The Summerland Advocate-Messenger - Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community

The sun is shining as Nebraskans wake up. With a break from cold temperatures, a walk outside lends a view of tulips pushing their way through the soil. I am so ready for spring, although I know that Mother Nature can fling back her head and dump cold and snow on us.

I'm not scared of what will unfold. Spring is coming and the tulips and sedum popping out of their winter blankets are a sure sign that we will be able to step outside soon and feel the warmth on our faces.

Until then, I plan on planting a few seeds indoors and continue to look through seed catalogs and emails for the newest plant offerings.

It's no surprise that each morning I look out my kitchen window hoping for a glimpse of green. I know it's to early, but it's a prebonus of gardening to think I might see something popping up.

It's not too early to work in that garden that lays in still, late winter, soggy condition. Come mid-March, I will be applying pre-emergents to my flower garden.

You may think it is too early, but while I wait for pretty things to pop up, the nasty perennial weeds are laughing and snarling as they make their way to the surface. Pre-emergents work on weeds before they come through the ground, Not on weeds once they have emerged.

Pre-emergents are like a magic garden wand that can assure me some time to sit on the patio and enjoy my flower beds.

The brand I use says application will keep weeds at bay for three months before reapplication is needed. That gives me 90 days of having coffee on the patio without rushing to grab my garden gloves and hoe.

Well, ho ho to that. There is still grooming to do in the garden but the pre-emergent really does help. Just remember if you plant seeds and then apply pre emergent in the same spot, the veggies or flowers will not come up.

Most pre-emergents are great at stopping weeds in iris beds. If grass is an issue try to dig it out first, replant your iris and then follow up with the pre-emergent.

Meanwhile, I am looking for perennials to fill in spots in the flower bed. I'm hoping last year's newbies come back as their roots take hold and creep underground, giving them a strong base for many years in my garden.

I am anxious to gather bouquets of hydrangeas and watch as new-to-the-garden phlox plants unfold their colorful blooms.

Oh my, I really have spring fever. This could mean a trip to the local flower shop and a bouquet of fresh flowers for the kitchen table. Then, when I look out my kitchen window and don't see color quite yet, I just have to turn around and look at the bright blooms on the table.

A new pair of colorful garden gloves isn't a bad idea, along with a container of bright yellow pre-emergent, to keep me looking for spring. I just might put the gloves on each morning as I look out my kitchen window and wait for spring.