Small Memories

Plant A Perennial Garden
By Mary Hanna

If you want a garden that will reappear year after year plant a Perennial Garden. There are many plants that need to be grown from transplants or from seed every year but perennial gardens will come back faithfully if you treat them right. Some of the perennials include caladium, aloe, iris, yucca and tulips. A great example of a hardy perennial is the yucca which grows in the desert with no care, yet they grow, even thrive.

Don’t take that as if perennials will need no work or care. If you want to enjoy your perennial garden you will have to provide some care and maintenance. I don’t know of any garden you can plant and forget. Even if you have chosen plants that can withstand some neglect you will still need to tend to it from time to time. This is a good tip to keep in mind when choosing your plants.

Any garden, perennial or otherwise, will need some research and a plan. You need to know the requirements of each plant; how much sun, how much water, and the PH of the soil. After you have figured out their needs you will be able to find the ideal spot for your perennial garden. You must know what planting zone you live in so you can choose wisely. Pick plants that are proportional to the garden. Keep their sizes and watering needs similar. It would be disastrous to plant a perennial that needs moist soil next to one that likes a dry atmosphere. You should be able to get your questions answered at your nursery center or on the internet. There are many garden clubs on the internet so think about joining one that is all about perennials. You can use lots of color in your perennial garden but try to keep them in complimentary hues.

Do lots of research on any pests that will attack your perennial garden. Here again, the internet is a font of information. Go to a search engine, type in the name of your plants and add pests. You will find all the information that you need. For instance, squirrels love to dig up bulbs and eat them. You can eliminate the problem by placing chicken wire over the planted wire so the squirrels can’t get to them.

Be sure to consider the growing season of each individual plant. Some flower in early spring, some in summer and some in the fall. With a good plan a gardener can have blooms all through the growing seasons. Careful planning will ensure beautiful, colorful perennial gardens through the year.

The hardest year for your perennial garden will be the first year and will be the least attractive. Understand that these plants are just taking root and settling in to their new spot. In year two, the plants will start to show you what is come. At this time you may wish to move a few of the plants or add and detract some. The basic “bones” of your garden is starting to show and this is the time for rearranging to make it more pleasing to the eye. Now you arrive at year three and you will reap the rewards of your labor and care. Your friends and neighbors will marvel at your skills as a gardener. You can make some changes in the third year but not too many or you will have to wait another three years for a beautiful perennial garden.

Take some time to enjoy your garden while sitting outside in your yard. Cut some of the blooms to take inside so you can enjoy them in your home. Your perennial garden was created out of love and planning. Now is the time to relax and enjoy your handiwork.

Happy Gardening!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

Mary Hanna is an aspiring herbalist who lives in Central Florida. This allows her to grow gardens inside and outside year round. She has published other articles on Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at Gardening Landscaping Tips, Gardening Outside and Herb Gardening

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More Resources:

I love wildflower gardening as well as gardening for the wildlife in the area. One of my favorite things is to tend to my butterfly and hummingbird gardens, which have quite a few perennials. To help you start a family gardening project, I have found the perfect seeds to help you get started. Just click on the graphic below to get more info at our Family Favorites Shop. ~ Kit

Birds Love Tree Decorations Too!

We usually think about decorating trees during the Winter holidays but Spring is the perfect time to decorate a tree outdoors! No, I’m not talking about dragging out the lights and ornaments. This tree decorating project is literally for the birds and is a great way to start teaching your child about backyard birding!

You’ll need:

• cotton string (I recommend about 2+ feet)
• a plastic canvas needle for little hands (I have used a bobby pin.)
• a box of whole grain cereal o’s (I use cheerios)
• small pieces of fresh fruit such as: grapes, melon bits, cherries, apple chunks, cherry tomatoes, etc.

Instructions:

• Put some of the cereal in one bowl, put the fruit in another bowl.
• Tie an unsharpened pencil (or item of your choice) to one end of the string to keep little hands from losing the items on the string.
• Thread the string on the needle or through the bobby pin.
• Grab a piece of cereal or fruit and thread it onto the string.
• When you’re finished stringing the food, tie the ends of the string together to make a circle.
• Take the decorations outside and find a bush in front of a window (so you have a good view) and drape the string over the bush.

Notes: You can also drape the food loop over the end of a small limb if the view would be better. You may want to only put a few pieces of food on the string at first until the birds find it. It’s a good idea to keep a close check on the string and replace older pieces of fruit at least every 2-3 days, depending on your climate. In warmer climates, I suggest every 2-3 days.

When you do this with your child, you can teach them more than just about birds. For instance:

Stringing The Food

• Small motor skills - Picking up the food with fingers, stringing the food
• Eye-hand coordination - Putting the needle in a specific place on the food
• Numbers - Count each item put on the string
• Sequencing - Put the items on in a pattern…cherry, grape, cherry, grape, etc
• Colors - Name the color of the food, talk about other things that are that color, spell the color of the food, etc.
• Ordinal Position - What went on first, second, third, etc.?
• Senses - How does each piece of food taste, smell, look, feel, sound?
• and the list goes on…

You can even make a tradition of skipping around a bush or tree after checking the food string each day. (This gets in gross motor skills too. ) The possibilities for learning are endless!

Go have some fun decorating for the birds.

More Resources:

Here is one of our designs that will be great to encourage your kids to continue backyard birding. You can see this same design on other products in our shop by clicking on the link below.

I Feed Birds! -Infant/Toddler T-Shirt

Have Fun!