Happy Earth Day everyone!  Since planting season is just around the corner, I’ve been thinking about what I’d like to plant in my garden this year.   At the end of the season, I always leave my plants to die and to allow the local critters some additional food supply.  Less work in winter means an early work start to the gardening season.  Right now, I keep looking at my garden dreading the pre-planting season clean-up, but already dreaming of the summer’s bounty.  Next week, I plan to start ripping out all of the old plants and the weed paper and also begin weeding the nasty purple flower weed that is starting to take over my whimsical garden.  My mom informed me that if it gets into the grass, it will NEVER leave.  This year, we’ll plant the old standbys: tomatoes and cucumbers, and the new favorites: corn, italian frying peppers and leek.  I’m tossing around the idea of pole beans and I’m going to attempt to grow lettuce again this year in planter pots on shepherd’s hooks so the bunnies can’t eat them down to the root.  I also like to peruse the nursery to find something interesting each year (last year it was leek).  My whimsical garden is another story.  The winter wind and snow demolished my cute little animal spinners and The Destroyer has managed to break 2 out of 4 of my turtle stepping stones.  I’ve thought about planting lavender in its place.  The flower is beautiful and purple (my favorite color) and can withstand the full sun that patch receives, but given my already horrible allergies this season, I’m leery.  I’ve also been looking at a plant called dragon’s blood (it just sounds cool, right?!).  I’m not sure this will be available at my nursery, so I might have to catalog order it.  All in all, I’m planning and gearing up for the season.  A little bit of elbow grease and sweat will give us a plethora of tasty (and organic!) vegetables this summer, all while contributing to the environment.