The winter garden

THE LONG WINTER IS CREEPING SLOWLY AWAY; YOU WOULD'NT KNOW IT THOUGH BY LOOKING AT THE CARPET OF LAST AUTUMNS LEAVES. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE WINTER POLLINATOR GARDEN. BEST NOT TO CLEAR AWAY ALL OF LAST YEARS SPENT GROWTH, CERTAIN INSECTS AND BUTTERFLIES CAN OVER WINTER ON THE STEMS, LEAVES AND ROOTS. Reason number two- BUTTERFLY WEED IN SPECIFIC WILL Land MANY SEEDS NEAR TO LAST YEARS GROWT, you don't want these seeds to be disturbed by a needless clean-up. MANY VARIETIES OF BUTTERFLY WEED REQUIRE STRATIFICATION OR COLD TREATMENT TO SPROUT. STRATIFICATION IS A COMBINATION OF DAMP AND COLD CONDITIONS THAT are REQUIRED TO BREAK THE DORMANCY OF THE SEEDS. ONCE WARM WEATHER COMES AND THE SOIL TEMPERATURE RISES, THE SEEDS WILL SPROUT.