Here in Austin the winter has been so ridiculously mild that I'm wondering if "that time of year" won't be much earlier this time.  I've already ordered seeds (three types of tomatoes, jalapeno and poblano peppers, beans) and I have saved seeds for okra, so I can get started on seedlings right away.  We've worked on the soil for years now, adding some we bought from an organic garden center and the rest from our plentiful compost pile, so it's doing alright.  We thought we would horrify the neighborhood by putting a garden right in the front yard, but people have responded well to it.  Here you can see it with 2 grandchildren:

And here are some former fruits of our labor:

We have a small raised garden and some containers in the back yard, too.  Last year's tomatoes didn't do so well, so this year we're trying heartier types.  

Hooray to the European Tribune for letting me get my  mind off the stock market and the damned political situation in the USA for a few moments!

Karen in Austin

'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher