by Julia Schrenkler
Member since:
August 31, 2005

How do you get ready for Spring?

March 21, 2007 09:24 AM EDT (Updated: March 30, 2007 09:54 AM EDT)
views: 83 | comments: 21

Minnesota Public Radio Morning Edition's Cathy Wurzer is wondering about Minnesotan's habits and traditions when it comes to Spring.

Can't say I blame her for pondering. That restlessness has taken hold of me and I find myself outside surveying the yard and plants, wandering around the house making project plans, staying up later.

How do you change and connect with seasons? Do you mark a day on the calendar, or wait for cues from daylight and temperature? Share how you prepare for a change in the weather, and what Spring means to you.

____________________

Julia Schrenkler
Minnesota Public Radio Interactive Producer

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Comments: 21

Jennifer M. Mar 21, 2007, 9:57am EDT
I make an effort to walk my dog more often. Run outside instead on my treadmill and go too bed later.
Julia Schrenkler Mar 21, 2007, 10:34am EDT
Jennifer does your dog drag you to the door like mine do? They're pretty high energy but seem to go "to 11" come Spring.
~ Zeldapie Mar 21, 2007, 10:58am EDT
I LURVE to garden, and get revved up by going to local gardening centers. My fave is Tangletown Gardens. I cannot WAIT to start digging and planting and moving plants and potting... I smelled the rain and earth this morning when I left for work, and it almost made me weep with happiness!
Julia Schrenkler Mar 21, 2007, 11:19am EDT
Zeldapie you are so poetic about it. Will have to check out Tangletown Gardens!

While the snow was melting I was taking a hard look at which areas of the yard melted first (this is the second full summer at the new house) so I could really get a sense of where the light hit. Now I can daydream more thoroughly at the local garden centers!
Jennifer M. Mar 21, 2007, 11:30am EDT
Zeldapie - Just bought my first Townhouse and I have a small patio in the front.
It gets very little sun but is covered so any plant or flower would not be drenched by rain.
Any suggestions ?
Yes Julia - My pug bolts out the door when I get home from work. She loves to see the kids playing and is always looking for her boyfriend, a boxer named Jackson.
I feel guilty bringing her inside :-(
Julia Schrenkler Mar 21, 2007, 11:44am EDT
Not to scope on your question to Zeldapie, but you made me curious: does it get direct sun at all, or just a little, indirect sun?

Well Jennifer, Dolly is really quite the cute Pug and anyone can see how easy it would be to feel guilty if she had a sad face on.
~ Zeldapie Mar 21, 2007, 11:44am EDT
Jennifer, do you want to have pots on your patio, or are you talking about planting in the ground?
If pots, you'll probably like these shade-loving (or partial-shade) annuals:
Impatiens
Pansy
Nasturtium
Lobelia
Dianthus
Elephant Ear

Let me know if you're wondering about perennials.

Um, I'm not exactly a master gardener or anything. In fact, I don't know the names of half my plants... but I do have a green thumb, and for some reason always have pretty gardens (according to neighbors). Inside plants always die, though. Go figure.
~ Zeldapie Mar 21, 2007, 11:46am EDT
Julia, does what get direct sun? My plants? I have gardens all over the place, and some are shade, some partial shade, and (thankfully) some are in full sun. Let me know what you're referring to.

I love pugs!!! Those big walleyes kill me!
Jennifer M. Mar 21, 2007, 11:57am EDT
Julia-It gets sun in the morning and then by about 2:00 pm it is shaded over.
Zeldapie- Really looking for a low maintenance flower and plant that I could put in pots.
~ Zeldapie Mar 21, 2007, 12:30pm EDT
The annuals I listed will do well in pots. If you want really low maintenance (i.e., not having to water every single day), you might look into self-watering pots and containers. A friend of mine bought a bunch from IKEA last week. They're on casters, too, so she can move them into or out of the sun easily.
~ Zeldapie Mar 21, 2007, 12:49pm EDT
Another thing I do to get ready for spring is replace my storm windows with screens. I have a bungalow, built in 1921, and the first-floor windows are original. It's a big job, taking down the heavy old windows - but worse in the fall, when I first have to wash them all - and putting them up is more physically challenging than taking them down. This will be my third spring in the house, and I've learned that not ALL of the windows need to be replaced with screens. I have central air (which I rarely use), and I've figured out which windows to switch out in order to get a decent cross-breeze. I'm REALLY looking forward to opening my windows and feeling a fresh breeze again, and hearing the kids yelling and playing outside, and the dogs barking, and all the goold old neighborhood sounds.
Jennifer M. Mar 21, 2007, 1:08pm EDT
Ah yes IKEA the land of interesting objects and ideas.....thanks !
~ Zeldapie Mar 21, 2007, 1:50pm EDT
BTW, I like the picture of you and Goldy! I'm a U of M alumna, and I have a picture of Goldy carrying me in his arms when I was a freshman.
Jennifer M. Mar 21, 2007, 2:00pm EDT
Funny you should mention that,I was just digging around for my pic with TC of the Twins.
He is my other boyfriend.
Will post it as soon as I can find it.

Goldy is always a fan favorite.
Auntie Smedley Mar 23, 2007, 12:25pm EDT
Get the bikes out of the garage and pump up those tires!
Auntie Smedley Mar 23, 2007, 12:28pm EDT
[Trotting up to Jennifer with 19 gardening books under arm] Hi! My name is Auntie, and I'll be your garden strategist today. How may I help you?
Cecilia B. Apr 2, 2007, 8:20pm EDT
I see this conversation has been lagging, and it's my first post, so I hope I don't embarrass myself... Forget about the dog, it's my cat who's been sitting by the windows talking to the birds! Also, I compulsively make rounds of the gardens marking what's coming up. I'm an hour south of the Cities, and almost all my perennials are sending up green. It's so exciting! Now if we could just get on with spring and quit threatening snow in the forecast!
M.K. Mueller Apr 4, 2007, 4:47pm EDT
Cecilia! I agree, forget the dog, it's the CATS that can't wait to go outside!! I also have an elderly and lonely parakeet that spends all of his out-of-cage time sitting in the windowsil watching the outside birds.

One of my favorite spring-time rights of passage is being able to keep the windows open 24/7. Though that's something that comes and goes, considering it's freezing outside (literally) even I'm a little hesitant to open everything up.

I'm resisiting the urge to get started on outdoor projects, I have to finish this dang indoor remodel first. I'm hosting a baby shower on the 27th so it HAS to be done by then. For better or for worse though my yard is filled with perenials that seem to do their own thing with complete disregard to my efforts one way or another. :) I'm hoping to do some annuals this year though.
Diane R. Apr 5, 2007, 2:29pm EDT
How have your gardens been impacted by the cold weather? A week ago I had daffodils, tulips, and a hellebore coming up. I was so excited about the hellebore since it is new and I have not seen it bloom. Well, the hellebore is now toast; I hope it sends up another shoot later on. Also the daffodils that had sent up flower stalks are looking bad. Fortunately, several daffodils are just poking through the ground and they seem to be ok. Small daylily shoots also seem to be fine as does the catmint. I live in Mankato and am somewhat sheltered in location. Weather as warm as we had then turning so cold again is tough.
Jessica W. Apr 7, 2007, 2:19pm EDT
Please Help! I am a virgin gardener and am overwhelmed at where to start. I live in the country, and have a big back and front yard - lots of shade areas, lots of sunny areas. Does one plant a veggie area first or flowers? Can anyone recommend a good beginner book or garden timeline for our MN area? Also, we have an investation of local rabbits inhabiting an abdoned building near our property ...they drive Stanley, our Bassett hound, nuts & I have a feeling, will love to demolish anything we plant! Any information you would like to share would be much appreciated!
Julia Schrenkler Apr 9, 2007, 12:03pm EDT
Jessica, I encourage you to publish your question as a separate article so we can all chime in with help specifically for you!

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