First Day of Spring

Despite all our worries and fears, time marches on. In fact, tomorrow is the first day of Spring and a great way to celebrate would be by planting something. Need an idea of what to plant?

Why not go big and plant a tree! The Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association and the Schuylkill Conservation District are teaming up for their Annual Seedling Sale. Although several events at Sweet Arrow Lake are cancelled, this one appear to be happening as scheduled. Orders can be placed until Wednesday, April 1 (or while supplies last so don't delay in placing your order). Seedlings can be picked up at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park clubhouse parking lot on Saturday, April 25 between 9 am and noon. Seedlings are sold in bundles ranging of either 5 or 10 and cost $10 or $11, depending on the type selected. Gardeners can choose from:

• Concolor Fir
• Norway Spruce
• Scotch Pine
• Eastern Red Cedar
• Pin Oak
• Winterberry
• White Flowering Dogwood
• American Sweetgum
• Red Maple
• Osage Orange
• American Beech
• Elderberry
• Ginko

You can get an order form here.

Do trees sound too ambitious? How about some super easy to grow seeds -- fun for adults and home from school kids who are bored. I recommend marigolds which have the double bonus of being small (a rinsed out yogurt container makes a perfect sized flowerpot) and they sprout quickly. A few other quick sprouters are beans, basil, lettuce and radishes. Or have fun by decorating a container with a smiling face and plant grass seed that sprouts into "hair".  Of course, these all have to kept inside in a sunny window. It isn't warm enough for an outdoors garden yet.

Not confident in your skill with seeds? I'm sure I'm not the only gardener who is distracting herself by repotting  houseplants resulting in quite a few "extra" baby houseplants crowding my windowsills. Know a gardener? Ask them to drop a baby houseplant (or seeds harvested last summer) outside your door for you to enjoy.

I have hundreds of marigold seeds. Are their any Schuylkill County folks (especially those with children at home) stuck inside who would like a package of seeds from me?