Three Good Things for Gardens in March

by Monette MacPherson

A new Spring season is here for us now, with that Northwest combination of rain showers, clouds, wind, and 'sunny intervals' as they say in British weather reports. Right now there is the glowing crescent moon with Venus and Jupiter in the western evening sky. When it's 40 degrees and blowing outside, I feel warmer inside by remembering to look for the fresh colors of early daffodils and rhododendron flowers.

Keep a colorful potted plant near your entrance door.  Even grocery stores in our area sell bright primroses, cyclamen and daffodils.  For more fragrance, plant nurseries have daphne and sarcococca with vanilla-like scent.

Whether your garden is very small or large, now is a good time to begin welcoming Spring.  Here are 3 suggestions that you will be glad you did.

• Plant sweet peas for fragrant flowers and green peas to eat in early summer.  The traditional days are President Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays, but it is not too late.  Peas are especially fun for children to plant, grow and eat.  A good local area seed company that specializes in varieties successful in this climate is Territorial Seeds in Oregon.  They have a good newsletter with timely instructions and videos.
• Prune rose bushes. This is also a good time to put up trellises for climbing roses.
• Start pulling out unwanted weeds.  They are still small and weeding goes more quickly with damp soil. 

Your garden, whether modest or grand, can welcome you home, remind you to smile, and nurture your inner genius.  "The ideals that have lighted my way and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth." ~ Albert Einstein 

(Monette teaches Purna Yoga at South Bellevue Community Center and has been a gardening nut for over 20 years.  She and YC teacher Zofia manage Purna Care LLC Gardening Services.)