If you are anything like me, you got really spoiled during the week of Feb. 5 when the sun shone every day.

Except for the really big, plowed piles, the previously fallen snow was gone. At my house, the daffodils were not only peeking out of the ground, they were up about 3 inches.

When the weather forecast for Feb. 13 was 4-8 inches of snow, I was very skeptical. It had been so warm for so long; there was no way it was going to snow a large amount for any length of time. In addition, Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring.

Well, 10 inches of snow fell at my house Feb. 13, and suddenly, the visible daffodils were no more.

If you remember, Feb. 17 brought another 4 inches of snow on top of what was already on the ground. Could my daffodils possibly be OK under all that snow, or had they become a snow casualty?

I am writing this article Feb. 21 and am happy to report where the sun has melted the snow, my daffodils are now up about 4 inches, and they are starting to bud! Resiliency and patience are key.

My garden reminds me just like in life, there will be obstacles. While I may not be able to control the obstacles placed in front of me, I can control how I respond to them. I can choose to become a snow casualty, or, like my daffodils, I can be resilient, practice a little patience and overcome obstacles.

Recently, Karen Fitzpatrick from Lehigh Valley Plant-A-Row asked me to participate in the Lehigh Valley Flower and Garden Show, which will be held March 8-10 at Ag Hall at the Allentown Fairgrounds. Many years ago, my mom and I attended the show, and I found it a great place to get ideas for my garden and landscaping.

Lehigh Valley Plant-A-Row will have an information table at this event to share its mission of growing extra vegetables and fruit in our gardens to share with our food-insufficient neighbors. Information will be available for individuals and groups to learn more about how they can get involved.

I will be present at the Plant-A-Row table 3-7 p.m. March 8 and 9. If you happen to be in attendance during either of my shifts, stop by and introduce yourself. I will be wearing a gold Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative shirt and my name badge. I look forward to meeting you!

Don’t forget, seed planting season is just around the corner. While shoveling snow Feb. 13, my neighbor and I were discussing planting brassica seeds indoors very soon for early spring transplanting. In my April article, I will share which seeds have been planted for our pantry garden.

Speaking of seeds, I am in search of seeds for a sweet pepper variety called Mandarin. When I moved to Whitehall from Wisconsin and planted my first garden, I bought plants from a flower shop in West Catasauqua. I purchased my plants from this shop every year until the business closed.

One pepper variety I bought every year was a sweet, orange pepper called Mandarin. These peppers grew big and long with medium-thickness walls. When fully ripe, they were so flavorful this variety quickly became my favorite. Unfortunately, since the business closed, I have been unable to find Mandarin pepper seeds or plants.

Readers, if you happen to have any extra Mandarin pepper seeds or know where I can find some, will you please share with me? I would very much like to grow this variety at home and in our pantry garden. Give me a call at 610-379-6823 with any information you have.

Be patient - I guarantee spring is on the way!

Editor’s note: This column was written by Gwen Herzog, Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative pantry garden chair.