Happy Ground Hog's Day! The days are a little longer, and we're all looking for signs that spring will come sooner and winter will depart. Old-time gardeners, just like gardeners today, just couldn't wait to get started. But they hurried slowly, firmly believing that what is done at this time could make or break their gardening program and activities for the rest of the year.

Even then as now they were greatly concerned with the weather. They searched for certain signs in the sky to give them a clue as to what they might expect for the gardening season, which would get into full swing a bit later on. Many believed, along with Native Americans who were great observers of such things, that the position of the moon during the first two weeks of February indicated whether the growing season would be wet or dry. Horns pointing down at that time were believed to mean that the moon was "emptying its water," and that the following spring and summer would be wet. A dry February (or Snow Moon), one with the horns pointing up, told them to plant as early as possible. As much as we love to try to predict Mother Nature, it's always iffy.

The farmer's almanac predicts a warmer than usual February and colder than usual March. Whatever the prediction, the reality of the seasons is that winter will end and spring will come!! Force some forsythia blooms, and make sure you get your seed orders in.

Read previous columns by Edna Schron