Spring Fever Busters

Spring is also a good time to divide many perennial plants. Carefully dig out the plant, divide it into the number of desired pieces, and then before replanting, dig in compost into the soil. Then plant the piece back in and water. Plant divisions in a new bed or pot them up in pots filled with garden soil and amendments. Water them up and share with friends or donate to a local garden club for their plant sale (call your local horticultural organization or university extension service to find one).

If your soil is too wet and you want to be where green things are growing, visit a nearby public garden with greenhouses or wander through a local nursery enjoying the blossoming bulbs (consider buying some to brighten up your home!). About this time each year, I take my children to see the spring flower show at the Como Conservatory in St. Paul, MN. It is one of my favorite places. We can smell the damp earth and flowers while wandering through the glass rooms (its design was based on the Palm House at Kew Botanical Gardens in England). If you have a nearby treasure such as this, be sure to visit and enjoy spring a little early.

If all else fail, tour some gardens on-line. Start with Como and Kew above and then visit:

• Michigan's 4-H Children's Garden
• Como Park's Japanese Garden (St. Paul, MN)
• Phipps Conservatory
• Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
• Suite101.com Virtual Garden Tours
• Monet's Garden at Giverny
• More Virtual Garden tours

Happy Spring to everyone!

© Linda Mazar

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