“To everything there is a season;” in the garden, each passing season has its own special beauty and its own special purpose.
I hope everyone is doing well in this bitter cold. My car wouldn’t start. My little dog wouldn’t go outside. His poor feet were too cold, so I need to buy dog booties or there will be puddles in the house.
The Master Gardeners have been busy planning our schedule for 2014. All our presentations are open to the public. Most of our meetings are the second Thursday of the month at the West Square Building in Baraboo.
In June we are planning a bus trip to Green Bay Botanical Gardens. Our field trips are always fun; the cost to the public is minimal.
This year we will host another Master Gardener Class starting in mid-August. This class covers all areas of gardening such as vegetables, trees and shrubs, perennials, soils, insects, diseases, wildlife and propagation. The class is once a week for 13 weeks. Registration will start in June.
For those of you who would like to grow vegetables this year but live in an apartment or have limited space, you will have an opportunity to rent a plot at one of our local community gardens. Reedsburg has one on the college campus, Baraboo has a nice one run by the park district and Prairie du Sac has one near the cemetery. Call by the end of February, as they usually fill up fast.
In winter we are outdoors much less than any other season, but in looking at your landscape covered with snow the views from the windows are important. You see the architecture of the yard or the entry way that should still be welcoming in winter. Look for intricate patterns of shadows on snow and bare ground. Take into consideration benches, arbors, paths, trellises and man-made structures. Consider placement of trees, shrubs, gardens, etc. After really looking, with pencil in hand, start to jot down ways to improve your landscape. This is especially important at this time of year because you are not distracted by greenery or flowers.
Remember trees and shrubs are the starting point of the garden as they are the longest-lasting. Consider outlining your perennial beds with flowering shrubs. If your area is small remember to consider size. Many shrubs are only 3 to 4 feet tall and work well. Consider a small crab in your perennial garden; this will add height and color. Consider island beds in the middle of the yard. They add a huge amount of interest, especially if you have a theme such as a rose garden, a lily garden, a succulent garden or whatever you would use to make a statement.
Remember our garden seminar coming up the first Saturday in April. Watch for more details.
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