After the experience of a seasonal warm mid March which enabled the installation of ‘cool season’ veggies, we returned to cold, misty gray days slowing progress of ‘cool season’ plant growth. Nevertheless, because of recent warm humid spring days, these plants ‘jump start’. Rows of early season veggies will soon offer a harvest and the installed ‘warm season’ veggies are poking their heads through tilled ground.

Still, to be candid, after the experience of two extreme cold late springs followed by early drought, I approach an optimal planting season with caution – I keep so-to-speak ‘waiting for the other shoe to fall’. For, it is a lush productive spring filled with the promise of harvest. To celebrate the season, I recently host a walk-about my gardens. As I discussed my planting strategies and results, I was reminded of who supplied what – vendor test plants, plants shared by family and other gardeners and those which occur as volunteer, gifts of nature.

Documenting the lush spring blooms, I photograph newly installed as well as established plantings. And as always, there are a few plants that stand out. For 2011, it is the year of the old fashioned ‘snow ball’ shrub. Initially, this plant was acquired through digging up an old neglected plant, removing invasive honeysuckle vines and installing the spinally rooting in protective areas. As a result, one of the plants towers more than 25 feet in height and is densely covered with snow ball shaped blooms.

Year 2011 is also the year of azalea blooms and as these blooms decline, English blue bells, peonies, iris and roses open to contribute color. Trees spread a backdrop of green leaves and grassy areas turn a lush green. The beige of winter disappears as warm moist spring weather triggers an array of habitat of growth and edible plants.

Presently, I’m working through my yard gardens – scooping up volunteer plants and mowing the lawn of other unwanted additions. As I scoop up valued volunteer plants, I place the seedlings in trays and after monitoring stability, install in more appropriate areas. For example, a favorite volunteer plant is peony. VA based developer Brent & Becky Bulb a few years ago, gave me 4 plants – white, light pink, dark pink and red. These plants drop seeds producing a mass of seedlings – jokingly I refer to the area as my ‘peony farm’ but realistically, I truly enjoy the promised horticulture surprise of these plants. Similarly, both native white and purple violets cross pollinated to produce a rainbow of pastel colors. So, based on personal experience, I extend a word of caution – as you weed a garden space, wait for the second set of leaves to determine the value of your volunteer plants.

As I complete month of April activities and begin May, I anticipate blooms from my rose garden and harvest from the kitchen garden. And because tomorrow is expected to be another day in which I can continue to ‘dig in the dirt’, I’ll be outside – will you? For additional tips/strategies, link to web site www.TheWrightScoop.com.