Fresh Ideas

Make a Lasting Impression on Mothers Day
For a mother or grandmother who loves her garden here are a few ideas that will remind her of your love beyond mothers day.  These ideas can fit any budget and almost any age.

Surprise her with a potted version of her favorite flowering tree or perennial.  She can plant it in her garden or put it in a decorative pot. Be creative and give her the gift of your time - present her "gardening coupons".  Make them yourself based on her gardening needs and your gardening abilities.  They can range from one hour of weeding her garden to a day of planting bulbs or hours of pruning roses. Share some of your favorite flower books - perhaps a copy of Flower Staying Power!

Ideas for Spring
Spring is on its way, and if you are like me you are already thinking about how to make it one to remember. Here are a few ideas on how to bring spring in just a bit sooner.

Host a Garden Party
This can be a fun and inexpensive way to enhance your garden and the garden of others! By inviting your friends, everyone will be able to share their experience with their favorite plants, increase the variety of plantings in their gardens and make good use of the extra seeds and plants.



Each guest should bring their favorite seeds, cuttings or starter plants (can be flowers, fruits, vegetables or herbs) to share. They should also bring information for planting and care instructions for the plants (usually on seed packets, from the garden shop, or in gardening books). As the host you can provide the place, the potting soil, the labels and bamboo sticks (for identification later), and the snacks.

As the host you may also want to provide peat pots. The advantage of using peat pots is that they can be placed, pot and all into the ground when it is time to plant outside. Plant seeds/plants according to directions. Allow guests to fill out labels (using waterproof pens) with plant care information and secure the labels to bamboo sticks creating a "label flag". Place the "label flags" in their respective pots.

If you hold the party outside, be prepared for spring breezes and place your seed packets into a rack to secure them. The rack will also allow for better visibility of the seed selection available. Add water, warmth, sun and laughter and in no time at all, you will have fresh ideas and seedlings for your garden!

Bring Spring Inside
Think green! Bring a pot of shamrocks or mint into your home or office. It is believed that having mint near where you work will bring in another green - wealth!