outcome of rose-pruning incident

To All the Medit-Plant Friends:
 
I thought I would tell you all of the final outcome of that rose thorn infection on my hand.  Though it was quite infected, swollen and painful that morning, I did squeeze it and soak it in the hot epsom salt solution my friend had suggested about 4 times that first day.  I had determined to check it first thing the next morning and see the doctor if things hadn't changed.  By next morning, the swelling was gone and the inflammation had localized to directly on top of the knuckle.  It was no longer painful to the slightest touch.  By that evening, it was barely noticeable and by the next day, it had healed to a better stage than most of the little nicks I give my hands regularly in th course of my days.  Huzzah for magnesium sulfate!!!  This wonderful, inexpensive product that I had under the cupboard for my son's sprained body parts is now my favorite treatment for cuts, especially with my previously mentioned intolerance of OTC triple antibiotic creams and occasional intolerance of Band-aids (though for really big gashes, I do put one on for a day).  I just love these time tested remedies that relieve the ridiculous load on our physicians in this hypochondriacal society. 
 
On a different note: Are the rest of you in the Northern Hemisphere as itchy to garden in early February as I?  We lived at 5000 ft. elevation in New Mexico for 3 1/2 years, and spring didn't really come until the very end of April or early May.  It was ghastly.  I think it the most blessed of climatic benevolences that spring begins in February in California lowlands.  Having been raised here, my annual biorhythm (if such a thing really exists) is just so happy on these lovely days when you can actually get out and putter about, putting in a few fall-blooming bulbs, cleaning up the really straggly things left over from winter blooming, and moving the last few things whose placement has been bothering me.  I pray I haven't waited too long to spray the pear and peach whose pruning was delayed by rain.  I happily pull all the little adventitious plants coming up in the decomposed granite walk and the cracks of the front drive.  I marvel at the greenness of the hills and roadsides, when the pictures on the news of everywhere else show snow-covered landscapes.  If I HAD to, I would live somewhere else, and I've traveled enough to know there are plenty of other beautiful places, but I feel secretly giddy that I get to live in California in the springtime.
 
Happy Spring Gardening Season to you all!
Karrie Reid
Folsom Foothill Gardener
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