Hello Gardening Friends! March is here and spring will arrive at last later this month. In the past year interest in gardening has gone off the charts. More and more people have discovered the peace and joy that working in the garden can provide.
I'm so glad you're here! Please scroll down for helpful monthly gardening "to do's" and more tidbits. Plus discover what's new and blooming at FlowerChick.com for more gardening advice, tips, and inspiration for your gardens ...
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Table of Contents - March Newsletter |
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I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden. |
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~ Ruth Stout
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Garden Gift of the Month |
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March Garden Gift of the Month
The Garden Tower - Planter / Composter all-in-one
- The rotating Garden Tower® 2 is a composter that grows 50 plants in 4 square feet nearly anywhere!
- Turns waste kitchen scraps into organic fertilizer to grow organic produce.
- The Garden Tower® vertical garden planter and composting system replicates a natural ecosystem allowing plants to access nutrients recycled through organic composting processes.
- Easily grow nearly any vegetables, herbs or flowers organically.
- Proudly 100% Made in the USA using 100% UV stable food-grade high-purity HDPE plastic, and backed by a 5-year manufacturer warranty.
- Super easy to use - a great fun & rewarding family project!
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Latest Flower Chick Posts |
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4 Very Fun & Easy Gardening Projects For All Ages
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Looking for some feel good, very fun, and easy gardening projects? In the inclement months … while we are stuck indoors and it’s too cold and/or wet to work in the garden, that’s the perfect time to start growing veggies, herbs, and flowers inside.
Best news … no green thumb is required! As an added bonus working with plants helps lift your spirits.
These pleasurable projects don’t take up much space, nor require any special skills. Perfect for the whole family to join in and experience the joy and satisfaction of nurturing plants and growing your own food ... knowing it's pesticide free and home grown.
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Discover Roses Named For Famous People
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Through the years there have been many different roses named for famous people including Presidents and First Ladies, royalty, actors, singers, and humanitarians.
They run the gamut from Abraham Lincoln and Freddie Mercury to Princess Diana and Marilyn Monroe. An interesting variety of folks from diverse genres.
Before the 1950s, roses named for people mostly honored royalty, relatives of the grower, and a few deceased notables. In the 1950s and 1960s, American rose growers decided that gardeners would rather have a “celebrity” rose planted in the backyard than one named after an unknown grower’s relative ...
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When seedlings have grown too large for their seed trays or starter pots, but it's not yet warm enough to plant outdoors ...
Transplant the seedlings to larger peat or plastic pots indoors and continue caring for them.
As your seedlings grow, watch the weather. Although a few crops can go outside earlier (refer to the seed packet), most should stay indoors until after the last frost date for your area and soil has warmed up.
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March Garden "To Do" List:
- Start Those Seeds - if you haven’t started any of your seeds yet, it's now time to get them going. Start you cool season plants right away. Start tomatoes, peppers, annuals and perennials next.
- Plan Your Garden - this is the time to finalize your garden plan and draw it out. It’s important to draw it out so you can remember from year to year what you plant where. It's helpful to keep the plant id markers to jog your memory.
- Inspect Indoor Plants - examine houseplants frequently for signs of insects or disease. Give plants a quarter turn weekly to encourage even growth. Mist them to add humidity and discourage pests.
- Stop Feeding Our Bird Friends - as soon as the snow is gone, clean out the bird feeders and store them until next year. Think about plants to add to your garden that attract hummingbirds.
- Plant Bare Root Trees - bare root trees, shrubs, and roses should be planted as soon as the soil is thawed and dried, usually in March to early April.
- Prune Deciduous Trees - prune fruit trees, shade trees, and summer blooming shrubs. Do not prune spring bloomers such as lilacs until after they are done blooming. Prune off any limbs damaged over winter.
- Wash Flower Pots - on mild weather days give your containers a bath. Use hot, soapy water and rinse so they're set for spring planting.
- Organize Your Garage or Shed - make good use of warmer weather and organize your garden supplies. Make a list of what you need for growing season such as potting soil, fertilizer, organic bug sprays, mulch, gloves ... etc.
- Clean Up Perennial Grasses - when it gets warm and the lawn is dry enough to walk on, cut back the dead top growth of perennials and perennial grasses. Leave about 3 or 4 inches of stems out of the new growth.
- Fertilize Trees & Shrubs - before new growth begins, fertilize trees and shrubs.
- Weed Prevention - apply Preen to garden beds to prevent weeds. You can sprinkle it in and place mulch on top.
- Prune Your Roses - usually in March, before growth begins, prune dead, broken, and wayward branches from hybrid tea, grandiflora and floribunda types of roses. Cut back to about 6 inches tall when the forsythia blooms.
- Visit a Botanical Garden - gift yourself a dose of warmth and lift your spirits by visiting an indoor public garden near you. You'll pick up some great ideas for your garden plots as well. More of them are open now so check them out!
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Did you know ... 10 Fun Facts About Hyacinth
One of the first signs of spring is the lovely hyacinth.
These beautiful, fragrant flowers should be planted in the fall for spring blooms. Squirrels won't bother them (there's a toxic substance in the bulbs, foliage, and flowers). Another plus? Their flowers last for weeks!
- In the Victorian Language of Flowers, the hyacinth represents sport or play. The blue Hyacinth signifies sincerity. White means love and prayer & Pink playful joy.
- The Hyacinth is a member of the same family as the asparagus.
- The normal bloom time for Hyacinths is from March to April.
- The hyacinth is referenced in Ancient Greek mythology. According to the legend, a young Hyacinth was killed when Apollo and Zephyrus were fighting over his affections. It is said hyacinths sprung up from his spilled blood ...
- The juice from the bulbs can be used like glue; it was once used to bind books together.
- Hyacinths are commonly used in perfume making.
- The bulbs are now grown commercially in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
- Plant hyacinth bulbs in fall, 6 to 8 weeks before a hard frost is expected and when soils are below 60 degrees.
- The delicate shades and scents of hyacinths make them a popular flower for spring weddings.
- Hyacinths come in shades of white, peach, orange, salmon, yellow, pink, red, purple, lavender and blue.
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Recommended Gardening Book: |
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The Well-Tended Perennial Garden - Essential Guide |
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Whether you are a new gardener, or have an established green thumb, The Well-Tended Perennial Garden is here to help you successfully plan, plant, and tend your garden.
This helpful guide includes thorough details on the essential practices of perennial care—included deadheading, pinching, and thinning—along with growing information for specific species and cultivars, garden design advice, a monthly planting & maintenance schedule, and details on native plants and gardening for wildlife. A great resource!
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Travel To Midwestern Gardens |
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Need a little gardening inspiration? Looking for some good cheer and vicarious travel? Get inspired by the Midwest’s beautiful botanical gardens, arboretums, and other stunning natural attractions! Join us as we visit these wonderful Zone 5 & Zone 6 garden sites.
Follow along with us and plan your own trips … you’ll even find a guide of fun, local attractions to enjoy in the various towns and cities. Come back often as we keep adding new posts to our Illinois Gardens , Indiana Gardens, Iowa Gardens, Michigan Gardens & Wisconsin Gardens categories.
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Visit Mabery Gelvin Botanical Gardens
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In this “Visiting Midwest Gardens” feature, Flower Chick spotlights the beautiful Mabery Gelvin Botanical Gardens in Mahomet, Illinois. Join us to discover what makes this picturesque setting so special ...
In 2019, the entire pond and waterfall area underwent a complete renovation. The pond was completely drained and repaired along with removal of six million pounds of silt and debris. The results are spectacular!
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You’ll Love These Indoor Gardens
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Join us as Flower Chick travels to Milwaukee’s Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, commonly known as “The Domes” …
A visit here includes access to all three climate controlled Domes … Tropical, Desert, and Show. The Show Dome changes frequently and hosts rotating creative floral shows.
We are so pleased to spotlight this significant Milwaukee cultural landmark!
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10 Reasons To Visit Washington Park Botanical Garden
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As part of our “Visiting Midwest Gardens” series, we’re pleased to spotlight one of Springfield’s notable attractions. It’s the Washington Park Botanical Garden, located on the city’s west side.
On this most recent visit, we also explored the picturesque Lincoln Memorial Garden. You’ll find this expansive 63 acre site on the city’s far southeast side along the shores of Lake Springfield …
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Visit Friendship Botanic Gardens
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Friendship Botanic Gardens is a local treasure … an oasis of formal gardens mixed with nature trails tucked in an old-growth forest surrounding Trail Creek in Michigan City, Indiana.
It’s located on 105 acres off of Route 12 very near Lake Michigan … just a few minutes east of the Indiana Dunes National Park.
The garden was called International Friendship Gardens, with the theme “Peace & Friendship To All Nations”. A lovely place.
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Dear Gardening Friends, Thanks for reading the March newsletter ... Bring on Spring! : - )
We're looking forward to garden inspired travel in the next few months as Flower Chick visits Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin botanical gardens and other interesting horticultural sites.
I can't wait to share with you! Let me help you on your gardening journey.
Happy Gardening!
~ Laura a.k.a. Flower Chick
P.S. Click on the social icons below to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, & Pinterest!
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Do you like sharing stories? |
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Is there a botanical garden, arboretum, or nature area you love and would like to see us feature in a future issue? Please share below ...
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