Marlys' Gardens ~ What's Happening ~ March 2007

"There may be snow in the garden,
but there will always be eternal springtime in the heart of this old gardener"
-Saying of Old Coot

This is a place to focus on what's currently happening in the gardens. I want to share fun seasonal garden stories & events with you. Josh is going to archive the posting as seasons evolve. We hope you will embrace it with a fun-filled spirit.

March 2007

Month	Birthstone	Flower	Colour	Meaning
March	Aquamarine	Daffodil or Jonquil	Yellow	Affection, Cheerfulness, Desire, Grants Wishes, New Beginnings, Respect, and Sympathy

Each spring, American Cancer Society volunteers from all around our nation welcome a deluge of daffodils. Millions of dewy, fresh flowers arrive from the fields in Washington State, USA as the first sign of spring. This beautiful flower symbolizes the Hope we all have of conquering cancer in our lifetime. Volunteers sell the daffodils to supporters of the American Cancer Society. The bright yellow blossoms are a glimpse of eternal spring & hope.

Daffodil - March Flower of the Month

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
The Daffodil Poem

I Wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

#2 March - 'Flower of the Month'
Wind Flower - Wood Anemone

The name of the anemone flower, is derived from Greek anemos "wind". The meaning of the anemone flower is "forsaken" and also "a dying hope". The flower Anemone could also be used to signify Anticipation.

The white (sometimes pink) glow of nodding heads of Wood Anemone (wild flowers) should appear in late March in open woodland and old hedgerows. These plants rarely set seed and multiply slowly in size by spreading rhizomes; clumps may be large that have been in the same growing spot for a long period of time.

March 1, 2007

National Pig Day

In my other life, before the kids grew up (and before the end of a 22 year marriage) we lived on a small acreage. It was a good life. More than once we adopted pet pigs. They weren't the 'pot bellied' pig depicted above but runt pigs that our neighboring 'pig farmers' didn't want to mess with. If these little critters had not come to our house to live they would have been destroyed immediately. My two daughters were more than willing to love & nurture runt piglets. Yes, this is Iowa, and yes, the little animals were kept in our house until it was apparent they weren't going to die. They had warm cardboard boxes for beds & were easily trained to do their toilet duties outdoors.

Our first adopted black & white pig was named Pork Chop. She was our favorite pet weighing in at over #240 pounds before the sad day she went to the locker, where she was butchered, packaged, frozen, and eventually returned home. Yes, we ate Pork Chop. It's a fact of life - people eat pigs! We didn't want to do it.

Two runt pink pigs named Patrick & Paul were energetic boys that came to live with us after Pork Chop was gone. I believe my girls had them as 4-H projects so they were sold at the fair auction which was much easier than having to eat them ourselves.

Several other little pigs passed through our 'farm life' years each with an its own individual personality characteristic. Pigs are good people. They are very clean if given opportunity not to have to live in a pig sty. Pigs are very intelligent, learn quickly & most are kind hearted. I like pigs!

The Three Little Pigs

March Events: With the very first day of March being "National Pig Day", how could it get any better? Oh, yes, maybe Mardi Gras in New Orleans would be nice if you're prone to escaping late winter gloom.

March rolled into Iowa thrusting blizzard conditions down upon us. There was no opportunity for recovery from our late February storm's devastating assault before treacherous winds, snow, & ice slammed us again. Many areas were without power for several days. People took shelter in community buildings, camped out at motels, or stayed with family & friends that had power. The sale of portable power generators sky rocketed. The entire state was declared an emergency disaster area. I feel so lucky that we were warm & safe. The tree loss (shade loss) our yard / gardens sustained seems not even worthy of complaint. But yet, nagging concern pulls at my gardener's heart even though; Ron & I decided to look at the situation as an opportunity for change.

And there is no doubt March 2007 "came in like a lion" - a very ferocious lion, a very destructive, very freighting creation of nature. March going out "like a lamb" is welcome anticipation.But only Mother Nature knows for sure what she may bestow upon our Spring-Time!

March brings us opportunity to join the Irish fun - Saint Patrick's Day. The just before spring gala event is good for the spirit. Traditionally Irishmen enjoy spirits; spirits they drink, spirits they believe in, spirited Irish music, & spirited Irish jigs (dances). The coming of the GREEN! brings shamrocks, green beer, leprechauns, banshees, & the sought after - pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

What's more Irish that corn beef & cabbage with new Irish potatoes in the pot? Yummy!

My cousin shared her Ruben Casserole recipe with me years ago. It is so good! That is if you like sauerkraut & corn beef. I can smell it now!

Saint Patrick's Day is always a big party with green beer & green any thing else you can think up. Once I saw an Irish cat dyed green for the occasion. You gotta love them Irishmen. They love to sing and dance, and grow potatoes, and knit wool sweaters. (see archives March 2006)

An Irish Prayer

Take time to work, It is the price of success.
Take time to think, It is the source of power.
Take time to play, It is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to read, It is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to be friendly, It is the road to happiness.
Take time to love and be loved, It is the privilege of the gods.
Take time to share, Life is too short to be selfish.
Take time to laugh, Laughter is the music of the soul.

March is also designated "Fire Prevention Month". All children learn about Smokey the Bear and protecting natural resources, animal life & homes from fire. Smokey the Bear is a mascot of the United States Forest Service created in 1944 to educate the public on the dangers of forest fires. In 2001 changes in fire management led Smokey's mission to be modified to address the problem of wildfires.

March is very busy for me this year. I'm hard at work with my local garden club serving as the vendor committee for our annual spring 'Garden Gala'. There's organizational meetings to attend, fund raisers to work on, and whatever else needs done to assure a successful event. The "Garden Gala" is always a fresh gulp of spring. Everyone has a great time. (See What's Coming Up Page)

I'm also scheduled to give my 'Shade Garden Presentation' twice this month, once for my Master Gardener group & also for the New Sharon Garden Club. I'm a bit nervous. I spent my income tax return (that I haven't gotten yet) to buy a power point projector so I could give garden related presentations for groups. Now is that silly or what!

I'm also presenting a lesson for Junior Master Gardeners this month. That really makes me nervous. But kids are fun!

There will be my regular garden club meeting, the Garden Gala meetings, a dentist appointment, & a hair cut. Did I mention I work full-time away from home too? It's good to keep busy until spring hits.

Spring Gardening Tips

Spring is here! These 10 early season chores that will help get you ready for the pleasures of spring�hoeing, pulling weeds, cleaning off the garden, raking (yuck!). Tell me again, why do we enjoy gardening?

1. Clean, sharpen, and oil your gardening tools.
2. Prune back perennials that may need it.
3. Prune summer flowering shrubs.
4. Rake your lawn.
5. When soil permits, till the garden.
6. Start propagating houseplants.
7. Gradually pull back winter mulch and remove debris from roses.
8. Turn your compost pile and sift decomposed material through a screen.
9. Amend your flower bed soil with compost and organic matter.
10. Start a garden journal for use throughout the year.

March Gardening Guide

Farmer's Almanac
Gardening Tips
March 2007

Take the time to make a garden plan. Keep in mind the size of your garden and the size of the plants you want to grow, as well as their spacing needs.

Have your soil tested by a local garden center or county agricultural agent or master gardener to determine its acidity.

Begin your garden on a dry day when the soil is not wet or sticky and the danger of frost is past - May 15 is the official last frost date for zone 5 - Iowa.

Water thoroughly after the initial planting then water weekly, especially during dry spells.

"Remember .... Nature cannot jump from winter to summer without a spring or from summer to winter without a fall."

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

AN IRISH BLESSING

What's Happening