To paraphrase Steinbeck's East of Eden, February of 2013 was a year
heavy with water. And it has been; at 10”, Nashville is 30% above average precipitation
for the year. We have also had several wind storms which caused downed trees and
power lines. My neighbors had two cars totaled after a recent wind storm; the
ground was just too saturated to hold a large precarious tree, which luckily missed
their house when it fell.
The wet weather has been great for any new trees planted
this winter, and for all early blooming trees, shrubs, and flowers. It’s a relief to see Flowering Quinces, Daffodils, Hellebores, and Cherry trees blooming, only 21
days till spring! This year’s Vernal Equinox is on March 20th. And just one day after is a lecture on native plants and rain gardens at the Shelby Bottoms Nature Center by Mike Berkley of GroWild, more info here.
In my own garden I am cutting back anything yet to be cut back, mulching, and planting. I still need to severely prune my butterfly bushes and camellias, as well as plant a new Rhododendron. There are still several weeks left in the ideal planting window to get any last minute trees or shrubs in the ground before bud break. I am so looking forward to longer days and weather better suited to spending time outside!
