While the garden rests, get ready for spring

For those of us who garden, that first snow comes with mixed emotions.

On one hand, we are glad to see the garden go sleep. On the other, we start counting the days until we can be out in the garden again. The latter often leads to human nose prints on the sliding glass door along about the end of January.

However impatient we can get waiting for spring, winter is really a gardener’s friend if we approach it properly.

First, think of all that snow shoveling as exercise to stay in shape for spring. Each pass with the shovel is the same as shoveling dirt. Sliding around on the ice is really a form of flexibility exercises.

If you miss your tools or you sense they are getting lonely, go out and give them a good brushing with a wire brush and a rub down with some oil. Sharpen hoes, shovels and other cutting tools so they will be ready for work in the spring. Change the oil and filters in power equipment or take them in for service. The shop staff will love you for giving them something to do in between fixing snowblowers, and you won’t have to wait for them in the spring.

Take some classes. The Community Colleges of Spokane and the Institute for Extended Learning are offering classes in growing orchids, sprinkler installation, yard art welding and making winter wreaths. Call 279-6030 or go to www.iel.spokane.edu/ registration for more information or to register.

The WSU Spokane County Master Gardeners will be offering their Horticulture class series Thursday evenings from Feb. 12 through April 30. This 12-week class is the same basic horticulture training the Master Gardeners take without the volunteer commitment required of Master Gardeners. Cost is $250 per person. More information is available at www.spokane-county.wsu. edu/Spokane/eastside/under “Classes” or by calling 477-2048.

Catch up on some reading. Order seed catalogs and plan next year’s garden. Check out books such as “The Truth About Organic Gardening” and “The Truth About Garden Remedies” by Jeff Gillman that review the benefits, drawbacks and what works and doesn’t on two important gardening topics. Another is “Bringing Home Nature” by Douglas Tallamy, which talks about how native plants sustain wildlife in our gardens. Lastly is Elliot Coleman’s “The New Organic Grower.” Many consider this the bible of organic market and home vegetable gardeners.

Lastly, I am taking a break from writing this column from now until late February. Don’t panic though. You will be able to get a weekly fix of Inland Northwest gardening information at my new blog on our Inland Northwest Gardening Web site; www.inlandnwgardening.com.

I am planning to rant and rave about anything garden and answer questions about once a week. You can also check out photos of Inland Northwest gardens taken by Bellingham photographer Mark Turner to get inspired.