Let's Talk about Gardens

I don't consider myself a gardener, but my grandpa did have a farm when I was a child. I remember how much my brothers and I loved to spend time in grandpa's garden and pick flowers for grandma, and veggies for dinner, and berries for pie! Grandma made the best pies in the world.
I have some of grandpa's plain ole daffodils, the kind that grow along the roadsides in the country, but to me they are special. Those who garden will probably understand.
I used to raise a small bed of veggies, but when the squirrels took over, I quit. Now I have an organ transplant, and I have to be very careful about digging in the dirt. I have to wear gloves and I have mostly perennial flowers that I keep weeded. I enjoy watching them grow and wait anxiously until the bloom. I forget what is planted, so there is always a surprise!

@rosemarya I so enjoyed my garden both vegetable and flower . I did have to do it for health reasons for our son since he was allergic so I canned everything and enjoyed going to the fruit cellar instead of out in the snow to get food.

@rosemarya All of my perennials are now up. Not sure what my flower garden will be this year with all of the restrictions. Just wait and see. I only do flowers now and since my flower bed only gets 3-4 hours of sun it is a challenge to get those bursts of color. Anxious to see how all of this is going to turn out. Gardening has always been a joy for me be it veggies or flowers.

Rosemary, thank you for starting this gardening thread. When I first retired, I was lost because I'd not given thought to how I would spend my sudden unstructured time. So intent on accumulating the nickels to make future years financially doable, I'd not considered the fact that most of my friends were still working. Flower gardening became both my salvation and passion. Eventually, I had both yards landscaped for plants. Your post reminded me of the blackberries my dad grew and my mom turned into delicious cobblers.

Parus, I'm also wondering how my gardens will look this year. Due to weather and allergies, I am somewhat behind on the "final" clearing of some beds. My backyard bulbs have been a constant source of cheer and beauty this year because I've added a few new ones each season and this year they really did themselves "proud".

@fiesty76 I am wondering about the garden centers. I also use an assortment of bedding plants. Just don't know at this point. Cannot even purchase potting soil for the pots I use. As much as I enjoy doing my little garden space I am struggling to get enthused at this point. Just wait and see.

@parus I spend winter in Texas & summer in Minnesota. As a Master Gardener, I am on a first-name basis with several garden center owners, and I can tell you that the small ones, who operate on razor-thin margins, are SCARED of being able to ride this out. Since many already have their stock, both plants and supplies, they would be more than happy to work with you to get you what you need. I suggest calling a local independent to arrange to buy on the phone and pick up curbside. In the Twin Cities in MN, several of my friends who work at small nurseries are busy filling such orders - even setting up flats of plants "to order" for early season planters like pansy bowls. Not quite the same as selecting your own plants, but enough to get you started...
@feisty76 - Don't worry about being behind in your garden work - your plants will forgive you! I am sitting anxiously in Texas, not knowing when I will get back to my up North gardens - but I know all will eventually be well.
So for now, I am using my "garden time" - the early morning when I usually walk the yard, coffee cup in hand, to plan my daily garden tasks - to walk my little Texas community and admire the blooming cactus & trees
Sue

Sue, sounds like you enjoy the best of both worlds in TX and MN! Yes, I appreciate your suggestions to Parus and may call a couple of our local florists for something similar. Can't stand to think of not adding new "babies" to my flock this year.

Expecting another sunny, warm day here and that means I'm geared up in my most used wardrobe of garden duds and shoes! Happy day to all.

Parus, I'm wondering too how our spring/summer gardens will differ this year from past seasons. When I first became addicted to gardening, I filled every inch with something growing. Only later, when an artist friend commented on a group of paintings at our museum and mentioned that she appreciated how the artist effectively used "the spaces in between" did it dawn on me that spacing has merit. May see more spaces than we bargained for this year but as long as there is some dirt to play in and something green growing to nurture, bet we will be ok. Take care.

So glad this group got started! I am the first to admit I have no green thumb, and I have many plants that will agree to that statement LOL This is in sharp contrast to my mother who seem to be able to grow anything and her yard showed it. My little sister inherited that green thumb as did my older sister. It by passed me. I have grown cactuses and succulents successfully. A few times grown flowers. Now that we are in an area just ripe for gardening, I hope to learn more how to do it all. My neighbor loves to putter in the garden, so I am happy to become a student. The smell of freshly turned soil is rewarding. We have loose plans for what we want in gardens here, but willing to wait a full year to see how the seasons go. And how the deer will "help" us.
Ginger