Looking Ahead | A Note from Rick Bogusch
February 18, 2025
By Rick Bogusch
February is a month to look forward
Looking forward to slightly warmer temps and defrosted ground: Though midwinter is a great time to mulch and prune, there are some jobs like edging, thinning perennials and digging out invasives that are more easily done be done when everything’s not frozen.
To sowing the first seeds indoors: If you haven’t ordered seeds yet, you should ASAP. Though it’s too early to start most crops this month, it’s a good time to get heating mats, lights and supplies in order. We grow artichokes for some of the community gardeners and traditionally start them in February. Most crops need 6-8 weeks of growth before planting outdoors, but they need 8-12 weeks. (See below for details.)
To sowing the first seeds outdoors: That won’t be until next month at the earliest, when arugula, spinach and radish will be the first to go in the ground and when soil temps are 45 degrees. This month, we’re setting up 2 tunnels with frost-protective fabric to see if the ground beneath warms up faster and can be planted sooner.
To uncovering the fabric tunnels we set up last year:They’ve held up well during this windy winter, so we’re hopeful we’ll get extra early crops of spinach, arugula, collards and turnips.
To mowing less: This season, we’re experimenting with a new mowing routine. We’ll still mow gathering areas and wide paths through the grounds, but won’t mow other areas, except once or twice before year’s end. We want to see what happens to these “meadows” and find ways to maintain them, so they are attractive, and especially attractive to pollinators and other wildlife, and favor native species.
To our first outreach programs: Though we’ve already held a couple tours and workshops, our first official Connections activity happens next month on March 8th, when our popular series, Long Island Grown, returns to the stage after a long hiatus. The last one was held in March 2020, just prior to the pandemic, and we’ve missed the captivating panel discussions and their convivial receptions. (For details on this program, check out the calendar items below.) In fact, we have a whole calendar of programs planned for this year and hope to see you at all of them. Keep informed by checking our website or your latest Connections brochure.
To adding to our native plant collection: Look for red maples, butternuts, tupelo, oaks, sweetgum and more as we continue to showcase the beauty of plants native to Long Island and eastern North America.
With so much on the horizon, it’s easy to lose sight of the present. Bridge Gardens is a great place to enjoy the light and beauty of the midwinter landscape, and think about warmer, greener days ahead. I hope to see you soon.
Rick Bogusch
Garden Director, Bridge Gardens
rbogusch@peconiclandtrust.org