As the chilly days of early February pass slowly by, the winter season seems to creep along for those of us who yearn to till the soil. Reportedly, that famous prognosticating groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil of Gobblers Knob, Pennsylvania failed to see his shadow suggesting an early spring, but when one considers that this chubby rodent resides in a temperature-controlled domain with all the comforts of stardom and his predictions have been on target only 39 percent of the time, I find it difficult to trust his prophecy. Last year, the toothy soothsayer predicted six more weeks of winter when we experienced one of the mildest winters and springs on record. Locally, Ms. G, a furry resident groundhog at Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, saw her shadow last weekend indicating a prolonged winter season, which actually coincides more closely with current meteorological forecasts. Whichever prediction comes to pass, I cannot imagine any self-respecting gardener giving credence to a woodchuck, considering the devastation annually perpetrated on many of our landscapes by these annoying nuisances.
When chilly temperatures or snowy conditions limit my opportunities to work outdoors, I reluctantly accept Mother Nature’s gift of forced relaxation and look for signs of spring among the pages of gardening magazines, catalogs, and books. Filled with tempting photographs of beautiful bulbs, annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs, I find it necessary to exercise tremendous self-control, especially when I am looking out the window at a nearly colorless landscape. Years of overbuying and recent time constraints, however, have made me a wiser shopper. Although I order multiple packets of seeds to start my annuals and vegetables, I use most catalogs as reference material, compiling a lengthy wish list of new cultivars, knowing that even scarce, unusual plants are often available from local sources.
Early February is also an ideal time to search the Internet and local newspapers for listings of gardening lectures, educational courses, flower shows, and symposiums. My calendar for the next few months is overflowing with a wealth of horticultural opportunities just waiting to transport me through the winter months and on to the first glimpses of springtime in my own garden.
Spring flower shows are by far my favorite means of beating the winter blues. Leave the snow, ice, and winter behind and step into the wondrous sights, sounds, and fragrances of springtime just an hour to our south at the Rhode Island Flower Show which will be celebrating its 20th year Thursday, Feb. 21 to Sunday, Feb. 24 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence. Guest speakers include Kevin O’Connor from This Old House, authors Julie Messervy and Melinda Myers, perennial specialist Kerry Mendez, and Karen Daubmann from the New York Botanical Gardens. Visit the show’s web site at www.flowershow.com for ticket information and a schedule of lectures.
The Boston Flower and Garden Show (www.bostonflowershow.com) returns to the Seaport World Trade Center from Wednesday, March. 13 to Sunday, Mar. 17. For a few glorious hours, enjoy more than 25 professionally landscaped gardens, the fresh scent of pine bark mulch, and the soothing sounds of water cascading over rocky waterfalls, in addition to an incredible line-up of lectures and demonstrations and a marketplace. The Massachusetts Horticultural Society continues its connection with the show through spectacular floral design competitions, amateur horticulture, and plant society exhibits. Flower Shows offer horticultural happiness for all levels of gardening interest, quickly erasing memories of a harsh winter season.
Gardeners in eastern Massachusetts are truly fortunate to have many prestigious horticultural organizations nearby. Join the Massachusetts Horticultural Society (www.masshort.org) this month and receive free tickets to the Boston Flower Show plus other terrific benefits including free admission to Society’s Elm Bank Reservation in Wellesley, gift certificates to White Flower Farm and Weston Nurseries, and free subscriptions to Organic Gardening and Garden Design magazine. A wide array of horticultural courses, workshops, and events are offered throughout the year. Upcoming lectures include seed selection and acquisition, dahlias, and cold frames and hoop houses.
Slightly farther to the west, The Tower Hill Botanic Garden (www.towerhillbg.org) located in Boylston, MA provides magnificent grounds, spectacular views, courses and events, and a lush limonaia (a conservatory featuring temperate and tropical plants) that will surely erase all thoughts of winter while inside. A visit to this lovely facility barely more than a week ago afforded me an opportunity to photograph the beauty of an exquisitely designed, snow-covered landscape, which is almost as lovely in winter as it is during the active growing season.
The New England Wildflower Society’s botanical garden, Garden in the Woods (www.newfs.org) in Framingham and the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University (www.arboretum.harvard.edu) in Jamaica Plain also offer breathtaking landscapes and a wide array of horticultural courses, workshops, and events throughout the year. Check out their web sites or go to www.bostongardens.com for a listing of many fabulous horticultural opportunities.
For passionate gardeners who tend to be preoccupied with plants year-round, there is a never-ending quest for new varieties, the need to absorb every bit of written cultural information and the desire to explore new methods for combining plants in the landscape. If you are a “plantaholic,” consider taking educational courses offered by one of these local horticultural institutions, our local science center, or become active in the outstanding activities provided by our local garden clubs. Gardening programs and information are available on the radio, TV, and the Internet providing therapy for the short term. For the serious addicts, participation in a plant society may be an effective remedy. Escape the winter doldrums by signing up for a course or attending a special event and expand your gardening knowledge with others who share your passion for plants.
Suzanne Mahler is an avid gardener, photographer and lecturer who has been developing the 1.5-acre property surrounding her home in Hanover for more than 30 years. Her weekly gardening column ‘Green Thumbs Up’ has appeared in GateHouse Media New England newspapers for more than a decade. She is a member of two local garden clubs, past President of the New England Daylily Society, an overseer for the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and is employed at two garden centers.
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