December weather certainly kept us on our toes but January’s calm has given us time to recoup.
What will the groundhog predict on Feb. 2? No matter what the prediction, the love month of February is on the horizon. Celebrate the eight days of Valentines – the first day being rose day, followed by propose day, chocolate day, teddy day, promise day, hug day, kiss day and ends on Feb. 14.
Enjoy time with your family on Feb. 21 – British Columbia Family Day.
WE DIG – DO IT NOW TIPS
• Start hoeing and pulling weeds to avoid overload later. The soggy ground makes it easier.
• Cut away any broken branches from winter storms as close to the main branch as possible.
• Create new rock gardens away from trees and shrubs to avoid leaf accumulation.
• Prune wisteria, clipping back lateral and side branches to within two or three buds.
• Bring dahlias into the warmth, divide and expose new shoots to daylight.
• Prune fruit trees and summer flowering shrubs, including roses, before growth buds well and open. All pruning of trees and vines must be done before the sap runs.
• Sow hardy annual seeds, such as sweet peas, as soon as weather breaks.
• Plant broad beans and peas.
• Divide pampas grass and red hot poker plants.
• Moss likes cold wet mild winters. Kill it now.
• Clean and sharpen tools.
DID YOU KNOW
• The flower of the month is the violet? Meaning modesty, virtue and faithfulness.
• There are more than 500 species of primulas and they are known as ‘the heralds of spring’?
• Valentine’s Day is the No. 1 holiday for florists?
• That there is more vitamin C in broccoli than oranges?
• That there is a species of rhubarb called valentine? A very red variety that retains its colour when cooked!
PICK OF THE MONTH – Violet
Violets represent the month of February. Wild purple petaled violets with their heart shaped leaves bloom in the coldest months. Native to Europe and Asia. There are more than 400 species in the genus. A gift of violets in the Victorian age was to let someone know you will always be true to them. They grow best in a woodland type setting using rich organic soils. Violets are tolerant to cold but are neither heat nor drought tolerant.
AND …
Why did the grape go out with a prune? He couldn’t find a date!
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