I am looking forward to one of the most restful parts of my year. I’ve purchased my seeds, ordered some new native plants for the woodland area, and even gone ahead and planted the oregano and thyme for the kitchen garden. It all starts slow and gears up. As March proceeds, the snows recede, and I can be seen pacing in my garden – waiting for small hints of spring in the woodlands – spicebush blossoms, trout lily, and other ephemerals.
In the vegetable garden, I plan beds. Right now, they are covered in snow, except where the buckets of wood ash have been dumped. The wood ash is the final gift of the tree that improves the fertility of the soil. The charcoal in the ash improves the water-retaining ability of the earth as well.
The fig trees and the rosemary bushes share the greenhouse with the carving tools.
Two shelves are reserved for seedlings. Those will get going at the end of March.
It sounds busy, but it’s the best of rest for me. It’s the enforced stillness of winter that I find non- restful.