Celebrate the season of renewal

By MELODY DOCKERY

Three gardening projects to cure spring fever

Spring explodes with the promise of new hope, and there’s never been a spring more anticipated than this year. The last frost in Preston Hollow was forecasted for March 12, and I’m giddy with gardening plans to celebrate the season. The only cure I’ve discovered for spring fever is to pick up a shovel and dig in! My top three easy backyard projects for nature enthusiasts to launch today are a culinary garden, a hummingbird garden and a cutting garden.

What could be easier than picking up a variety of herbs and tomato transplants from a neighborhood garden center?

Clear and prep a sunny, welldrained spot with afternoon

shade, and enjoy snipping aro matic herbs for cooking all season. I love using lavender and rosemary in cut flower arrangements. Container herb gardens are practical, but require just a little extra watering. My favorite herbs to grow in our area include varieties of basil, rosemary, sage, lavender and thyme. I’m dreaming of fresh pesto and pasta sauce at this very moment. Mint is a must in every culinary garden. It’s easy to grow and refreshing in everything from tabbouleh to iced tea. Just be sure to contain the mint - it’s an intrusive neighbor and will dominate the garden. I’m partial to cherry tomatoes: sweet, juicy little flavor bombs that continue to produce throughout the season. Melody Dockery in her cutting garden. Photo Courtesy of Dockery.

Migrating

hummingbirds refuel in our Pres- ily in our area. Pick up seed packs ton Hollow oasis in mid-March at a local garden center or order and circle back in August and Sep- them from wildseedfarm.com. Prep tember. I’ve never needed a feeder the soil in a sunny, well-drained to attract the feisty travelers, and patch. Literally scatter the seeds ruby-throated hummingbirds keep and lightly step on them (no digme on their flight path every year, ging or covering with soil). Keep leaving my garden with five-star the area moist until you witness the reviews. Their favorite plant variet- miracle of life: tiny sprouts bursties: salvia, Turk’s cap, trumpet vine ing forth from the earth in about (cross vine) and yellow bells. Keep seven to 10 days. I confess, it’s a fresh water source as well for painful at first, but sacrifice some your jet-lagged guests. If you love of your offspring and thin out the geeking out about hummingbirds, little sprouts - leaving room for air you’ll find the knowledgeable pros circulation and ample space for the at North Haven Gardens are “birds rainbow of blooms that will supply of a feather” with all the plants and a surplus of cut flowers throughout advice needed. the summer and early fall. For a

There is something life-affirming prolonged display and vases full of about planting seeds and experi- color throughout the summer, plan encing the whole sprout, grow- sequential plantings every two to and-bloom process. four weeks.

My “absolutely cannot fail” Start with one inspiration or flower from seed pick is Zinnias. tackle them all. Embrace this sea Resplendent with happy colors and son of renewal in the garden! sentimental charm, they grow eas- in our area. Pick up seed packs at a local garden center or order them from wildseedfarm.com. Prep the soil in a sunny, well-drained patch. Literally scatter the seeds and lightly step on them (no digging or covering with soil). Keep the area moist until you witness the miracle of life: tiny sprouts bursting forth from the earth in about seven to 10 days. I confess, it’s painful at first, but sacrifice some of your offspring and thin out the little sprouts - leaving room for air circulation and ample space for the rainbow of blooms that will supply a surplus of cut flowers throughout the summer and early fall. For a prolonged display and vases full of color throughout the summer, plan sequential plantings every two to four weeks.

Start with one inspiration or tackle them all. Embrace this season of renewal in the garden!