The Modern Victory Garden

February 2nd is not only “Groundhog Day” but also marks the mid-point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox – a point in time also known as Imbolc.   By the time February 2 arrives, we have completed the most difficult portion of our ascent out of winters darkest point (December 21st – winter solstice), and are heading towards the longed for beginning of spring (March 21st – spring equinox).   It’s a time of optimism because the low point of winter is behind us and it is possible to actually feel, taste, and see the promise of spring just around the corner.   It’s also the point in time where items that I have overwintered in the garden (or the greenhouse) begin to respond to the increasing sun strength and day length by putting on some noticeable growth after a long period of near dormancy.   It’s the real turning point in the transition out of winter and I look forward to it each year.                                                

Despite the wintery weather over the last several weeks, I have begun noticing some definite signs that Imbolc is almost upon us.   The garden walkways have tiny new shoots of grass and weeds emerging (which the hens have been happily gobbling up!); items in the unheated greenhouse are growing a little faster now, and the garlic that was planted late last fall has sent up shoots through the very thick mulch of rough finished compost that blankets the bed.    I went out into the dark tonight to get a picture to show you.    It is a flash photo on a very dark evening so the picture is not very good quality, but I think you can clearly see how uniformly the bed is sprouting and how much the sprouts have grown.      

This is why I always celebrate Imbolc (groundhogs day).   As a gardener it marks a real milestone in the cycle of the seasons - heralding the arrival of the transformational magic of the first green shoots, which are like a healing tonic for those of us weary of the dark days of winter. 

Laura

kitsapfreedomgardener