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February
February can be worrisome in the garden. In 2003 we started off the month after the warmest, driest January on record. Many perennials were beginning to break dormancy and it was just too early. However, we were in luck and we had two major storms (for us) blow through. It rained once, cooled down at night, and then, finally snowed for the first time this winter (at least at my house). Then, on March 1, we got more snow.
2/9/02
This may not be a lot of snow, but it certainly counts here in the high desert!
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This rose at left (golden celebration) has already started leafing out and it's just too early! |
| Therese Bugnet, however, wasn't
fooled, even though this is my earliest rose to bloom. Perhaps it has something
to do with the fact that it is one of the most cold hardy roses around
or because of her rugosa heritage. I highly recommend this rose for the
high desert!
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2/9/03 |
Another recommended plant here -- Montmorecy cherry (a pie cherry). This tree certainly seems to know it's too early to break out of dormancy. It also bears well and set fruit for me within a year from being planted. Unfortunately, my plan to leave these for the birds so I could have the sweet cherries for myself hasn't worked. They're no fools! They eat the sweet cherries and leave these for me. Still, they do taste pretty good straight off the tree... |
