Do you feel it? Spring is on the way

||| FROM NITA COUCHMAN for ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB |||

The month of February has a reputation for being the snowiest, most wintery month, not a favorite time of year for some. It starts off with Groundhog Day and weather predictions determined by a rodent, a very curious custom when you stop and think about it.

It’s also the month when deep inside, we feel the miracle of spring beginning to stir, so we eagerly study seed catalogs while dreaming of our gardens.  The newsletter team turned a spotlight on seeds to tie in with our own seasonal inclinations and with Marisa Hendron’s upcoming program about seed stewardship.

Laura shares some thoughts about the question of whether to start with seeds or with transplants, and also gives us a closer look at an old-fashioned favorite — sweet peas. Perri reviews a DVD about climate change’s effects on growing food for the planet. Helen offers her delightful Reflections and Recipes with a delicious dish you can quickly put together and enjoy while you’re reading other articles about new members’ stories, the June picnic, and our transition to hybrid meetings.

And finally, since this issue comes out on Valentine’s Day, we wanted to send out some love and appreciation to our Orcas friends and neighbors who support the Garden Club in a myriad of ways. We are so very blessed. Our hearts are full.