Get ready for spring gardening
No matter where you live, there's a way to add a splash of color
By P. Allen Smith
The official start of spring is March 21 but in parts of the country it has felt warm for a month and in other parts the ice is just melting away. Is it too early to plant in the North and too late in the South? The answer is a resounding NO.
If you didn't plant tulips and daffodils in the fall then head out to your nearest nursery or garden center for a look at the "eye candy." Nurserymen who have wised up to our forgetfulness start spring blooming bulbs in coolers and then put them out for sale this time of year. I was even in a discount store recently and their garden center had racks of potted hyacinths, tulips and daffodils just waiting to be snapped up. While you certainly don't want to plant up an entire flower bed with these convenient beauties — they can be costly — they are ideal for potting up a container or two and bringing a little spring magic closer to your home.
Tulips and daffodils have built in antifreeze that makes them very hardy for spring and able to withstand sudden cold snaps. In fact, to get these bulbs to bloom you need a period of dormancy where the bulbs are exposed to freezing temperatures before the warmth of Spring coxes the flowers out into the open. If you experience a sudden cold snap in your area, more than likely, the bulb or the plant itself and any buds will be fine; however, a flower that has already bloomed is at risk of being bitten by frost.
Source: MSNBC.com
