We’re glad to be back in 2003.  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.  I apologize for not returning from the holiday break last week as promised, but sometimes the unavoidable, unexpected snags of life just pop up. All is now well.

    Spring is just around the corner and we are all diligently planning for the best season ever.  Aren't they all supposed to be perfect?  We don’t know what lies ahead, but things just wouldn't be fun if they always went as planned.  We could probably all use a “normal” growing season after the topsy-turvy weather we have experienced in the last few years.

    Come spring our plants will bloom and then leaf out. By the time things are in full leaf, we should have a count of casualties from the 2002 drought.  Often times a plant can go through the cooler season of blossom, but fail to hurdle the drive for massive foliage.  Adequate moisture in the earlier stages will be essential to survival.

    We are experiencing a very cold winter, which is giving our plants a deep and needed period of dormancy.  Sleep hard guys.  The rains and snows of this winter have given our plants good hydration for winter survival.  Just make sure your ice melter stays on the walkways and out of the flower beds, as slats can cause great damage.

    How will the extreme cold affect insect pests in the coming season?  I used to wonder if all insects could handle any cold because the eggs are very durable.  I am led to believe that some insects are less durable than others.  Accordingly, some populations should be trimmed by the cold weather.

    An early warm period allows some weed seeds to sprout and a few insect eggs to hatch.  When a sharp cold spell follows, the emerging seeds and insects are killed, further reducing their numbers.  The problem is that much damage is suffered by plants that are also prematurely “out of the gate” when such a cold snap occurs.  Let's hope for even temperatures and moisture levels as we pursue the perfect season.

    My prediction is that this will be “The Year Of The Mosquito”.  With the West Nile virus concern, we'll be cleaning the shelves of larva control products and insect repellents in the frenzy.  Let's hope these critters have a bad year.  Until next week.

                                                                                            Andy Lynn