MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) _ The historic barrage of snow and cold in New England this winter has pushed back the gardening season and left behind damaged bushes, trees and greenhouses as well as gardeners eager to get outside and in the dirt.
The growing season is one to two weeks behind schedule, following a winter that lacked the usual mid-season thaw.
While the blankets of snow insulated and protected plants and roots from winter winters, the weight of it broke off tree branches, damaged greenhouses and crushed bushes as it fell off roofs. Plants were also damaged by hungry deer, rabbits and voles.
John Forti of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society says the good news is that the water table is up significantly, which will help plants recovering from the tough winter.