INDEPENDENT GARDENERS

I just saw Ben Franklin's quote, "God helps them that help themselves."
I think that statement really applies to all gardeners, don't you? Every gardener I know does a good job of taking care of themselves and their gardens. If someone else is doing their gardening, it's not really THEIR garden, is it?
Even at this time of the year, most gardeners are busy pouring over their gardening catalogs and dreaming of warmer days to come. Some have been outside picking branches of spring flowering shrubs, bringing them inside for the wonderful phenomenon of "forcing". Read the article found by clicking the link and follow the directions. If you do this, you too can help yourself to early spring bloom in your home.
Of course, we have to assume you are able to get to your shrubs! I don't know about you, but we're expecting a nasty snow storm tomorrow and the next day. Remember to gently remove the heavy snow from the branches of your shrubs. The best way to do this is to go out with a rake or some tool with a plain, broom type of handle. Poke the handle end of the tool into the bush, gently pushing the branches so they move and topple the snow off. However, if the branches are covered with ice, DON'T do this. You don't want to break the branches. If there's ice, you're better off just waiting and letting nature melt it off. Sometimes you also need to know when NOT to do something!