Read by Matilda Longbottom

February is here, and while the cold lingers outside, it’s all warmth and love inside. Whether you’re snuggled in front of a fireplace or cozied up with a blanket across your lap, it’s the perfect time to curl up with your favorite gardening books, catalogs, and, of course, the latest issue of GreenPrints.

My article, Is February the Month of Love?, delves into the history of Valentine’s Day and explores why February is so closely associated with love. Becky Rupp offers an insightful take on the day in Forget Chocolate. Think Celery. I’ll never look at a celery stalk the same way again!

If you’re looking for something to warm you on those chilly February days, check out From Garden to Teacup: Growing Your Own Floral Teas by Amanda MacArthur. After reading it, I now have a brand-new wish list for both my indoor garden and my morning cup of tea. Another way to stay warm is by embracing hot peppers—Bill Dugan highlights their health benefits in The Fiery Red Pod: Healthful Hot Peppers?

For a bit of humor to keep you warm and smiling, Pat Stone’s Seedy Doings is wonderfully relatable. Haven’t we all spent far too much time poring over seed catalogs with longing—or is that just me? Meanwhile, the ever-funny Mike McGrath shares his delightful tale, The Canes Go Marching Two by Two. Have you ever dealt with a raspberry invasion?

This month’s Stories in the Garden continue the theme of love and warmth. In The Garden’s Embrace, Valerie Da-Silva Curtiss admits to poring “over gardening books, meticulously planning, selecting, and discarding orders with reckless abandon.” Ann Pedtke finds a creative way to occupy herself during February’s chill in Seeds of Joy: Embracing Summer in February. Love Grows: A Gardener’s Romance by Ellen Simone offers a sweet and touching story that proves love goes deeper than flowers and chocolate. Jen Finazzo shares a tale of hope and greenery in Plant Killer: A Story of Hope and Greenery, where a grandmother passes down her love of gardening to an “accidental” gardener.

In the kitchen, our Garden to Table Recipe Collection features romantic dinner recipes perfect for February. Whether you’re cooking for someone special or sharing the kitchen as part of your romantic experience, these recipes are sure to warm hearts and feed souls.

Finally, this month’s Story Collection is a love letter to the profound bond between humans and the natural world. Nurtured by Nature showcases stories that highlight the healing power of gardens.

If all of that is not enough of to be excited about in the new year, remember that GreenPrints is part of Food Gardening Network. Enjoy a full library of magazine issues from three different magazines, articles, gardening guides, videos, kits, and recipes, including:

• GreenPrints Magazine—You continue to get monthly digital magazine issues that deliver entertaining and enjoyable gardening-themed stories and tales, plus gorgeous artwork.
• Food Gardening Magazine—Please check out the library of monthly issues filled with articles about how to start, maintain, and harvest food from your home garden.
• RecipeLion Magazine—Please try out some of the hundreds of delicious and easy-to-make recipes at your fingertips … and use the tips and tricks for developing new cooking skills.
• Gardening GuideBooks—You have instant and unlimited access to more than 70 premium, curated Gardening GuideBooks that cover specific plants. Access all the Gardening GuideBooks now!
• Cookbooks & Recipe Collections—You get full and immediate access to 20 digital cookbooks and recipe collections, with more than 1,577 quick-and-easy, garden-fresh recipes. Never run out of ways to enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor. From single dishes to a whole meal—we’ve got you covered!
• Video Library—Please take time to watch some of the more than 90 videos in our library with gardening tips, tricks, and tactics; do-it-yourself projects for gardening and crafting items; and cooking videos to show you exactly how to make specific dishes.
• DIY Crafting Kits—You have full access to printable garden planning calendars to help keep your garden on track, garden and recipe card kits, Greeting Card kits, and gorgeous ArtPrints kits for adorning your walls with beautiful artwork.
• Weekly Recipe Planner—every Friday, you get 5 new easy, healthy recipes.

Check out the entire February 2025 issue, and revel in the love that is contained in the stories. Stay warm and it is never too early to plan your Spring garden.

Please let me know what you think. I’d truly love to hear from you, especially about any plans you have for your garden this year!

Christy Page
Executive Editor
GreenPrints

P.S. Please email Christy Page with your feedback. We look forward to hearing from you. Or just post your comments about this issue below, to share with the entire GreenPrints community.