Gardens come in many shapes and sizes. They can be big or small, high maintenance or low, sunny or shady. They can be carpeted in grasses or gravel or clover. They can be quiet places to rest and enjoy nature, and welcoming places to spend time with ones you love. Gardens can be exactly what you want them to be, designed by you to meet your personal needs and desires.
Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just learning your way around the yard, February is a good time to reflect on last year’s gardening successes and challenges, and dream about changes and additions you’d like to make in the coming season.
If you kept a gardening journal or planting notes last year, take time to review them. If you haven’t kept notes in the past, I encourage you to do so. I typically get off to a great start with a fresh notebook each year, making lists, sketching layouts for new beds, recording exact dates that seeds were started. It’s all very inspiring.
Before long, my notes are smudged with potting soil and muddy fingerprints. I squeeze illegible reminders into page margins, hoping I’ll be able to read them. I forget where I left my notebook, and switch to scrawling notes on envelopes, napkins, and the back of my hand. By the end of June, my good intentions and self-discipline reach their inevitable end. Pro Tip Number 1: don’t be like me.
Luckily, I am obsessed with taking garden photos: pictures of my friends’ gardens, of plants growing in the wild, and of strangers’ gardens on Instagram. I am meticulous about taking detailed photos of my own garden throughout the year, at least once a week.
I’m a visual learner and I like being able to see when my tomatoes ripened, how large and tall my flowers grew, and when powdery mildew took over the cucumbers. Photos show me which plants look good together, what needs more space, and what didn’t work out.
Last year I created a brand-new cottage garden with dozens of plants I had never grown before. Without my photos, it would be hard to remember everything I need to know for this year. Pro Tip Number 2: take lots of photos.
Looking at pictures of the flowers I grow makes me happy. Scientific studies have shown that looking at flowers lowers stress and anxiety, improves depression and results in increased happiness and energy. Other plants are known to have similar effects. In my experience, simply reading seed catalogs and gardening magazines contributes to my health and wellbeing.
So, tell me, what do you want to do in your yard this year? And how will you choose what to focus on? Here are some things to ponder:
What would your dream garden look like? How do you currently use your yard? Do you want to grow your own food? Would you enjoy a cutting garden for flowers?
Do you want a deck or patio for entertaining and outdoor dining? How about a firepit, and a place to store wood? Would you like a greenhouse, a potting bench, or a place for garden tools? Do you want to create a new walkway through the garden, or add a water feature?
Make a list of your ideas and dreams, then organize your list into categories (veggie garden, potting bench, etc.). Think about what’s do-able this year and choose one specific item to commit to. Start a new page for this project and write down the individual steps to achieve your goal, as explained below.
One of my dream goals this year is to expand my cottage garden. I want it to be bigger, better looking, and more productive, and I need a specific goal that’s both achievable and measurable. My goal is to add 30 new varieties of dahlias.
To do that, I need to research varieties, select the ones I want to grow, decide where to buy them, place the order, and choose a delivery date. I need to increase the size of my in-ground flower border to make room for 10 of the new plants and decide exactly where they will be planted.
I need to build and fill two new raised beds for the other 20 plants. Each of these steps are written down with additional details, and I have similar plans for my other garden goals this year.
The key to success is having a specific, measurable goals and detailed plans to achieve them. This process will work for you, too. Focus on one goal at a time and follow the steps.
I’m looking forward to hearing about your garden plans and goals. I’m usually available to answer questions during senior lunch on Wednesdays and Fridays at the community center. Happy gardening!
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