Hello Gardeners!

It's June in the garden and the gardener is busy, busy, busy!! It's time to plant, transplant, and put in seeds. Now is the perfect time to put in a new garden. Better yet, take some time to put in a garden for a friend. Young or old, everyone enjoys beautiful flowers, fresh veggies, lovely garden fragrances. A hanging basket of flowers outside a window can provide enjoyment for a shut-in. A window box full of flowers can also bring color and fragrance to someone who cannot get outside because of illness. Even a bouquet or a small houseplant can bring cheer to a friend.

Young gardeners have a lot of enthusiasm! Gardening with children is very satisfying. They are full of curiosity, love color and textures, and have great interest in the natural world in general. Plan a small garden with a young gardener, keeping in mind their capabilities and attention span. A four-by-four-foot plot is a good size—not too big and not too small. Prepare the soil as you would for any garden, remove stones and debris, add compost and any soil amendments that are needed. For example, if you have a clay soil, you may add sand and peat to lighten it. Children love to see the fruits of their labors. Choose quick growing plants like radishes that germinate quickly. Make a furrow in the shape of the child's name or initials, sow the radish seeds and within two weeks their name will have "grown!" You can do the same with peas and onion sets or marigolds. In the middle of your young gardener's plot, a hide-a-way can be created. Make a teepee out of branches and plant vines such as pole beans, morning glories, or hyacinth beans around the edges and train the runners up the poles and by the middle of summer there will be a secluded spot for your little gardener to sit and enjoy being in the garden.

A garden in the shape of a heart positioned where it can be seen from inside the home is just another way to say that you care. Gardening and the enjoyment of gardening can be shared with young and old alike. Take time to share this great pastime!

Happy gardening!

Read previous columns by Edna Schron