Patience, Cleaning, and Garden Planning

By Melissa Humphries | Lunaria Estate

As my seedlings grow, there isn’t much to do except keep them comfortable—with the right temperatures, a bit of airflow, and enough water, but not too much. I’m definitely in my groove, and hopefully you are too if you’ve started any seeds recently.

Right now is the perfect moment to get another round of seeds going, especially those varieties that need about 6-8 weeks to mature. We officially have two months until it’s time to plant those seedlings outdoors. Remember, don’t waste time growing seedlings of plants that easily sow directly in the ground. During the last week of May is the perfect time to direct sow your seeds for almost everything except plants that need a longer growing season such as peppers, tomatoes and herbs such as oregano and thyme,

So, what am I doing while I wait? Besides some spring cleaning, I’m deep into garden planning. I’m working out designs for new beds at BB Lane Gardens.

One design is a tribute garden for my father-in-law, inspired by his recent car accident and celebrating the fact that he’s still here with us. The garden’s colors—purple and gold—honor his school, Williams College, where he graduated many years ago. The plants I’ve chosen will all thrive in our local climate, whether you’re lucky enough to be gardening in Zone 5a or managing with Zone 4b. Most are Vermont native plants perfectly suited for full sun and clay soil. If you’re working with shade or sand instead, I’m happy to provide designs specifically suited for your garden through my garden planning services.

I’m also planning some monotone gardens this season, specifically with a white theme and I will share those next week. Over the next four weeks, I’ll share an exclusive plan that you can build yourself, guiding you from installation all the way through maintenance as the season progresses.

Stay tuned—it’s time to start dreaming up gardens together.

🌿

Melissa