Spring Fever!

Seems as if Spring Fever is bigger this year.  Impatience for nice weather and all things green and warm.  Want - NEEDING - that first peek of green leaves pushing up through the ground.  Sunshine in all its warmth and abundance.   

Every gray day with temperatures still freezing and the hint of snow brings about groaning and downright hositility.  Those that managed to tough out February have apparently reached their tolerence level in March.

Our area nurseries and greenhouses are working full tilt right now to get ready for their April openings.  Most have updated their web sites to feature the plants that will be available and the events they will present.  Catalogs and on line sites are pushing orders with deals and discounts.

I'll list a few things going on in this area.

WQPT Storm (severe weather) Spotter training is being held.  There is one in Colona IL April 4th from 6-8 pm at the Colona Fire Station.  It's free and open to anyone.  Contact donna.dubberke@noaa.gov for more information.

Distinctive Gardens in Dixon IL has updated their web site to include new plants and events.  Don't forget their container class April 16th at 10 am.  Call them for details.  Their open house is April 30-May 1.  AND, mark your calenders for their August 20th "3rd Annual Gardenstock Art and Music Festival."  

Hoerr Nursery, Peoria, IL, because they are full time landscapers, can be accessed anytime but their nursery starts the spring plant sales in April.

Sunnyfield Greenhouse and Nursery, Kewanee IL has not yet updated their website to feature 2011 plants and information but they typically open for spring plant sales April 1st.

Red Barn Nursery, Sheffield, IL is planning on having their plants ready for sale mid April.

Hornbaker Nursery, Princeton IL is shooting for April 10th for spring plant sales.  Check out their March newsletter for workshops and other garden days.

Garden Shops typically start having their plants on display a little after the nurseries because most have a majority of plants outside or must buy them from other sources.  If it's anything like last year, plan on hitting them early as they managed to sell out of many new offerings.  Some of these smaller shops have some really interesting plants not often found in the big nurseries.

And then there is all the garden "stuff":  Tools, decoration, maintenance items, and the list goes on. 

“All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar.”  Helen Hayes