By C. L. Fornari for National Garden Bureau
Photographs courtesy of National Garden Bureau
Your yoga classes, meetings, and concerts are canceled. The kids are out of school and you’re being encouraged to stay home.
In this time of #COVID-19, here are a few suggestions to cultivate something good.
Start some seeds. Nothing is more life affirming than checking each morning to see if something sprouted.
Plan a vegetable garden. Grow the veggies you love the most. Read about which varieties to plant from seeds and which ones are better if you purchase plants. Consult garden blogs and books.
Zinnia Preciosa Tropical Blend. Photograph courtesy of American Takii.
Plan to grow flowers that make you happy. Suggestions: sunflowers, nasturtiums, zinnias or marigolds. These are #EasyFromSeeds and you can grow many plants for less money.
“Buy Local.” Some garden centers are offering curbside pickup so you can place your order for plants and then pick them up at the store, keeping social distancing in mind but still fulfilling your need to buy plants.
Redesign the plantings in the front of your house. Research plants that grow well in your area, and make a plan for spring renewal.
Take an online class about plants or gardens, or watch some YouTube instruction videos. Learn about seed starting, taking cuttings, or how to grow vegetables.
Plan an herb garden. What herbs do you like to cook with? Which herbs make the best cocktails or tea? If you don’t have in-ground space, grow herbs in pots. #foodies #aromatherapy
Pull out the garden or plant books you bought in the past and read them…maybe for the first time! Revisit those copies with lovely garden photos and be newly inspired.
Tomato Gold Spark F1. Photograph courtesy of GardenTrends.
Go to on-line seed and plant companies and learn about varieties you’re not familiar with. Join plant or garden groups on social media. Search for posts about the flowers and plants you see listed.
Take a walk in a nearby natural area: woods, field, desert, beach or park. Look closely at leaves, bark, mosses, and flowers. Notice the number of plants that grow in a community. Look up, look down.
Take this time to groom or repot houseplants. Remove dead leaves, refresh the soil, take cuttings of favorites so that later you can share the wealth with friends.
Order a new book about plants or gardens. Once it arrives, hold a #GardenRetreat hour or afternoon. Sip your favorite beverage, read and make a list of garden inspirations.
What plants remind you of family members or friends? Write those memories down. Consider turning those recollections, along with photos of the plants and people, into a small book that can be passed to others in your family.
Decide to plant a tree. Research which varieties grow well in your area. Look to see where you have the right amount of space and sunlight.
Salvia New Dimension Blue in a container. Photograph courtesy of PanAmerican-Kieft Seed.
Create a new indoor display of plants.Make a row of small pots in bloom on your kitchen counter or the windowsill above your sink. Move an unused side table in front of a window or slider, creating a new place for plants.
Help to get a young person out into the natural world. Plan a garden for your kids or grandchildren. Donate supplies to a local children’s garden or school garden.
Plan a garden vacation. Decide on an area of the country, and research public gardens, national parks, and plant destinations that are in the region.
View found time as a #PlantingOpportunity, keep it #GardenStrong and #LifeAffirming. #SpringIsn’tCancelled
All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.
By Dan Heims, President, Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Photographs courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Terra Nova’s breeders have created a series of outstanding world-class echinaceas that are consistent in size, bloom power, color intensity and are a pollinator buffet. What’s not to like.
To learn more, click here for an interesting article.
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