Springtime in the South

SPRINGTIME IN THE SOUTH Each year, March 17th commemorates Saint Patrick's Day. Saint Patrick's Day celebrates the Roman Catholic feast day of the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, who died on March 17,461.

Just three or four days after Saint Patrick's Day, March 20 or 21, falls the first day of spring in the United States and the rest of the northern hemisphere. For Arkansas gardeners, from Saint Patrick's Day to the first day of spring marks the beginning of gardening season with such outdoor vegetables as potatoes, onions, radishes, and lettuce.

Each year as I get older, I say I'm not going to plant a garden this year. But each year I do. I guess when you are born, raised, and lived on a farm all your life, it just goes against your southern roots not to plant a garden. And so like any 'dyed in the wool' southern farm girl, my early spring crop of onions, radishes, and lettuce is planted. And that makes my southern farm girl heart feel good!