Getting ready for spring Even though the snow is still falling in much of the country and the temperatures are colder than usual, there’s no reason to not start thinking about spring and all the outdoor activities available in the upcoming months. Here are some lawn and garden tips to make your 2011 garden your best yet.

Here are a few to dos before spring comes.

• Review your gardening plan from last year and start thinking about what you want to change this year. Do you need to add some plants? Remove or relocate some existing ones?

• Check out seed catalogs and begin ordering the ones that interest you. Try a new heirloom variety of beans or get the kids some pumpkin seeds for homegrown Jack O’Lanterns. Don’t forget there are several quick growing flowers that can be planted from seed, like marigold, California poppy, snapdragon and morning glory.

• Take stock of how much potting soil, mulch, weed and bug control, fertilizer, and other garden materials you still have in your garage or shed. Determine which products you can use from last year and which will need to be replaced.

• Inspect water hoses and nozzles for any holes or tears and replace as needed. Check hoses on pressure sprayers, too. Check the tire pressure on your wheelbarrow and be sure the handles are securely attached to the bed. Replace worn or broken shovels, rakes, trowels and other handheld garden tools.

• Check any unplanted bulbs, seeds, rhizomes or roots you have stored from last year and dispose of any that appear moldy or diseased.

• Check the drainage in any containers you have planted spring flowering bulbs, such as tulips, hyacinths or daffodils. In the winter, it is the damage from ice that occurs when water from melting snow or routine watering gets trapped that kills this hardy bulb more than the cold temperatures.

THINK SPRING !!!!

For those that are new to Butternut Squash it is a type of winter squash. It has a sweet, nutty taste similar to that of a pumpkin. It has yellow skin and orange fleshy pulp. When ripe, it turns increasingly deep orange, and becomes sweeter and richer. It grows on a vine.

If you have chicken stock around then all you have to is put all these ingredients in the pot

and let it simmer and then puree.  Could not be easier.  Make sure you use some tart apples for the soup.

Butternut Squash Apple Soup
Yields: 6-8 serving | Prep Time: 45 minutes

1 1/2 qt of chicken stock
2 lb butternut squash cut in small cubes
2 tart apples (peeled) cut into small cubes
2 shallots chopped
1 tsp fresh rosemary or 1/2 tsp dried
1 tsp fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried
1/2 cup half and half
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper

Prepare the chicken stock or heat it up if you had some stored away.  Add squash, apples, shallots, and herbs. Simmer covered for 30 minutes or until all vegetables are soft and tender.

Puree in food processor until the consistency you like.  Return to pan and add half and half. Add salt and pepper and simmer for a few more minutes. Taste for any additional seasoning.

( recipe courtesy of old fashioned living dot com )