It's Spring! Time to Think About Summer and Plan Your Garden Now

By Bette Erickson

You know, when spring rolls around, many of us daydream about gardening and all its splendor. I’m no different.

I’ve always loved spring and summer gardening and caring for houseplants all year round. When I was a young woman, working in the plant department at a local “Dime Store” in Battle Creek, Michigan, I read a book titled “Making Things Grow” by Thalassa Cruso.

With a French braid positioned on her head, she was a frequent guest on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. My British Grandmother fancied Ms. Cruso because she was also a wonderful, no-nonsense Brit. Ms. Cruso went on to write “To Everything There Is a Season,” and I was hooked on becoming the best hobby-gardener I could become.

Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies for people of all ages and abilities. For further inspiration here are a couple of additional titles for the little wanna-be gardeners in your life, just in time for spring and summer activities:

“ The Buried Treasure,” by Djemma Bider

“ The Garden – Frog and Toad Together,” by Arnold Lobel

“ This Year’s Garden,” by Cynthia Rylant

“ A Child’s Book of the Garden: The Things in Our Garden,” (Special Edition) by Arthur Ransome

“ We Are the Gardeners,” by Joanna Gaines and Julianna Swaney

I like to share my interest in gardening with others – young and old. (That’s much different than proclaiming I’m good at gardening.)

Anyway, if you’re interested in dabbling in gardening, try starting with an herb garden. If I had to choose one group of plants to grow, herbs would be at the top of that list.

Herbs are versatile and attractive plants. Many smell really great and they can be used in all sorts of ways. Plus, herbs are decidedly some of the easiest plants to grow. Few are bothered by insects and many can even withstand a bit of neglect, which is advantageous if you are new to gardening.

Those of us who enjoy cooking and eating may also enjoy nurturing a windowsill or countertop herb garden. Try growing some oregano you can use on pizza or chives for which you could embellish a salad or grow some fragrant dill to use on tuna salad.

If you like sweet smelling herbs, perhaps grow some that you could make use of in homemade potpourri, like mints, lemon balm, and rosemary. Additionally, there are many craft ideas that call for herbs, from scented pillows to dried flower arrangements.

Another fun activity to do for yourself or with a youngster is to watch bulbs blossom into flowers. A month ago, I watched as my tulip bulbs bloomed to life inside in a vase with shallow water.

If you potted up spring-blooming bulbs and stored them in a dark garage, shed or crawlspace last fall, March and April are good months to bring them into your home to come to life.

If you didn’t store any bulbs from your garden last year, you can purchase some at a nursery or even pre-packaged at a grocery store. Daffodils, tulips, crocus, and hyacinths are ideal to get you in the mood for spring and summer gardening.

Bette Erickson writes about people, places, and events. Contact her at bette_erickson@hotmail.com.