Dear ##firstname[Friend]##,

Crystal Rennicke

My garden is covered with a foot of snow, but I can’t help but dream about what it will look like in a few months. Now is the perfect time to begin planning. Read these 50 tips to get you thinking spring!

And if you’ve really got the spring itch, try forcing bulbs indoors. It’s fun and the results will help you get through the remainder of the winter.

If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please use this link to sign up for yourself.

Happy Gardening!
--Crystal

READ ON TO DISCOVER...

• Plant of the Month
• Yard Smarts
• February Regional Checklist
• Frugal Gardener Tip of the Month
• Submit Your Story

Plant of the Month

‘Sizzle Heatwave’ Salvia
You’ll want this showstopper of a salvia in full view from your windows or patio to enjoy the many hummingbirds and butterflies that are sure to visit its lavish, hot-pink flowers.

Botanical name: Salvia.
Hardiness: Zones 6 to 9.
Size: Reaches up to 24 inches high and wide.
Light needs: Full sun.
Soil: Fertile soil; once established, water occasionally.
Growing advice: Prune the old flowers to encourage reblooming.
Featuring: This variety will bloom longer than other salvia. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, and is bred for its compact, rounded growth habit. Mix this new, hot color with tropical plants.

Click here for more information and how to order.

top

Yard Smarts

Secret to Strong Seedlings
Connect a small fall to an automatic timer and point it toward growing seedlings. I set my fan to turn on every 20 minutes. This way, my plants grow stouter and thicker stems and are more prepared for life outdoors. —Gary Seidel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

top

February Regional Checklist

To some, the winter months may seem like downtime. But we gardeners know that couldn’t be farther from the truth. True, plants may not need nearly as much attention right now. So there’s no better time to gather your resources and make your plans for the coming year than now!

• Northeast
• Northwest
• Southwest
• Central
• Southeast

top

Frugal Gardener Tip of the Month

In the Can
I loved the idea from a reader to use grocery bags as shoe coverings while out in the garden to not get your feet muddy. I came up with a way to store them. Cut a large X  in a plastic coffee-can lid, fill the can with bags and set it on the porch. —Ruth Yearout, Morton, Washington

top

Step Back to the Victory Era!

The editors of Reminisce magazine bring you Reminisce Through the Decades: The 1940s, a 6-hour-plus, three-DVD set of real-life stories from the ’40s! For more information, go to www.reminisce.com.

top