You'll be happy to hear that nearly all of the snow is now gone in Austin.
Heard a robin singing this morning. Probably two to three weeks away before
the garden will be dry enough to start cleaning up and getting ready for the
new season. I have penstemon, snaps, clematis, columbine, larkspur, bachelor
button seedlings that I need to repot into individual pots and put out in
the cold frame. Today or tomorrow I start impatiens, petunia, and about 3
varieties of marigolds. Some basil and cherry tomato also. (I have three
sets of shop lights in the basement so I am indoor gardening from about
December.

Outdoor planting's frost free date is May 15th.
With the snow gone, I see that moles have been busy all winter just
under the snow but above the ground - I have declared war on them, but
victory is not yet in sight. This summer I am surging up my efforts. They
are handy in the garden as they churn the soil without hurting the plants.
In the lawn - evil thoughts of death and torture come to mind. I didn't
have any lily blooms last year because of either rabbits or deer or both. A
gardening acquaintance said to get a pellet gun. That's surging too much. I
am thinking - fencing as in perimeter fence. I suppose I could call the
fenced in area the "green zone. "

Scott in Austin ... Minnesota