Spring Gardening

It's garden catalog time, and I've just ordered an unmanageable selection of seeds (again). Last year's best results from seed were the zinnias:

Here are some upcoming events for other incurable gardening optimists:

Spring Garden Day, March 14 (Cornell Cooperative Extension); Tamarack/Brunswick High School, Troy; Workshops are Sold Out, but you can still pay $10 at the door to see Margaret Roach speak at 2pm on "Making a 365 Day Garden" (check out her blog A Way To Garden)

Capital District Garden and Flower Show, March 27-29th; Hudson Valley Community College, Troy; $10 at the door, $8 advance tickets at Price Chopper

Here's a hot topic: Rain Gardening with Master Gardener Sue Perzzola, April 7, 6pm; East Greenbush Library; (See the ultimate Rain Garden Manual from the Univ. of Wisconsin.)

The Capital District Community Gardens have a Spring Brunch at HVCC on May 3. Check the link for details. CDCG's gardens include the "Rensselaer Family Farm" on Fifth St. near Fowler, and an employee community garden at the Tech Park.

Check out Cornell Cooperative Extension's online Gardening Resources, and once things start blooming, be sure to take a short drive out Rt. 43 and visit their Demonstration Garden at the Robert C. Parker School.

My latest quest is to find a local retailer selling rain barrels. Anybody know a source?