Photo by Guillaume LORAIN on Unsplash
Gardens have always been a special place of solace for me. When I was young, my family lived outside London for almost three years; we weren’t military but moved every few years. Our house backed up to a garden area with a 600-year-old tree. I loved to wander around the paths the gardener had cut through it. I dreamed of having my own garden. He was a kind old gentleman who came to tend the garden for the owners.
Most days after school, I would play outside. Since tree climbing was forbidden, I visited the garden. The gardener loved to vary the plants by season. He rarely talked to me but allowed me to watch as he pruned, watered, and “fed” the plants. He was very gentle with every plant, often talking to and encouraging them to grow as he watered. My mother called him “the master of the garden.”
Moving every couple of years as a military spouse, the idea of having my own garden always overwhelmed me. After all, the climate in Germany was vastly different from the one in Fort Irwin. And don’t even get me started on Alaska. But, no matter where we lived, my hands constantly itched to dig in fertile soil. After all, plants reduce stress, boost memory, purify the air, and increase productivity. They can even be a source of food and are just pretty to look at.
Fast forward a few years, and I finally have a garden to plant and tend. Do I plant annuals, perennials, or bulbs? What grows in this climate? What fertilizer do I use to “feed” my new plants? What about water and sun? I have so many questions and little knowledge about growing plants in Virginia. The difference is that now I know where to turn for help.
I recently discovered that one of my friends is a “Master Gardener.” That means she completed over 100 hours of training and volunteer work to become an expert in local gardening. Her focus is bushes and trees, while others specialize in planters or vegetables.
I peppered her with questions about what plants would do well in my garden. Before answering, she wanted to know my plan for watering my plants. She knew how critical daily watering during summer heat would be for a full-sun garden plot.
Not only did she help me select two pallets of plants ideally suited to my space, but she coached me through plating, feeding, mulching, and watering my new garden. However, the most important thing I learned was not to waste time being overwhelmed and to know where to seek expert help. I only wish I hadn’t waited so long.
Wouldn’t it be lovely to start your own garden to tend? If you’re like me and need help getting started, The American Horticultural Society has a tool to help you locate and connect with a Master Gardener in your region. How does your garden grow?
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