 Tell Me Again: Why Do We Live In Iowa?
It's that time of year. I ran into friends yesterday at Target and the mutual greeting was the standard complaint about winter and Iowa and asking ourselves why hadn't we long ago moved to Florida.
As I pushed my cart away, I wondered, why do I live in Iowa? I could certainly live just about any place in the country if I really wanted to.
But I love it here. Yep. Love it. Really do. Over the past 30 years, I've cultivated wonderful friendships that aren't easily tossed aside for a beach and some sunshine. The easy, friendly, down-to-earth Midwestern attitude suits me perfectly. I appreciate the subtle beauty of a drive through Iowa's gentle hills.I love being able to afford a nice house with a big yard for gardening. I am grateful to able to send my kids to an excellent public school.
There are even certain moments in the depth of winter that I wouldn't exchange for anything: evenings spent with my family in front of a roaring fire, walking my black lab in Brookside Park all alone in the middle of a fat, heavy snowfall.
Even though I initially dread doing it, when I'm out shoveling the driveway at night, there are moments when I pause, look up at the black clear sky and its infinite array of bright stars. It's then that I'm deeply happy with the realization that there is no where else on earth I would rather be.
Besides, spring is just around the corner!
Yours in all things Iowan, 
Veronica Lorson Fowler |
Gentlemen: Start Your Plantings!
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Some Like It Cool 
If you're up for a little risk, you can plant pansies probably in a couple weeks through April. Pansies are just one of a handful of plants and flowers that thrive in the very early spring here in the Midwest. They don't mind even a dusting of snow.
Pansies and violas are the most popular, readily available, and perhaps toughest of the so-called cool-season annuals. Pansies easily weather temperatures well below freezing and, in fact, start to get brown and ragged-looking when temperatures regularly start hitting 80° and 85°.
Other good cool-season annuals for Iowa, if you can find them in garden centers, are pot marigold, diascia, annual lobelia, nierembergia (especially 'Mont Blanc'), and snapdragons.
Click here for more details on planting pansies and other cool-season annuals early in Iowa.
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All Hung Up on Garden Tools
My fiancé, Greg, is on a mission to organize my tiny one-car garage. I thought I was just fine, leaning up all my rakes and spades and such into one corner. But  then he decided to get me a highly romantic gift--a Rubbermaid tool organizing track at Lowe's. I rolled my eyes--so unnecessary. But they make the most clever hooks and grips. Now all those tools are neatly lined up against one wall where it's so easy to access and use them.
I am, so to speak, hooked!
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Monthly To-Do
 Cheer yourself up and force some branches from your backyard. Forsythia is perfect to do this time of year.
Later this month, take advantage of (we hope!) nice days to get out in your yard and pick up trash and sticks, inspect for winter damage, and just generally check out the state of your garden.
Time to prune most large trees, small trees, evergreens, and shrubs. Hold off on pruning roses until they send out more growth.
Start seeds indoors now of annuals that say on the package that you should start them 6-8 weeks before the last average frost date. These include marigolds, globe amaranth, sweet alyssum, and flowering tobacco.
Later this month, once you can easily work the soil outside, plant directly in the ground seeds of fast-germinating cool-season vegetables, such as radishes, spinaches, and lettuces.
Plant bareroot trees, shrubs, and roses, as long as you can work the soil easily.
Prevent diseases and insects on fruit trees by spraying with horticultural oil, also called dormant oil. Do so when there is little wind and temperatures are in the 40s.
The bright yellow forsythia will be blooming soon. When it does, that means its time to sprinkle any preemergent herbicide (kills weed seeds, such as Preen) on flower beds, if you choose to use it. It's also the time to apply a preemergent to your lawns. Or save time with a weed and feed combo!
Stock up! Work off spring fever by buying pots, potting soil, seeds and seed-starting supplies, tools, soil amendments, fertilizers, etc. And get out there and clean up and organize your garage or shed, wash pots, etc.
How's your mower? If you didn't get it tuned up last fall and the blade sharpened, do it yourself now or take it in 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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Editor's Choice
Garden Events
Friday, March 21-Sunday, March 23
QCCA Expo Center, Rock island Illinois
Enjoy fragrant garden set-ups, speakers, and lots of vendors with all the coolest, neatest home and garden stuff!
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Garden Quote
"What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.
--John Steinbeck,
Travels with Charley
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