SPRING

Earlier today I was noticing how pretty the blossoms on our peach tree are. I decided to grab my camera and attempt to capture the beauty on film. As I was snapping away, I saw a bee and thought HOORAY! pollination in process. All of this excitement reminded me that spring is here and now is a great time to plant in the garden.

May I make a few suggestions before you run down to the store to "see" what they have.

Plan ahead. Know what you want to plant. Since becoming a Certified Master Gardener, I have found their website a very valuable tool. http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/pubs/press.htm Once you are on click on the right hand side where it says "download free U of A horticulture publications". Have fun with these. My favorite publication is under the Vegetables section. The pub is titled "Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County".

Start small. If you are new to gardening, keep in mind you don't have to go for the gold this season. I started with a 4x4 raised planter bed and got the bug to garden. I now have 2 4x10 raised beds. You will end up happier if you have a great crop from a small bed versus a failed crop in a too large bed.

If you are unsure ask. We have many people in the ward who are very skilled gardeners. A funny thing about gardeners; most of them love to talk about their experiences. If you have questions ask them in the comment section. If you have answers to these questions reply to them in the comments section. If you would prefer more one on one, call me. I love to talk gardening, and if I don't know the answer, I will get you in contact with someone that does.

Lastly, just have fun. Decades ago the prophet commanded us to plant a garden, this can be one of the most fun commandments to keep. The whole family can be involved, and it can really be quite rewarding.

Happy Gardening!