LADYBUG SAYS...WEATHER HAS FORCED LATE KICKOFF FOR GARDEN WORK

What a winter this has been!

The balmy, spring-like weather of January, when the low temperature was 15 and the high reached 66, was more typical of our March weather. At that point was the warmest winter in 47 years.

That was January. Then came February. During most of the month, it was cloudy and cold, and brought the heaviest snowfall in 14 years with a total of 18 inches. A record cold of -2 set a new record for the date, and this was also followed by many cold, cloudy days with low temperatures.

March may have come in like a lamb, but the month has made its mark on history with the devastating now, cold and blizzard recently in the South and East that has been more like a lion. As one commentator said on TV, she was sure the south has enough of "Northern Exposure."

With arrival of spring, things should be looking up. Our pansies, the pretty little faces that hug the ground, can withstand cold weather and these have come through three snows with flying colors. During the last cold spell, when the temperature dropped to 15 degrees, all of the empty boxes, cardboard containers, old sheets and anything else loose was used to cover the blooming bulbs such as Tete-tete daffodils, little Red Riding Hood tulips, mini Reticulata iris (both violet and royal blue). Most of them perked right up and are blooming on schedule.

Although much of the spring garden work has been delayed by this freakish weather, soon it will be possible to get outside and do the necessary uncovering, pruning, planting, dividing and fertilizing that needs to be done.

When I taught school many, many years ago, it was necessary to have a substitute in my room for a few days. When I returned to school, the dearest little freckled face boy with four missing front teeth, came to my desk and said, "Miz Boyd, while you were gone that other teacher gave me a spanking, but I'm not going to think about it and I'll soon forget it."

During the year I have often thought of first-grader Tony's philosophy and it has worked. If you do not think about it soon you will forget it. That is exactly what I plan to do about the past two months of winter weather.

If you did not get some of these things down when there were mild days, it is not too late. Prune raspberries and blackberries to about 30 inches above the ground for the best crop production. Old fruiting canes should be removed to ground level. It is also the time to prune grapes.

Pruning is for size, for shape control and for forcing new growth. All plants do not require the same type of pruning, so when wielding the shears, make sure that plant wants to be pruned at this time of the year.

One of the big projects is to prune overgrown evergreens. It is important to get this done before new growth comes out. One may cut out any dead wood on spring flowering shrubs. However, do not prune them now, else they will not flower this spring. Hope you have brought in some forsythia and pussywillow to flower inside to let you know spring is on the way.

Japanese quince, flowering almond, azaeleas, magnolias, and red maple can also be forced. To prevent smooth ends of thick, woody stems from sealing over, shred or mash the end of the stem. Be sure to change the water twice a week. Keep the branches in fairly deep water while forcing.

Pussy willow just needs cutting and placing in water. They will last longer if you remove them from water after the fuzzy buds arrive.

This is an ideal time to plant dogwood. Authorities tell us to observe how they grow in nature. In hilly country on slopes and banks of streams in acid soil. If you start with small sized trees and simulate these conditions as much as possible, they will thrive best and be less susceptible to borers.

Vegetables such as spinach, peas, members of the cabbage family, lettuce and onions may be sown as soon as the soil is ready.

Week's Seed Co. of Greenville, N.C., packages a gourmet mixture of lettuce including Grand Rapids, Simpson, Prizehead and bibb. Isn't that neat? Just broadcast the seeds and you will have a nice varied mixture soon to be wilted together.

Although gardeners are getting a late start, it soon will be constant action outside.

Happy Spring Gardening!