Birds that choose to overwinter in New England do so because they can find sufficient food. Water, though, is harder; and even vernal pools can freeze up in February. You can do your avian friends a good turn by either purchasing and setting up an electrically heated water station, or frequently replenishing the water in your unheated bird bath placed in a sunny location.
Instead of flowers on Valentine’s Day, how about a gift certificate to your loved one’s favorite nursery? Valentine’s Day flowers have often been stored to be ‘stockpiled’ for the February 14th rush and are marked up substantially. A gift certificate will be remembered in April and May, long after flowers are faded. If a nursery gift certificate isn’t appropriate, how about a membership in a horticultural, environmental, or conservation organization?
The severe drought that browned lawns and gardens in the summer of 2022 has ended. The ‘atmospheric river’ that brought floods to California reached the northeast as steady, soaking rains. As of February 2, no part of New England is rated as being in a drought state. While it isn’t a guarantee of a water-abundant 2023, it at least means we’ll start the gardening season with adequate soil moisture.
