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on the Second Day of Spring, my true love gave to me…

March 21, 2018 By Talya Tate Boerner

On the second day of spring my true love gave to me, sweet potatoes frying in a pan.

LOL, I’m no poet or songwriter, but since today is World Poetry Day I encourage you to read poetry, look for poetry in nature, maybe even try your hand at writing a poem.

Pat Laster is my favorite Arkansas poet. She creates beautiful poetry, often about the flora and fauna outside her home in Benton. Check out her blog, PITTYPATTER, and give her a follow. Starting the second day of spring with a few lines of imagery is the perfect way to begin. It has a way of calming the brain before stress even has a chance to take root.

Amen to that?

Yesterday was World Ag Day. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank all my farmer friends on this the second day of spring (and every day). Soon, dirt will be flying, seeds will be planted, and another growing season will be underway.

That’s poetry, too. Farm poetry.

We have much to celebrate on this second day of spring.

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Musical Pairing:
You Must Believe in Spring, Lauren Bush Quartet

A Pop of Spring Color for the Butterflies!

April 5, 2017 By Talya Tate Boerner

A Pop of Spring Color - Monrovia Coreopsis

Raise your hand if you’re busy celebrating spring. (Both my hands are raised!) When I was asked to work with Monrovia again, I didn’t hesitate. The timing is perfect, too, because after traveling and promoting my book during March, my immediate plan was to spiff up our butterfly garden with a pop of spring color. Just in time for Easter.

Even though our established perennials are beginning to bloom, adding a few fresh, vibrant Monrovia plants into existing beds is the best way I know to give the world an immediate boost. I headed straight to the local nursery where I had no trouble filling my shopping cart with lots of spring color. Seriously, you can keep the plastic eggs and chocolate bunnies. The picture below represents my dream Easter basket!

A Basket of Color

So what’d I buy?

For the Butterflies~

Two years ago, I planted a butterfly garden in our backyard. Each spring, I add to it with butterfly attracting perennials. My husband and I live in Zone 6, so it’s a bit early to plant milkweed, but I was happy to find two of our tried and true Monrovia favorites—salvia and coreopsis. These winners are long-blooming and hardy, they complement each other in style and color, and they attract butterflies and bees.

As pollinators, butterflies and bees are critical to our environment. Flowers and flowering shrubs that attract them are high on my preferred list.

Continue Reading

Planting Bulbs, Planting Hope

December 9, 2016 By Talya Tate Boerner

Digging in the dirt is a favorite pastime of mine, but lately I’ve had no time to do it. Correction, I hadn’t made the time to do it. And I’d been moaning about how when spring arrives our yard will be so sad without our sprightly pink and orange tulip blossoms. Last summer after they bloomed, I dug them up and stored them in the garage. Nicely labeled and all. Last week, I saw them staring at me when I hoisted the tubs of Christmas decorations from the shelf.

Planting Bulbs, Planting Hope

Finally, I stopped moaning and started digging. Planting bulbs, planting hope. It felt good. So good that the next day, my whole body ached. I had to rake five bags of leaves to even get to the dirt.Continue Reading

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Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: May 4, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Rainy Day Edition
  • Spiderwort: my love-hate relationship
  • Sunday Letter: March 23, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: March 16, 2025

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