In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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February 20, 2008

Gardening between raindrops

Now until spring is the hardest time of year for a gardener because good gardening weather is so close we can feel it. And February teases us with just enough sunny, mild weather to make us think spring will come early.

Then Mother Nature turns cold and rainy again, and dashes our gardening hopes. We have to sneak in bits of gardening here and there. Whenever the rain stops, when the sun finally breaks through the clouds, you'll likely find a gardener feverously planting seeds, repotting plants or pulling weeds.

It's not so hard waiting to garden the rest of the year.

During spring, for example, we know the showers are only temporary, and that the sun will come back shortly.

During summer we can work outside early in the morning or evenings after the weather cools.

We know winter will keep us out of the garden for weeks, even months.

But February really ought to be kinder to gardenrs.

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