Spring Fever
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Posted by Jamie McIntosh Feb 9, 2009 |
Today I saw a caterpillar racing down the sidewalk. Something’s not right here. You aren’t supposed to see caterpillars, or anything from the insect world for that matter, in February in the Midwest. That caterpillar was racing away from his fate, which is to freeze or starve shortly when faced with the reality that spring is yet a long way off.
The birds don’t seem to care, as evidenced by a cacophony of hooting, tweeting, and cackling that sounds like it emanates from an aviary at the zoo, rather than a suburban backyard.
I feel like joining their happy hooting, as this unseasonably warm weather has sent my cabin fever packing for a few days. Before the snow and single digit temperatures return, there’s time to tidy the garden and organize some tools so that when the warm weather stays for good, I’ll be ready to start gardening.
If you have an unusual warm day in late winter, you can:
- Rake up leaves that have blown in, and add them to the compost bin.
- Give the compost a good stirring, if it isn’t frozen solid.
- Clean and sanitize seed starting materials.
- Cut ornamental grasses back to six inches above the ground.