New Year-New Garden Look?

Baby it's cold outside...but spring will be here before we know it. This year, why not commit to something that connects you with nature by experimenting with something new in the garden? This could take on a number of different looks so let's throw some ideas out there.

1. Peruse local (or not so local-road trip!) garden centers. You will find plants and flowers that were locally

grown, more variety, and staff that have the horticultural knowledge to make the proper selection for the

environmental conditions in your yard. You may pay more initially, but in the long run, you will save money

and aggravation by selecting plants that will exhibit longevity in your garden for years to come.

2. Start a kitchen garden with a variety of herbs and even consider a tomato or pepper plant. It's as easy as

potting them up in individual containers and making sure they have at least 6 hours of sun per day and

fertilizer to keep them healthy and producing. Make sure you pick varieties appropriate for your area; again,

best purchased at a garden center as big box stores receive material mass produced outside of your area.

3. Place containers with seasonal color throughout the garden for a pop of color and to accentuate the

greenery. Don't forget one at the front door or porch!

On to non-plant ideas:

1. Add solar features such as illuminaires; no electricity needed and they offer soft glow for hours after sunset.

2. Add a water feature.

3. Uplight trees and other features for nighttime flair.

4. Place an old door or window frame in the yard to frame the entrance into a themed garden area.

5. Try hydroponics.

6. Create secret gardens in your yard. I will blog on this more in the future.

By trying any of these or other ideas you have contemplated over the years (perhaps it's time to go through the pile of pulled out magazine pages and finally incorporate a long forgotten winter dream), you can do yourself a healthy resolution by being outside, exercising, experiencing the benefits of horticultural therapy, and beautifying your outdoor living space. Ultimately, you and the family will want to spend more time in this space, which just might create bonding time (but don't let family members know this is happening!).

Hopefully, this got your creative juices flowing. Wishing you a happy New Year and happy garden planning!