April 27

What a week of weather changes! Sunny and 80 to 40 and icky! (Though the rain was much needed in our gardens and the farmer's fields.) Must be Minnesota!
When I was in college, I spent a semester in Scotland, and one of their claims to fame was that they experienced all four seasons in a day. There were one or two days that I remember blowing snow in the morning. By that same afternoon, it was sunny and almost 50 degrees. Those changes in the weather are what keep the Scots and us Minnesotans on our toes. You never know how to dress! Last Friday, I enjoyed the Arbor Day celebration at Central Park and my cheeks were verification that the 80 degree day required sunscreen. A friendly reminder whether you are in the garden or enjoying some time outside, don't leave home without the sunscreen!

The lavender tulips alongside our barn are just about to open up and they are a welcomed sight! In the vegetable garden, my strawberry plants are leafing out and the onions and garlic that I didn't pick last year are standing at attention. I continue to learn every day this spring just how amazing chives are and how many I planted last year! Right now, there are five clumps of chives and one of them is over 12 inches tall. I can't believe it! As for other herbs, my sage, fennel and lavender have also survived our cold winter. Those herbs will come in handy in the kitchen soon. As with all seasons, we have certain clothes we wear and for me, I also have summer cookbooks, which just this weekend, I broke them out! As for the plants that haven't survived...I do have two arborvitae that have not fared well. They are all brown, but if there was some green on them, I would be applying Miracid to their foliage and at the roots. That usually does the trick to evergreens that have browned over the winter. A 'Flintstones' vitamin is what I call that recommendation.

On Sunday afternoon, I was able to take a stroll around my garden and a friend's garden. It was refreshing to see hosta, peonies, beard tongue, daylilies, lamb's ear, lilies, silver mound, stonecrop and even though it's not a favorite of mine, lily of the valley, coming through the earth to join us for another great season of Minnesota gardening! Those precious six months where we can enjoy green grass, unique perennial foliage, crabapple blossoms and bright color from annuals all summer long. As we celebrate the coming of the summer, let us all be thankful for the changes in the seasons. I think we appreciate our gardens more because of them!

Let me know if you have any questions or comments on your garden.
I can be reached at wajasper@sargentsgardens.com

Happy Gardening!
Wendy Jasper
MNLA Certified Professional

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