For gardeners, nothing drives that lesson home more clearly than a freeze.  The winter of 2009/2010 came earlier and was colder on average than the past 20 or so winters.  The result? Your garden has been profoundly changed, and looking at it through rosy tinted glasses, I say it's for the better!  Now we have an opportunity to do a thorough house cleaning or completely start over. 

First, prune back all freeze-damaged foliage.  Next diligently keep after those spring weeds.  This is your big opportunity to get a handle on them since they can no longer hide amongst your desirable plants.  Now, consider taking a new approach in your garden.  Some ideas: create a butterfly and/or hummingbird garden, start a plant collection of herbs, succulents or salvias, whatever strikes your fancy, or simply tuck in vegetables and herbs here and there.  My father, Crespin Gonzales, loves to do this.  During the winter he grows mustard greens as an edging from which we harvest nutritious and delicious greens all winter.  When spring arrives, the mustard greens can be replaced with Nasturtiums, whose foliage and flowers provide a peppery flavor perfect in salads.  Leaf lettuce also works well in this application.  Whatever you decide, we'll be here at Nelson's to help you.