Never Too Early to Think About Spring

First snow of 2012

We’re in the middle of our first real snowfall of the season and the kids are so snow-crazy that neither TV nor food nor visiting friends interests them more right now than building a snowman or snow fort or snowball arsenal.

I love the white stuff too. I’d had enough of dreary mid-season Chicago, where everything is dull and dirty after fall colors peter out. I much prefer a soft blanket of snow over the ground and decorating otherwise bare branches.

I’m usually not thinking about spring until late February and for sure by mid-March, when I’m ready for some warmth and color.

But twice today, I saw notes about spring being just around the corner. One was from a friend who just signed up for a CSA. The other was from Growing Power, reminding everyone that if you want to start a garden from scratch, seedlings need to be nurtured in February.

I still haven’t found a good spot in the house to begin seedlings. I’m thinking of setting up a space under our fluorescent light in the basement that our Gecko seems to be enjoying. We just don’t have enough sill space anywhere else in the house.

More importantly, I haven’t the foggiest idea what I want to plant this year. I guess that’s what January’s for, flipping through seed catalogs, plotting out garden space.

Oh right, and for sledding.