a spade in the ground, it is time to start planning where to move plants, who to divide and what can I learn from last year's ef...