Happy New Year!

It’s the dead of winter. With the garden covered with snow and ice, a gardener has to show patience, while pouring thru the seed catalogs just arriving in the mailbox.

One of the first things we can do is to bring in the bulbs for forcing, which were stored in the greenhouse. Place them in a cool and shaded place for about a week. When they sprouted about 2 to 3 inches, put them in a bright sunny area, where they can mature.

Also take the opportunity to sow some flowering plants for the coming season.  Look for begonias, snapdragons, gloxinias and many more.

This is also a good time of the year to give your houseplants some TLC. Use some soap and water to remove any dust which collected over the winter. I never use any of these chemical concoction to make the leaves shiny. Some of these products can actually kill the plants by clogging the stomata or breathing pores.