​The good news:  My first blooms of the season, crocus!  The bad news:  I have lost my garlic!  The good news:  The garlic has been found and rhubarb is poking through. (Note to self:  label the garlic rows in the fall.)  Spring has started in spite of the remaining snow piles and ice still on the lake. 

On our Mediterranean cruise this March we were fortunate to stop at the Exotic Gardens of Monaco.  It is amazing what you can do when (1) you are the king of a principality, (2) you are rich enough to employ several hundred gardeners, and (3) have several generations of family that contribute to the garden. 
 
Although we did not see the entire garden, what we did see was impressive.  These four acres are set on a rocky hillside and was opened in 1933 by Prince Albert I.  Although dominated by succulents, there are also roses and I even found some spring bulbs.  Only later did I pause to think about how that was possible in this temperate climate with not enough of a cold period for bulbs to bloom naturally.  I would hazard a guess that they kept the bulbs in cold storage and planted them outside to enjoy this spring.  Just like we would do to force bulbs, except on a larger scale.  Again, money and labor can create a wonderful garden. 
 
Most of all I love the address of this garden. 
​Wouldn’t you love to live on Boulevard du Jardin Exotique?  

"Not all those who wander are lost."  J.R.R. Tolkien

​I was reminded this winter of what it feels like to be at least a little lost in a new store.  I wandered into my local quilt shop, River’s Edge Antique & Quilt Loft  in Hayward with a pattern and a few pieces of fabric from my stash.  My goal was to make a crib quilt for a new baby that will be joining our family this spring.  Upon entering I see a few bolts of cloth but am disappointed with the limited selection.  But Wait!  The name of the shop should have clued me in that there was more and there certainly was upstairs.  My stumbling about reminded me that we are beginners at some point and these specialized businesses that support our crafts and passions are there to help us.  

The big garden shows are coming to an end and the garden magazines have articles about what they see for trends this year. 

• Going natural is still a big trend which helps gardens, pollinators, and the environment.  Keeping wild areas in your garden supports wildlife and insects plus reduces your workload as a gardener.  A win/win for everyone. 
• Houseplants – almost every article and blog mention houseplants as becoming more popular.  As more people either don’t have the time or space for a large garden, a few houseplants can help clean indoor air and provide needed greenery to keep us connected to nature.  Also hanging houseplants are becoming popular along with macramé.  Wish I would have kept all that stuff from the 70’s!
• PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral is the color of the year so expect to see more plants with coral flowers and leaf coloring.
• Edibles – Adding food plants is gaining popularity whether it’s a pot of tomatoes on the deck or berry bushes in a mixed border.  In fact plants that do double and triple duty of producing food, attracting wildlife and creating greenspace are in high demand.
• Compact Plants – More nurseries are offering compact plants to replace old favorites.  Look for compact hydrangea, lilacs, and spirea to fill in borders.   “Dwarf”, “little”, and “wee” are just a few words in the names that will give you a clue.
• Plants of the Year – Many organizations have plants they feature each year.  The National Garden Bureau has announced the four classes for 2019 that they will feature.  Or check out the All-America Selections for plants judged superior by an impartial panel.   
  *Bulbs- Dahlia
  *Annuals - Snapdragon
  *Edibles - Pumpkin
  *Perennials - Salvia

Why not try something new in one of these trend categories?  

The pictures above are just two of many snapshots taken by our Mom in front of the Bridal Wreath Spirea (Spiraea prunifolia).  Every time I pass one in full bloom a flood of memories race through my mind.  Our Bridal Wreath was the go-to backdrop for confirmation, graduation and just plain nice-day pictures.   It is helpful that this shrub blooms when these events are happening.

In looking through old family photo albums I see each generation had a favorite shrub.  Lilacs and arborvitae appear to be the winners for earlier times.  Before we moved to the house with the Spirea, a lilac bush figured predominately in our outdoor posed pictures. 

The old-fashioned Bridal Wreath Spirea (botanical name: Spiraea prunifolia) is a non-native in the Rose family.  Reliably hardy to 30 below (zone 4), it grows best in full sun but will tolerate part shade as long as it gets 4-6 hours of daily sunshine.  Leave it room to grow to its mature size of 4-8 feet tall and wide and the flowers will fill its arching branches.  The flowers attract butterflies and pollinators in the spring. 

No need to prune this shrub, but if you must, do so right after it is done blooming so it has enough time to set flower buds for next spring.  According to Melinda Myers in her Gardening in Wisconsin, removing the flower tips as the blooms fade can improve next year's bloom.  Renewal pruning of this suckering shrub can be done by removing one-third of the oldest stems to the ground.  
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I've planted a Golden Bridalwreath Spirea (Spiraea x vanhouttei 'Levgold') in my Zone 3 garden that gets about 4 hours of sunshine daily with success.  It is rated a Zone 4 plant so the test will be this spring since we had 33 below temperatures this winter.  I've got my fingers crossed on this one.

Do you have a favorite backdrop for your family photos?  If not, maybe this is one you will consider planting. 

Late winter and early spring are the time to check out catalogs, place seed orders and start seeds.  Learn more about several seed starting techniques from Sue Reinardy, UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer in an upcoming webinar.  Sue has volunteered her time to create and deliver this webinar that will feature:  deciphering catalog and seed package jargon, proper planting conditions and several techniques including the winter sown planted method that you can start now.  

This webinar can be attended from any home computer or device with an internet connection, microphone and camera.  Instructions to access the course will be provided a few days before the start of the class.   Registration is required through WITC at courses.witc.edu   Enter "Early Seed Starting" in the search box.   The registration fee is $13.50, and for those 62+ it is $9.00 . ​

​“Garden-making is creative work, just as much as painting or writing a poem.”  ~Hanna Rion

I don’t think much about creativity when I garden.  For me it is more about the desired results; fresh fruits and vegetables, cut flowers for a vase, or a landscape that is pleasing to the senses.  Yet it seems “creative” and “gardening” are put together frequently.  A google search with these two terms yields 164 million results!
 I’ve started to view creativity as more central to my gardening just as I would when decorating the interior of my home.  When I look at those Google results they fall into these categories.  

Some of these photos are from today, some from other years but all reflect my garden in the winter.  I leave my perennials standing because you just never know what nature will provide in the way of a beautiful image. 
​
With the new year I am thinking about what my garden can be in the coming season.  Here are my aspirations for 2019: 

• Maintenance free - oh if only!
• Flowers for bouquets from early spring to last freeze (and beyond).  
• Tomatoes that are blight-free. 
• Plentiful tomatoes, cucumbers and green beans in season. 
• Fresh garlic in mid-summer, enough to last the year and seeds for the next. 
• No more trees needing to be removed - our tree maintenance budget in the last few years has been expensive. 
• Success with trying some new plants - what can it be??
• Planting shore-land plants that are good for the lake and that also allow us to enjoy the view. 
• Replacing a few higher maintenance perennials with low-maintenance shrubs.
• Allowing volunteer plants to show me some new combinations that are pleasing to the eye. 
• Less work and more play!