Hello Gardeners!

Spring is Christmas for the gardener... there is a surprise and gift around every corner! A fragrant hyacinth, a budding dogwood, perennial shoots bursting forth in the garden... it is all a treat.

Spring is the busiest time for the garden and for the gardener. Pay close attention to the thermometer, especially for falling evening temperatures. A cloudless night in the spring can bring freezing temps. If you set tender annuals or perennials that are not hardened off out too early, you've wasted dollars and incurred the heartache that overambitious gardeners succumb to every year. What is the frost date in our area? Our gardening zone is zone 5, and our average date of last spring frost is April 30 to May 31. If you live on a hill, your frost date may be a day or two earlier than your neighbor. Ask the gardener on your road when they expect the last frost to show at their house because here in Brookfield we have many mini-climates that influence us. I live on the sheltered side of a hill and can expect my last spring frost as much as three to four days before my neighbors down the hill.

Wondering what to plant now? Well, now is the time to put in cold-tolerant plants and seeds. Peas, spinach, lettuce can be direct sowed into the vegetable garden. Pansies can be added to planters now. Every hue of pansies can be found at Lamoureux Greenhouse on Schoolhouse Cross Road in Brookfield. They certainly add cheerfulness to the landscape!

Continue with garden clean up. Dispose of debris and pull off all mulches. Take frequent rest periods to rest your back, and take time to enjoy this special time in the garden.

Happy Gardening!

Read previous columns by Edna Schron