Bluebells and Other Spring Flowers

When I looked outside this morning, I might have thought spring hadn't come. There was frost and ice on the deck and it crunched beneath my feet when I braved the cold and dared to go outside. Of course the Pulmonaria told me otherwise. Yes, it may not feel like it, but according to my garden, spring really is here.

What I like about bluebells is, well, the fact that they are blue. True blue flowers are a bit rare in the garden so it is nice to have this color in April since it is my favorite color. Not maize and blue, just blue. I like green too of course, I have to as I am a gardener. But blue, well that's the color for me. And I have a lot of it right now. Of course I am calling on Mother Nature for a bit of warmth too!

Crocuses in Bloom

I am a sucker for crocuses since they are what bloom first in my sunny Saginaw, Michigan garden. And it is always nice when the snow goes away and I can actually see them.

This has been a year for snow in Saginaw though I don't complain since I like to ski. But after a world weary winter I am ready for life of the garden variety. Let's me know that I too am kicking!

Need to know how to plant crocuses? Search for them at the Ohio State University PlantFacts Database a great resource for avid gardeners.

The hyacinths are poking through as are the alliums. Want color? Plant bulbs. Want to eat? Plant bulbs. Onions that is. Bulbs are an all purpose sort of plant, to eat or not to eat, well that is up to you. Just make sure they are safe from the squirrels who like to dig them up.

Snow in April

I know I live in Michigan and I can expect spring to lag behind the rest of the nation, but old man winter has had enough fun this year. Yes we got more snow yesterday. On top of what we already had. I am so ready for spring.

So I guess that is what ornamental grasses are good for. Winter interest since winter doesn't seem to want to end this year. One has to have something to look at when yet more snow falls. My crocuses were in bloom but I suspect they are weather beaten now.

That doesn't mean I am not an optimist. I have started tomato and pepper seeds, many heirloom varieties and the kohlrabi has peeked through along with the leeks. Soon, I keep telling myself, soon.

Get the Kids Involved!

As a child, one of my favorite activities was going to grandma and grandpa's farm in Allen, Michigan. Allen was a small town (population 500) back then, and even smaller today (population less than 300). But it was the "at" place for the Donnelly grandchildren. And because of that experience, this is one child who grew up eating and liking vegetables. I am convinced there are two reasons for this.

First, I did it myself. I podded the peas, I shucked the corn. And I LIKED doing it! Go figure. But I think doing it myself connected me to those veggies and I was far more likely to taste them than if I had never done anything.

Second, and most important of all, homegrown veggies taste better. I think we all want children to eat their fruits and vegetables. But do we ever wonder why they don't eat them? Well, I have eaten one too many mealy tomato so I know why they don't eat them. They don't taste good when the most important thing about them is how long can we make them last. Homegrown veggies don't need to last as long as the ones from California and Mexico. And that's why they taste better. If they taste good, children are going to eat them.

Anyways, that is the gist of the vegetable gardening presentation I did for the Child Care Providers workshop conducted by the Public Libraries of Saginaw. This was a new venture for me, but I am hoping I convinced a few people that if they didn't have a vegetable garden it was about time they put one in!

Ordering Seeds

If you haven't ordered your seeds yet, let me assure you, it isn't too late to do so. I haven't started my peppers or tomatoes yet so you really do have time to get those last minute orders in. This year I am trying some different colors of larkspur, an annual that has been coming back for me from seed reliably for many years now. This is the poor man's delphinium. If you have trouble with delphiniums, you might want to give it a try.

I am looking forward to trying these peppers called Ancho Gigantia. I bought my vegetable seeds from the Seed Savers Exchange this year. There are so many varieties of heirlooms it makes my head dizzy. How to choose? I have no answer to that question. Perhaps eeny meeny does it.

I was at the Home and Garden Show at the Pontiac Silverdome and attended a presentation on environmentally friendly gardening presented by the Union of Concerned Scientists. I feel pretty good about what I am doing outside. Now if I can get beyond this next snowstorm that is on the way maybe I can get outside and start planting!

More on the Michigan Herb Associates Conference

One of the activities at the Michigan Herb Associates annual conference is the plant auction. This auction raises money to support the 4H Children's Garden located on the campus of Michigan State University. If you have never been to this garden I strongly urge you to make a visit. This is a garden that is wonderful for children of all ages, including many as old as myself.

There is always an educational display created by the many different herb associations located across the state of Michigan. I love browsing through the displays and discovering the many creative ways herbalists use the herbs from their gardens.

Learning how to make herbal liqueurs was one of the many workshops offered at this year's conference Who knew there were so many options for using the herbs we grow? Now if only spring would come!

2011 Annual Conference of the Michigan Herb Associates

I know that spring is not far away when it is time for the annual conference of the Michigan Herb Associates. Yes, this is Michigan and there is still snow on the ground, but it won't be long before I will be looking for the first sign of my horseradish plant which happens to be the herb of the year for 2011.

And even though I told myself that I wasn't going to buy any plants at the conference this year, I just couldn't resist. Woe is me. I just don't know what gets into me. I am not really ready yet and the likelihood is these plants will die before I ever get them outside.

I couldn't resist this lettuce mix. Eating a salad with my own lettuce sounds good to me right now. I intend to plant this into a larger pot, water well, try to give it plenty of light in this house of mine that tends to be dark, and some good organize fertilizer. Perhaps it will be salad time next week.

The rosemary I was trying to winter over from last year died on me of course. I just don't have a lot of light inside and I don't have much luck keeping this plant alive over the course of the winter. But I am hopeful this little plant will survive long enough for me to get it out into the warm sunshine of summer.

I usually try to be patient and wait until later in the year to start growing basil as when I start it too early it tends to die on me before I get it into the ground. Basil in an annual and will die after setting seed. But Lori May from Raker & Sons, a wholesaler of seedlings, convinced me that I just had to have this variety of basil called Floral Spire. Now If I can just keep it alive. Stay tuned!