We’ve just been buried in snow and more is in the forecast, but I’m dreaming of springtime. Yes, I know it’s only February, but now is the best time to start planning what I’m going to plant in the spring. Last year I planted perennials – some peony and geranium plants – as a foundation for my flower bed. But I need to plan how I’m going to add that extra pop of color or that new sweet floral scent to my yard this year.

I’m considering night phlox (zaluzianskya) or perhaps night scented stock (matthiola bicornis) for a rush of scent in the summer night air. For color, I’m thinking about zinnias, cosmos, and Gerbera daisies. But… I suppose that mixture of plants lends itself to a bit of a mish mash of design. That’s why I rely on The Farm at Green Village.

I love gardening. I love digging in the dirt and watching plants grow. However, I’m not very talented when it comes to landscaping. Colors sometimes clash. The plant sizes are all wrong. Whole sections of the flower garden are out of bloom at the same time. Since I found The Farm at Green Village, that’s not the case.

Last year, I was meandering through the rows of flowers, adding plants to my basket and removing them in a bewildered state, when a staff member noticed the look of uncertainty on my face. He asked about the layout of my flower beds, even asking me to sketch them for him. Then he recommended which groundcover would be most suitable for yard. He even gave me tips on the best mulch and how to perk up a little lilac bush that was dying.

So while my flower beds may be sleeping beneath a foot (or two!) of snow, my mind is thinking about planting flowers in the spring.

Not many hobbies provide as many benefits as gardening does. Sandra Mason, Unit Educator of Horticulture & Environment for the University of Illinois, realizes the physical and health benefits of gardening. In her article, The Health Benefits of Gardening*, she writes: “What if I told you there is an activity that can provide strength and cardio training and increase flexibility. Plus the activity can relieve stress and provide nutritious food. You get all that and you don’t have to buy an expensive towel rack to do it.” The bending, digging, hauling, and squatting involved in gardening provides physical exercise to strengthen and tone muscles, lose weight, lower blood pressure, and prevent disease – such as heart disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes. However, most people don’t garden simply for the health benefits. Exercise is simply an added bonus, like chocolate chips in your zucchini bread – you love it, but you’d eat the bread even if it didn’t have chocolate in it.

Many people derive joy simply from creating something with their hands. Watching a plant grow from seed is like watching a miracle. A tiny seed, the correct mix of water and sunlight, and a green sprout emerges from the dirt. Soon that sprout is a large plant bearing fruit of its own. The act of growing more and more plants – exotic plants and those which are difficult to grow or just a favorite kind – is what makes many people happy.

One major benefit of gardening is the ability to grow your own food. Some people enjoy reaping the benefits of their hard work, while others like that they can save on their grocery bill. Gardeners love to share the fruits and vegetables that they grow with neighbors and friends, whether in raw form or in a recipe, like chocolate chip zucchini bread, for instance.

Mason, Sandra. (2005, January 3). The Health Benefits of Gardening. Retrieved February 9, 2010, from University of Illinois Extension website: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/champaign/homeowners/050103.html

A few potted plants and flowers, some interesting garden accents, and you’ve got an instant garden. That’s the beauty of container gardening, one of the top garden trends we see for 2010 as we talk to garden supply center customers. It’s easy to see the appeal. The variety of flowers you can have is endless. And it’s very quick and easy for semi-gardeners who don’t want to dig and plant and wait for their garden plants to grow. Read more…

Watch a spring video at The Farm Green Village New Jersey: Home gardening, roof gardening, events, seminars, nursery garden, accents and more

I’ve been blogging about trends in gardens and gardening that we’re seeing here at the Farm at Green Village, New Jersey. One of the biggest trends is a move to native species, with less emphasis on high-maintenance exotics. Garden plants native to a region are easier to maintain, because they can thrive in their own habitat. Read more…

Hello from the Farm at Green Village, New Jersey, the largest nursery gardening and garden supplies center in the New York Metro-northern New Jersey area. It’s mid-winter, but that’s not slowing down our gardeners. They’re busy planning for the spring. They stroll our nursery garden and the Glass House, thinking about the garden plants they’ll add, what they’ll put in the flower garden. I want to share five trends were seeing among our gardeners here. Read more…