Unless you have been living under a rock, you should be aware by now of the importance of bees (and insects in general for that matter) on our ecosystem. They are our chief pollinators, along with wasps and flies, some moths and butterflies, and even hummingbirds and bats.

Sometimes I feel like the world is spinning out of control. If you are feeling overwhelmed, I have the solution for you: spend more time in the garden!

The sunshine will do you good, working in the dirt will help build up immunities, breathing the fresh air will clear your lungs, and communing with nature will clear your mind.

There is no doubt in my mind that spring has sprung. This indisputable fact lies in the discovery this week of the first white blooms on a wild plum tree that lives down the street from the nursery. On that same road, I caught a glance of the swelling buds of several Bradford flowering pears that line the parking strip.

Traditionally speaking, Valentine’s Day is the “Christmas” season for florists, whereas Mother’s Day belongs to the garden centers.

However, not being one to follow tradition, I am going to take this space to help you stretch the envelope, so to speak.

Let’s face it, compared to other regions of our country, we have it pretty darn good when it comes to winter. Occasional snow rarely sticks around for more than a week or two, nighttime lows are usually above freezing and the day temps can even get up into the 50’s.

Life is good if you are a gardener in the Northwest.

It looks like the next couple of weeks are going to be wet and cold and some preparation on our parts can help minimize any deleterious effects.

We rarely see more than 10 to 14 days of continuous below freezing weather during the winter, but despite its short duration, it can do a lot of damage.

I know it is crunch time for gift buying and you might still have a few tough ones to figure out. Avoid the crazy mall madness and have an actual tactile experience of touching the gifts you’re searching for at your favorite garden center.

Hellebores are a classic example of a seasonal perennial that is readily available throughout the winter and then missing during the summer months.

I am excited to tell you that they are once again arriving on our benches and ready for planting.

As gardeners, the concept of “going natural” is nothing new. Whatever our reasons, whenever practical we tend to shy away from synthetics and instead choose products that are natural.

In the case of Christmas trees, we have the same choices - one is buying an artificial tree, and the other is buying a real tree.

There is always something to do in the garden, even if it is just walking around and observing what Mother Nature is up to.

As stewards of the green spaces we call our gardens, here are some things to consider as we move into winter…