Frustrated fans of the great outdoors may be getting their seed catalogues in the mail, but State Climatologist harry Hillaker says it’s too early even to dream of planting in the garden yet despite the 60 degree temperatures of Friday. Typically the last freeze of the year across central Iowa happens in the third or even fourth week of April. Hillaker says you won’t be able to plant most seeds or cuttings until late in the month of April. He says some things could be set out even earlier, “depending on how much of a risk you want to take.” But though there could always be a warm spell that lets you try planting in early April, it’s risky that time of year. Hillaker says the winter snows have been about average, and with the ground frozen there’s no real impact so far on the likelihood of too much or little moisture when the summer growing season arrives.
Year of Rooster parties in Iowa
Celebrations are underway today (Saturday) at Drake University to mark the start of the Chinese New Year — following China’s lunar calendar. Des Moines resident and Chinese native Ying Sa has lived in Iowa since 1996 and says she’s excited about the new year ahead — the year of the Rooster. The year of the rooster means optimism and looking forward to the future, as the rooster itself is the first to rise each day to greet the sun. Sa says the Chinese New Year actually arrives on Wednesday, February 9th, but the parties are already underway both before and after during the season. She says this holiday is as important to Chinese natives as Christmas is to many Americans, though she says there’s a key difference. Sa says the Chinese don’t focus on presents — giving or receiving gifts or shopping. It’s not commercialized and the sense of celebration isn’t lost. About the only gifts are those of firecrackers, sunflower seeds or peanuts. She says it’s a time to gather with family and friends and look ahead to the coming year with happiness and good cheer. She says Chinese New Year is always an event where everyone greets each other and wishes them prosperity with much hope in the air. The celebration at Drake today includes dancing, food, special art and decorations, a tea pot exhibit, a Chinese costume show and a shortened Beijing opera. New Year events are also planned for Friday, February 11th, at Central College in Pella. For more information, surf to “www.iowachinese.org”.
