Changing Your Botanical Blueprint for Spring

My landscape was the only thing that slowed down in winter. My life has continued at a steady clip, leaving me wishing for an extra hour or even for time to stand still. March is here, and though I am still on a roller coaster, I have a plan for adding beauty to my landscape while providing for wildlife. The coming warmth will be embraced in my yard. Those pots I have neglected will be the basis of my first spring gathering.

I do not have time to redo entire beds right now, so pots will have to do. While I am at it, I will fill a few pots for a friend of mine who lives in a second-floor condominium. I sorted the pots last month. Since terracotta is a breathable material, the pots dry out quickly. They are grouped together, so watering will be easier. The plastic pots are in the middle of the yard; they perform well with rainwater. My glazed pots are the highlight of the shade and are also economical with water. This arrangement should allow me some freedom through the hottest months.

Milkweed, red salvia, porter-weed, and gaillardia have re-seeded in my beds. I will strategically thin them, leaving enough to replace spent parents. One of my volunteers has parsley, dill, zinnia, marigold, and sunflower seedlings to share. All seedlings are in various stages and will flower throughout the season, sharing continuous beauty as well as ample food and shelter for my wildlife. Mixing and matching my plants will be easy, as all of them are drought tolerant and will live in a variety of light levels.

In mid-February, I asked my youngest son to place and refill my medium/large pots, which I will keep in place until fall. They range between 14 and 26 inches wide, and most of them are very heavy even when unfilled. Plant preparation and installation will be done at each constellation. I will set the correct number of plants for my friends to arrange in any way they like. This is a safe and less tedious plan for this kind of gardening undertaking.

Smaller pots are all lined up on my back deck, waiting for their tiny treats. Twelve pots are 6 inches in diameter; they will hold only one plant each. Gaillardia, marigold, and zinnia perform well in these small pots. The others can hold up to three plants each. Since my focus is on providing for wildlife, the pots will be in low-traffic areas and clustered near the birdbath in the corner of my backyard. I will also fill three 12-inch pots with quartets for my friend in the condo. Each pot will have a gaillardia or two in it—she enjoys deadheading them. The plants will be fine in those pots while she is on short vacations.

The bees, butterflies, and birds that hang out in my landscape flutter and flitter about, turning my yard into a kaleidoscope. Of course, the black racers make their presence known and the tortoises are still happy to share space with me. Overall, my landscape remains a place where most of the things I prefer to harbor are thriving. Onward, to a sustainable April!

Nickie Munroe is an environmental horticulture agent with the University of Florida’s IFAS Indian River County Extension.