By John Hall for Blue Mountain Town & Country Gazette
My garden is always my first love when spring arrives. Last November I got about 275 tulip bulbs into the ground in one long patch and also nine large planters scattered throughout the yard. It’s an annual project I usually get to a little late, which means I’m running to every garden center in town buying whatever bulbs they have left at the end of the season. But in the spring that means I have a tremendous display of tulips everywhere, which I love.
In this issue, our gardening issue, one of the things we’ll cover is how to reimagine your garden space. Sometimes when spring arrives you just get the urge to do something new out there. It might be a change of plants, but other times it can be more structural. See “Garden Makeover Ideas” to find out some of the great ways you can really bring new positive energy to your personal garden space.
One anecdote from me, I had to take out a huge Norway maple last August due to storm damage, so this year I suddenly have a ton of sunlight where there was none before. My plan for at least part of that new sunny area is more vegetables, but I also want to try a wildflower garden, which is something I haven’t done before. For me, one of the joys of gardening is when something changes and I then have the opportunity to fill the space with something new.
Now nightfall doesn’t have to be “the end of the day” for your garden’s beauty. With the right lighting, landscaping can pop and shine even after dark. In “Lighting Tips for Your Garden,” we give you a roadmap for what to think about and plan for before you “throw the switch” on your big backyard lighting project.
We are also going to look at the mental health benefits that you can get from gardening. They are really substantial. You’ll find the details in “The Benefits and Pleasure of Gardening.”
We are also bringing you another one of our “Short Getaway:…” articles in this issue. The story of Pennsylvania is told largely through the stories of its small villages and towns. In this issue we suggest how you might consider making a short getaway to Gettysburg, with its history, and also Mount Holly Springs with its lush surroundings, laid-back fishing and farm-fresh cuisine. Find out more in “Short Getaway: Two Storybook Towns of PA.”
And finally, not all gardening has to be outdoors. We take a look at a variety of plants that you can propagate indoors in just water (to start). We also give you the “how to” to make your water propagation efforts a success. See “Propagating Plants in Water” for all the details.
So that’s this springtime issue. Please join us next time when our focus shifts to beauty, with a special focus on healthy skin. See you then!
