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Snow, Snow, Go Away!
Greetings!
 This snow! This ice! Will it never end? Harry Hillaker, Iowa's ever-amiable state climatologist, says that so far it's the fifth snowiest winter on record in the 121 years they've been keeping track. And it's taking its toll. My friend Jill in Des Moines escorted her husband to the emergency room last week when he sprained his ankle on the ice. She said the emergency room was filled with the walking wounded (or in some cases, not) from falling and sprawling on all this ice and snow. Fortunately, our plants are lovin' this cover, nature's own mulch. It protects them from weather extremes. But sheesh. Enough already! I hope this melting trend continues! Happy Gardening, Someday!  Veronica Lorson Fowler |
What's the Weather Gonna Do?
Harry Hillaker says this is what he thinks our weather is going to be like over the next three months:
February will be colder than normal (which is an average of about
15° for the daily lows, 33° for the highs) with above-normal snow
(which is usually 6.3 inches. Yuck.)
March will be slightly
colder than normal (26° for the average low and 46° for high) but
slightly drier than normal. (Whoo-hoo! That means less snow!) Normal
snowfall is around 4.8 inches.
And April, which is supposed to
be spring, right? Well, Harry says that it will likely be slightly
colder  than normal (which is an average low of 37° and an average high
of 59°) with an average of 3.3 inches of precipitation, including 1.9
inches of snow.
The good news? Well, snow is pretty. I prefer it
to looking at dead grass. And another bit of good news: With lower gas prices, flights to Florida are getting really reasonable!
My garden, shot a few days ago.
Usually, this is where I like
to sip a gin and tonic!
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20 Must-Have Perennials for Iowa
It was tough, but I've narrowed it to 20 perennials for sun and shade, blooming from early spring to late fall, that are as easy as they come. These can form the backbone of your flower beds and borders.
In fact, I'll be speaking on this at The Des Moines Home and Garden Show this Thursday, February 12, through Sunday, February 15, every day 1:00 p.m.
Please attend, or stop by The Iowa Gardener booth and say hello. I'd truly love to meet you! I'll be available to answer your garden questions plus we'll have a beautiful gift basket from Reiman Gardens to give away in a drawing.
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Don't Forget Our
Feathered Friends
 I had the nicest chat with Tom Thomas, the co-owner of Wild Birds Unlimited, a bird feeder shop here in Ames, about the poor birds this time of year. He says right now is actually one of the best times to put out food for them. A life saver, in fact. Most of the year, we're just putting out food for our enjoyment, to draw birds into our yards. They'll get enough to eat without us. But when they have to endure bitter cold combined with snow covering up much of their food, "when you feed this time of year, you're saving lives," Tom says.
Those cute little black-capped chickadees that amuse me in my crabapple tree all year long can easily lose 10 percent of their body weight in one extremely cold night, putting them at risk of death if they can't get plenty of food the next day.
Click here for tips on feedings birds in our harsh upper Midwest winters. |
Try Your Hand at This
 Who says you can't have an arrangement from your garden in winter? Here's one that takes just minutes to do, costs under $15, and is so pretty my friends have been asking if it's real!
I cut some branches from the saucer magnolia in my back yard (any branches will do). I put them in some wet floral foam in this container (half off at Hobby Lobby!). I covered that with real dried moss, dampened, also from Hobby Lobby. I then added $5 of alstroemeria from Hy-Vee. But use any fresh flower you want. Keep replacing the fresh flowers as the old ones fade. In spring, use cut daffodils or other bulbs. And try flowering branches, such as forsythia or pussy willow. Lasts for weeks!
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Ask Veronica a Question
If you're a subscriber, email Veronica with your garden questions and she'll do her best to get back to you within two business days. Click here! |
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Garden To Do List:
 Force flowering branches, that is, cut them now and then bring them indoors to let them magically bloom several weeks early inside. Fabulous!
Feed the birds!
February is National Bird Feeding Month. And for good reason. They really need our help this time of year.
How's your mower? If you didn't get it tuned up last fall and the blade sharpened, take it in now before the spring rush.
Same for any shears or other sharp cutting or slicing objects, including spades and hoes. If you haven't already, invest a few bucks in a sharpening stone. It makes all the difference. Click here to learn how. It's easy after you do it once or twice.
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Garden Events
Des Moines Home and Garden Show
February 12-15
Iowa Events Center, Des Moines
Five display gardens, celebrity designer rooms, speakers, and tons of ideas.
Des Moines Botanical Center
Valentine's Dinner
February 13 and 14.
Doors open at 6:00 pm, dinner is served at 7:00 pm. Cost is $55.00 per person. For reservations call 515-323-6289
Omaha Home & Garden Expo
February 19-22
Qwest Center, Omaha
Displays, speakers, and ideas for spring galore.
Cedar Rapids Home Show
February 20-22
Lots of building and landscaping ideas!
Siouxland Home Show
February 26-March 1
A great place to get home, lawn, and garden ideas for spring. Call 712-255-9730.
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Sponsored Links
Reiman Gardens
Ames
Especially when there's snow and ice outside, the butterfly house and indoor tropical garden
are warm and wonderful. Willowglen Nurseries
Decorah
Some
of the most progressive, innovative plant selections available in Iowa!
And a gorgeous display garden that's worth the trip to Decorah.
Country Landscapes Ames Serving all of Iowa. High-quality plants,
very good selection, and an excellent design service, especially with
water features. |
Quote of the Week
"Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle ... a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream."
Barbara Winkler
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