An Aging Old Man Winter

Old man winter is showing his age. This year he seems content to spend most of his time napping on the couch rather than periodically hurling blizzards at us and trying to frost our systems with days-on-end below zero weather.

Besides that he appears to have given up what little hold he had on the 2011-2012 season. I saw a robin last week; others have seen bluebirds and sandhill cranes. These creatures appear to have accepted the demise of what winter we’ve had in anticipation of an early spring.

But be careful. Old man winter may be old, but like some old people I know, he can be unpredictable and even at times a little crotchety. Just because old man winter is getting on in years doesn’t mean he lacks power—at least I, for one, don’t think so.

CHECK THIS OUT: March 6, 7:00 p.m. at Barnes and Noble West in Madison Ruth and I’ll be launching GARDEN WISDOM. Ruth has prepared some great door prizes ranging from her famous home-made grape jelly, to her even more famous zucchini bread.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: You haven’t got it until you get it.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

March 6, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble-West, Madison. Launch of Garden Wisdom.

March 9-11. Canoecopia, Alliant Center, Madison. (Trade show for all things canoeing) I am speaking at 4:30 on Friday, March 9 and at 2:30 on Saturday, March 10. Steve will share Boundary Waters photos as part of Saturday’s presentation.

March 11, 2:00 p.m. Book talk and signing, Arcadia Bookstore, Spring Green. (Garden Wisdom)

March 17, 10-2:00 p.m. Rock River Gallery and Coffee House, Jefferson. (Garden Wisdom)

March 24. Central Wisconsin launch of Garden Wisdom at Patterson Memorial Library Wild Rose. Dinner at six. Contact the library for reservations: 920-622-3835. Presentation and book signing to follow.

March 31-April 1. Morton Arboretum (Thornhill Education Center), Chicago area. Presentation on vegetable gardening, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on March 31. Sunday, April 1, 1:30-3:30 features a vegetable gardening workshop, with tips on planting and caring for a vegetable garden. Additionally, Ruth will discuss preparing vegetables and fruits for canning and freezing.

April 12, 7:00 p.m. Mcmillan Library, Wisconsin Rapids. Garden Wisdom

April 13, 11:00 a.m. Larry Meiller Show, Wisconsin Public Radio. Broadcasting at Fox Cities Book Festival. Garden Wisdom.

April 13, 2:00 p.m. Fox Cities Book Festival, Neenah. Garden Wisdom

April 14, 10 a.m.-12 a.m., AAUW, Lacrosse, WI (Stories from the land)

April 15, 12:30 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, LaCrosse (Garden Wisdom)