Spring is in the Air

Spring has sprung and I've got garden fever!

Every time I look out the window and see all of the tulips and daffodils or catch a glimpse of the new leaves on my clematis or my Japanese maple, I can't help it...I catch the gardening bug! When the gardening bug strikes, there's only one cure: planting, planting, and planting some more.

Last weekend was spent tilling the soil in one of the more overgrown flower beds and removing roots, rocks, and weeds so we can expand our garden this year. Since we live in Chicago and there's still danger of a frost until mid to late April, I had to make do with just planting parsley, lettuce, broccoli, and asparagus because they can tolerate cool nights into the 40s. I'm also getting my containers ready for all sorts of herbs, veggies, and flowers. Veggies and herbs can be as beautiful as many flowers and decorative ground covers, and by using edibles as landscaping plants, you can often double or triple the amount of veggies and herbs you can grow in your yard while saving money by growing your own food.

Some of my plans for this year include a purple basil in hanging baskets, potted arrangements of lettuce, broccoli, chives, and basil, and even mixing some aromatic herbs in amongst my flowers in the front yard. To keep pests away from my garden, I save the seeds from my marigolds each year and sprinkle them around in any empty areas in the front or back yard, and even as filler in with the veggies and other flowers. They provide beauty and color from summer through fall and are a natural way to repel rabbits, grubs, and many other critters interested in dining on your plants. Since marigolds start blooming later in the spring, they're even great around spring bulbs. Once the tulips and daffodils are done, the marigolds will be ready to get started.

Have you been bitten by the gardening bug? What types of plants are showing signs of color and life in your part of the world?

~Jenn