Now that spring is here, local nurseries and greenhouses are getting busy, as home gardeners like you are anxious to start planting your gardens and brightening up your home landscapes. Some even hold classes and workshops to help get you started on the right foot.
Today on “You Can Grow It,” garden master Jim Duthie takes us to one local garden center that offers classes for all ages, proving that you’re never too old, or too young, to start learning the joy of gardening.
It’s a Saturday morning at Edwards’ Greenhouse in Boise, and lots of excited home gardeners have gathered, anxious to see what kinds of new plant varieties there are this season.
Perennial expert Anju Lucas is introducing some new hybrids of easy-to-grow flowering plants, which are great for beginning gardeners, like this new variety of clematis called ‘Viva Polonia.’
“I actually bought one last year and I didn’t get a chance to plant it,” said Lucas. “It wintered over in a pot like that out in the garden. You know it’s hardy.”
‘Viva Polonia’ means ‘long live Poland.’ Like the colors of the flag of Poland, it puts out a large red flower with a white star in the center. It’s an easy-to-grow clematis, making it a good choice for beginners.
Have you tried growing hydrangeas? They can be a challenge in our sunny, dry climate. You might want to try this one, called paniculata fire light. It’s low maintenance, with white flowers that gradually turn red.
“Paniculata can grow in full sun, no problem,” said Lucas. “They can have sun from sunrise to sunset. They absolutely do better in full sun.”
Hey rose lovers! There’s finally a rose that’s fragrant and disease-resistant. It’s called ‘at last.’
“It’s apricot. It’s fragrant. It blooms all season.”
“‘At last’ is a rose for beginners.”
Finally, add a little interest to your garden with a plant with a crazy name, like this colorful iris.
“And this is ‘peacock butterfly painted woman.’”
And there are dozens of other new varieties waiting to be discovered.
While the grown-ups learn about the new plants, a much younger group has gathered nearby to learn a thing or two about gardening basics. It’s a children’s gardening club called Edwards Earthworms, for little gardeners ages three to 12. Through hands-on activities, these kids can get an early start toward developing a love of gardening.
“You’re never too young, or too old, to start gardening, as these kids are here at Edwards’ Greenhouse, learning all the basics about gardening.”
Today, coordinator Gayle Keating is showing these young gardeners how to plant seeds, transplant seedlings, and create a lettuce bowl that they can take home, watch grow, and eventually harvest to eat.
“So, we’re going to put them in here,” said Keating. “But we’re not just going to leave them in there like that. So I have some dirt over there and some shovels…”
A few weeks ago, kids in the class planted these sweet peas. They’ve grown larger and are ready for sale in the greenhouse. Today they’re attaching them to support poles and labeling the containers.
They’ve also got some zinnia seedlings that need to be transplanted into larger pots. And they can take some home to plant in their own gardens.
While some of the kids prefer to draw and color pictures of plants and flowers, others are busy getting their hands in the dirt, practicing their gardening skills, like Conner, a 4th grader and aspiring gardener.
“Well, the basic things… you put it in dirt, you cover it with dirt, and then you water it, but then, after that you just have to make sure it grows well, getting enough sunlight, check on it… you can’t just leave it there.”
“You want to see what the result is. You want to see what it looks like. Does it look cool? Is it edible? Will you eat it? It’s the result for me, anyway.”
Parents participate with their children in these classes, making for a good teaching moment to put into practice at home. Sage and her mother Heather are excited growing their own garden.
“Well, I think gardening is a really important skill, and given that’s where food comes from and knowing where food comes from, I want to introduce my daughter to that at an early age,” said Heather Blume.
“I’m actually a registered dietician and want people to know where food comes from, what that process looks like, and I think growing a bowl of lettuce is the place to start.”
So whether you just like to play in the dirt as you start out on your gardening adventures, or you’re an experienced gardener looking for something new to grow, many local nurseries and garden centers offer all kinds of classes and workshops to help you grow your garden and your green thumb.
Many local garden centers and nurseries offer all kinds of workshops and classes to help you to be a successful gardener. Check the website of your favorite garden center for a schedule of upcoming activities and classes.