Oh, I am yearning to start gardening! I’m reading every gardening article I come across, looking at catalogues, reading favorite gardening books. I’m doing what I always do at this time of year – planning, dreaming and making lists. This time of year in the Northeast is a tease. The sun shows itself a bit more, snow and ice begin to melt, the garden soil becomes visible again and the smell of spring is just beginning to fill the air. You start to think, oh good, spring is here. Oh no. It might be, but it may just as likely snow again. There are no buds on any trees, no sign of daffodils beginning their push toward the sun. There’s just the possibility. The possibility of green, of rebirth, of warmth on one’s face again.

I want to clean up the twigs and sticks that are strewn all over the yard. I want to rake the gravel that has traveled from the driveway onto the grass and into the garden back to its proper place. I want to prune where necessary and prepare the soil. But its only March 16th and that is way too early. Around here you are told “don’t plant anything until the first week of May.” Of course, I usually cheat a little, but not by much.

I read so many blogs and I admit I am jealous of those bloggers whose gardens are already being planted – how lucky you are! I used to live in California and I know what that feels like.

For now, I’ll keep reading and dreaming. The lovely pictures in the book shown above are from “down-to-earth gardener” by Suzy Bales. I recommend it highly.