Finally I can see my patio. The icy snow remains only on the north side of the hedges and in stubborn patches over the bridge and where we piled it in mountains as we produced pathways around the property. The open water on the pond grows daily much to the delight of the mallards. The red-winged blackbirds sit on the dried bulrushes and try to speed its melting with their warm melodic voices. While raking up the debris from the trees I even spied a couple of bees zipping in and out among the heather blossoms. Released from winter’s icy grip snowdrops, crocus, and hellebores are quickly offering their nectar to the birds and insects. Suddenly the willows are adding their yellow hue to the landscape and the magnolia “pussy-willow” buds are swelling with their floral offerings. Everywhere you look plants are “springing’ to life. Although we can now start to prune remember that we could still get some killing frosts. Do not rush into planting outdoors or transplanting perennials too early. My grandfather used to say that when Easter came late so did spring. Enjoy the wonderful sunshine that we have had this winter and wait until next month to do major work outside.

One of the sad things that occurred this winter has been the closing of the Garden Center. Like other gardeners I have long counted on this company for plants, advice, and good camaraderie. When I used to teach in Squamish, the octagonal Garden Center, then located on Government Road where the bus depot is now, was my “Lorelei”. It lured me in with plants that had never been available in Squamish before. When they expanded to Mamquam Road, I found it convenient to circle down there on my way to the grocery store. I looked forward to new shipments throughout the year.

As the staff started to celebrate special events, Halloween, Canada Day, Mother’s Day and Christmas, I came to count on the store to supply me with items for my own celebrations. They provided inspiration for both garden and home. For years the Garden Center staff have shared births, graduations, weddings, illnesses and deaths with our family. They have helped pick the right bouquet, arrangement, plant, or gift for the occasion. The support they gave was appreciated but certainly was not limited to me. All Squamish Gardeners members received a reduction on purchases from this establishment as well as generous donations for our Tour’s raffle. Throughout the community people enjoyed the support of these plants people. What the future of this piece of property is as yet unknown. I do know that Cheryl Sayles, the florist, will still produce special order floral arrangements for weddings, funerals etc. out of her home. We still have an excellent source of gardening products from Garibaldi Nursery on Progress Way in the Industrial Park and seasonal gardening support from stores such as Home Depot and Wal-Mart. Billie’s Boutique continues to care for our florist requirements in a very professional way too so we are not without home town outlets. I guess I just enjoy (and appreciate) all the friendly people that help to make gardening such a wonderful hobby.

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I haven’t started any seeds yet. My neighbour across the street has his laundry room full of vegetable seedlings that he will transfer to one of his green houses soon. The sunshine has prompted him to use one of them as his home office on sunny afternoons. I can’t remember when the last winter was that we enjoyed such sunshine! It has been colder that most winters but the lack of precipitation has unusual. What snow we had stayed for so long because of the cold nights. Much of the plant damage has been due to the cold winds and the sun on the frost laden leaves. Instead of trying to push the season, I’m enjoying the cut flowers and spring potted plants from the dollar store and the grocery outlets. I’ll pot up a mixture of lettuces in a big pot by the back door in April. The plastic lids from store bought pies or shrimp rings make great mini greenhouse covers as do milk jugs with the bottoms cut off and the lids removed for ventilation. But I’ll wait until winter has taken away some of the risk before I plant up my tomatoes.

One of the first plants that I just had to have when we moved onto our property was bamboo. To me the sight of panda bears munching on this plant symbolized the exotic far East and I had to have some. Friends obliged by offering us a huge clump from their yard. I was thrilled! But the gift came with the warning that they spread. We divided the plant into four and planted the tall stalks in various places, against the far fences, next to the pond and in a pot by the back door. For many years they stayed within bounds. In fact one year the most robust almost died. We found out that when this type of bamboo flowers, the main plant may die back. Fortunately it seldom blooms. The sound of the wind in the leaves is so soothing and leaves in the winter so refreshingly green that one tends to forget that this variety of plant is actually the largest of the grass family and can cause problems in a garden if not controlled.

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