Gifford Garden Notes
Signs of Spring!
by Diane Fagergren

Finally the snow is melting and there are some signs of spring! It has been a long winter and everyone is anxious to get out into the garden and see what is coming up. Bulbs start bursting through the earth when the days get longer and the soil starts to warm from the sun's rays. Galanthus, commonly known as snowdrops, are one of the first to emerge. Eranthis or winter aconite, with its buttercup shaped flower, comes up just a short time after. Crocus, scilla, dwarf iris, anenome and chionodoxa are not to far behind. It is truly an exciting time of year for us gardeners, going out everyday and squealing over all the new shoots that have come up over night! It's like seeing an old friend that you haven't been with in a long time. What a gratifying experience to find the new plants that you put in last year made it through the harsh winter. Spring is a wonderful thing!

Galanthus nivalis or snowdrops

Eranthis cilicia or winter aconite

With the warm weather here, it is very tempting to go out to your garden and clean up the leaves or take away the winter mulch that has been protecting your plants. Do not be fooled, there are still some freezing temperatures ahead. Any heavy layers of leaves can be removed so the plants can breathe but leave a thin layer behind until the weather is a bit warmer. I find that this time of year the deer can really wreak havoc in your garden. The new sprouts that are breaking ground are extremely tasty! The weather is warm enough to spray deer repellents or you can broadcast milorganite on your beds to ward off the deer.

Now is the time to start sowing seeds indoors so break out all the catalogues you've been receiving in the mail and start your search for any plants you want to propagate. Here is a list of a few catalogues (with the links to their web sites) that you might find helpful or inspiring:

Annual and Vegetable Seed Catalogues

• Thompson and Morgan (800-274-7333) http://www.thompson-morgan.com/
• W. Atlee Burpee & Co. (800-888-1447) http://www.burpee.com/
• Jung Quality Seeds (800-247-5864) http://www.jungseed.com/
• Park's Seeds (800-845-3369) http://www.parkseed.com/
• Harris Seeds (800-514-4441) http://www.harrisseeds.com/
• Johnny's Selected Seeds (207-861-3901) http://www.johnnyseeds.com/
• Vermont Bean Seed Co. (800-349-1071) http://www.vermontbean.com/
• R.H. Shumway's (800-342-9461) http://www.rhshumway.com/
• Totally Tomatoes (800-345-5977) http://www.totallytomato.com/
• The Cook's Garden (800-457-9703) http://www.cooksgarden.com/

Next week: Starting seeds indoors

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