February. The month when winter clings and spring begins to nudge her way in. The days are longer and brighter, soil warming even as the intermittent frosts are heavy. Buds on hydrangeas and roses begin to swell then hold. This gardeners time divided between trimming, planning and seed sowing. Rose catalogues strewn about with orders being placed. A time of hope and patience as we have one foot in winter and the other in spring.