Spring Ahead!

It's a New Beginning!

“As you sit on the hillside, or lie prone under the trees of the forest, or sprawl wet-legged by a mountain stream, the great door, that does not look like a door, opens.”~ Stephen Graham

Are you entranced by the green hills shimmering emerald as you drive through our rural neighborhoods? Do you enjoy listening to the creeks bubbling and gurgling throughout the community? Aren’t the warmer days delicious? What a beautiful season that commences in March. Spring is a time of new beginnings, burgeoning opportunities, and gardens bursting into bloom.

Daffodils are stretching their necks to the sun. Bradford pear trees have been blooming for over a month. Fruit tree buds are swollen this month and are especially handsome as the buds open to flower with the leaves slowly unfurling. Growth is evident daily. It is especially rewarding to cut a branch for indoor enjoyment. Try arranging a vase with a flowering peach, pear, plum, or cherry branch for a long-lasting experiment in watching nature come alive.

Flowering tulip magnolias are spectacular this season with various varieties coming to life at different times. When the crocus and anemones pop up, spring is nigh!

Oxalis, a wood sorrel, is blooming for St. Patrick’s Day. There are over 550 species in the Oxilidaceae family. This clover-like shamrock has small trumpet-like flowers in shades of yellow, pink, white, and purple. The leaves open and close throughout the day depending on the amount of sunlight. Because it spreads, many gardeners eradicate it as a noxious weed. Some species can be invasive, but I have welcomed it into my landscape as a late winter ground cover. I find the sunny yellow flowers cheerful. When the weather warms, it dies back until the following year.

Monarch butterflies need our help. Host plants of Asclepias or milkweed are essential for the survival of Monarch caterpillars. Nectar-rich, fragrant flowers bring in the adults. Be sure to plant flowers with bloom times from spring through fall to attract a variety of pollinators. Annuals of gaillardia, cosmos, zinnia, marigold, Mexican sunflower, and verbena, plus perennials of bee balm, echinacea, hollyhock, coreopsis, lamb’s ear, passionflower vine, and Black-eyed Susan are excellent choices. Eliminate all insecticides, pesticides, or other toxic chemicals to protect our pollinators.

With March heralding the “real” spring, now is the time to check our brown thumbs at the garden gate and dive in with the green.

Cynthia Brian’s Goddess Gardener Guide for March

ü REGISTER for the Great Grow Along with FREE online gardening sessions on weekends, March 1-16^th. https://greatgrowalong.com

ü WATCH the crocus and anemones pop up as surprises!

ü WEED, weed, weed. Because of the recent rains, unwanted plants are sprouting. It’s best to pull them out by the root while the soil is soft.

ü IMPROVE the value of your home by adding trees to the landscape. It is estimated that landscaping with mature trees adds 10 to 20 percent to your home's property value.

ü GO au natural. Spend time outdoors in natural settings. Being in touch with nature is essential to the health of mind, body, and spirit. Watch spring unfold as you eat breakfast or lunch while sitting on your balcony, patio, or porch.

ü ELIMINATE pesticides from your gardening tool kit. They are detrimental to beneficial insects and humans.

ü START seeds inside now for transplanting next month to your garden space.

ü INCREASE visual and nutritional interest by planning to plant vegetables and herbs in ornamental containers close to your kitchen door. Flavor won’t be diminished, and functionality will soar.

ü START your spring gardening by improving the soil. Gardens often lack the microorganisms and nutrients needed for a thriving crop.

ü DIVIDE perennials such as daylilies and agapanthus.

ü RE-SEED or plant a new lawn during this spring weather. Commence weekly mowing for sturdier growing. For best results, do not use a leaf bag. Instead, allow the clippings to compost on the grass naturally. Rake the lawn if clumping occurs.

ü CLEAN fountains, ponds, birdbaths, and other water features to welcome our flying feathered friends back home for the warmer weather.

ü DISPLAY fallen camellias on a hedge, ledge, or pathway for outside interest that are not pretty enough to float in a vase but not rotten enough to toss in the compost bin. As the camellias wilt, dispose of them.

ü FERTILIZE hungry lawns to strengthen roots and resist cold, heat, and high traffic when weather is wet. This feeding will help combat the stress of drought.

ü PRUNE fig trees and grapevines. Dry the branches and cuttings to use in your smoker or barbecue this summer to add interesting flavors to your grilled specialties.

ü PLANT milkweed, wildflowers, and nectar plants for the Monarch Butterflies. As caterpillars, monarchs feed exclusively on the leaves of the genus Asclepias, milkweed. Visit the Monarch Habitat and Demonstration Garden at Rancho Laguna Park in Moraga. Visit https://www.moragagardenclub.org/moraga-for-monarchs

ü CHECK sprinklers and irrigation systems. Lawn sprinkler heads may get buried under new growth. On a clear day, take the time to make sure everything is working properly.

ü SIT on a hillside under a tree or by a babbling brook to savor spring.

ü TIME to get your house in order. If you need a professional handyman at a reasonable rate, use this code to get a major discount https://honeyh.me/eXEn .

ü BRING a bit of the Emerald Isle to your March 17^th dinner with a pot of shamrocks, available now at your friendly garden center. Erin go Bragh!

Happy Gardening! Happy Growing! Happy Spring!

For more gardening advice for all seasons, check out Growing with the Goddess Gardener at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/books. Raised in the vineyards of Napa County, Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach, as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3, which was just honored as the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year by the Moraga Chamber of Commerce. https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org.

Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at https://www.StarStyleRadio.com. Her newest children’s picture book, Books in the Barnyard: Oh Deer!, from the series Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures, is available at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store. Hire Cynthia for writing projects, garden consults, and inspirational lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com https://www.CynthiaBrian.com