spring planting - grace grits and gardening

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

March 21, 2018 By Talya Tate Boerner 2 Comments

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

How to Grow a Clematis Vine (as big as a dinner plate)

April 12, 2017 By Talya Tate Boerner 7 Comments

I thought since my clematis flowers are as big as a dinner plate, this would be a good time to talk about growing clematis vines. For the beginner gardener, clematis is a great plant to start with because it’s a pretty undemanding vine. When it bursts into bloom you’ll feel encouraged and believe down deep where you live that your thumb has turned a brighter shade of green. That’s a nice thing to believe.

There’s no reason to make gardening difficult. Grow what works for your area and skip the fussy mussy plants. That’s my motto.

When to plant?

How about today? Continue Reading

A Pop of Spring Color for the Butterflies!

April 5, 2017 By Talya Tate Boerner 14 Comments

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!

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.