Dear Readers,

On Sunday, March 20, half an hour past midnight EDT, the sun crossed the celestial equator moving north. This marked our first official day of spring.

But we don’t need a date to tell us that spring is here. Taking advantage of the sunlight, people, plants, and animals are emerging from their winter modes to get outside, bloom, and otherwise welcome the sunshine. Trees are budding, peepers are singing, and geese are flying overhead. Joggers and cyclists are a plenty, neighbors are cleaning their yards, and you can hear the crack of the bat coming from local baseball diamonds.

Perhaps the most telling signs of spring are the blooming flowers and plants peeking through the softened ground. Yes, that’s right, your garden is waking up, and you’re in charge. It’s time to plant, prune, prepare beds, and care for your lawn.

If you are a seasoned gardener or are looking to get started this year, take advantage of the expertise you will find at our area farms and gardening centers. Take Buzas’ Greenhouse and Farm, for example, which offers a wide spread of fresh produce and plants, including some that can go out in early April. Buzas’ helps people plan their gardens or answer questions about growing and planting. It opened its doors in 1961 and now the fourth generation is getting ready to take over the family business. Read more about Buzas’ and all they have to offer on page 28.

Whether you’re planting, weeding, pruning, or clearing leaves, the right garden tools make any job in the garden easier. Check out Hot Ticket, on page 42, where you’ll find the goods you need to make your gardening job trouble-free.

Happy spring and happy planting,

Amy Hines