Spring things are just starting to peek out of the last remaining snowbanks. While many people believe Wisconsin has just two seasons, winter and road construction, others are well aware of the coming attractions of gardens and new construction.
According to Ron Starmerof D-H Builders, Inc., Monroe, "the frost is out of the earth."
D-H already has started the next phase of Bakersfield Estates on Monroe's north side along Wisconsin 11/89. Just driving by, one can see the earth being moved, preparing the way for fully improved city lots - storm and sanitary sewer, water, electrical, natural gas, roads, curbs, gutters and, of course, sidewalks.
The new construction will include single and duplex condos, enough for 23 families. Starmer said they expect to start building the homes in June and will be done by the end of summer.
Landscaping will be done, "as we go," he said.
"In fact, I just ordered 30 blue spruces to go along the highway," Starmer said Wednesday.
The 8-foot trees will be planted in a berm parallel to Wisc. 11/89 to act primarily as a buffer against traffic noise, but also as a beautification measure. Starmer said the new flora residents will go into the ground around May 1.
Gardening starts>
Orville Eells, "Obie," owner of Green Path Greenhouses on County N near Monticello, said he is just starting to sell mulch to homeowners trying to get a start on lawn and gardens.
"People like to get that done before a lot of things," Eells said. "But winter just keeps hanging on."
Two things gardeners are doing now are starting seeds and pruning.
A lot of them like to get seeds started, Eells said. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages, tomatoes and peppers make up a majority of the started seeds.
People also think about starting potatoes. Traditionally, Good Friday is the potato planting date.
"It's a little early this year," Eells said.
Fruit trees and vines are pruned in February or March. Eells said to just make sure it's before the sap flows.
"The rule is: anything that blooms in the spring, prune after it's done; if it blooms in the summer, wait until fall or early spring," he said.
Another seasonal first is the first meeting of the Monroe Garden Club for the year. For those without a lawn or garden, house plants are the way to grow. African violets were one of the topics on Wednesday's program at Behring Senior Center.
Shirley Streit from Juda is a 20-year member of the Late Bloomers Violet Club, and as a grower of the amazing little African violet plants for 50 years, she also is a show judge.
She brought about a dozen of her 150 individual plants in a variety of colors and sizes to show Monroe Garden Club members.
African violets come in shades of purple, pink, blue, red and violet. But as Streit pointed out, the variegation varieties take those colors and expand the palette. Beige-, green-, yellow- and white-edged leaves make striking backgrounds for the petite flowers.
Miniature and semi-miniatures are nice to have as window sill plants, Streit said. Semi-miniatures are not to get over 8 inches, and the true miniatures stay under 6 inches. Those you will not find in any grocery store, she said.
Easy to start and to keep growing, a little knowledge of what African violets need and like is all a new indoor gardener needs. Streit's program seemed to make caring for the little plants an effortless joy, unless one has 150 of them.
Monroe's "bird">
The robins are back, the bluejays can be heard, and the geese overhead are announcing their return.
Construction cranes are visible all over downtown Madison, and have come to be known as Madison's "bird." And now, Monroe can say it has begun a Madison tradition with its own "bird."
The Walgreen Pharmacy walls are going up this week, and the crane, not as huge as in Madison, stands visible from the intersection of Eighth Street and Wisconsin 69.
According to Ron Starmerof D-H Builders, Inc., Monroe, "the frost is out of the earth."
D-H already has started the next phase of Bakersfield Estates on Monroe's north side along Wisconsin 11/89. Just driving by, one can see the earth being moved, preparing the way for fully improved city lots - storm and sanitary sewer, water, electrical, natural gas, roads, curbs, gutters and, of course, sidewalks.
The new construction will include single and duplex condos, enough for 23 families. Starmer said they expect to start building the homes in June and will be done by the end of summer.
Landscaping will be done, "as we go," he said.
"In fact, I just ordered 30 blue spruces to go along the highway," Starmer said Wednesday.
The 8-foot trees will be planted in a berm parallel to Wisc. 11/89 to act primarily as a buffer against traffic noise, but also as a beautification measure. Starmer said the new flora residents will go into the ground around May 1.
Gardening starts>
Orville Eells, "Obie," owner of Green Path Greenhouses on County N near Monticello, said he is just starting to sell mulch to homeowners trying to get a start on lawn and gardens.
"People like to get that done before a lot of things," Eells said. "But winter just keeps hanging on."
Two things gardeners are doing now are starting seeds and pruning.
A lot of them like to get seeds started, Eells said. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages, tomatoes and peppers make up a majority of the started seeds.
People also think about starting potatoes. Traditionally, Good Friday is the potato planting date.
"It's a little early this year," Eells said.
Fruit trees and vines are pruned in February or March. Eells said to just make sure it's before the sap flows.
"The rule is: anything that blooms in the spring, prune after it's done; if it blooms in the summer, wait until fall or early spring," he said.
Another seasonal first is the first meeting of the Monroe Garden Club for the year. For those without a lawn or garden, house plants are the way to grow. African violets were one of the topics on Wednesday's program at Behring Senior Center.
Shirley Streit from Juda is a 20-year member of the Late Bloomers Violet Club, and as a grower of the amazing little African violet plants for 50 years, she also is a show judge.
She brought about a dozen of her 150 individual plants in a variety of colors and sizes to show Monroe Garden Club members.
African violets come in shades of purple, pink, blue, red and violet. But as Streit pointed out, the variegation varieties take those colors and expand the palette. Beige-, green-, yellow- and white-edged leaves make striking backgrounds for the petite flowers.
Miniature and semi-miniatures are nice to have as window sill plants, Streit said. Semi-miniatures are not to get over 8 inches, and the true miniatures stay under 6 inches. Those you will not find in any grocery store, she said.
Easy to start and to keep growing, a little knowledge of what African violets need and like is all a new indoor gardener needs. Streit's program seemed to make caring for the little plants an effortless joy, unless one has 150 of them.
Monroe's "bird">
The robins are back, the bluejays can be heard, and the geese overhead are announcing their return.
Construction cranes are visible all over downtown Madison, and have come to be known as Madison's "bird." And now, Monroe can say it has begun a Madison tradition with its own "bird."
The Walgreen Pharmacy walls are going up this week, and the crane, not as huge as in Madison, stands visible from the intersection of Eighth Street and Wisconsin 69.