Thirty years ago, when Karen and Bob Noyes purchased their Brentwood home, the house needed some TLC. But oh, that row of hostas along the back fence; they caught Karen's eye and it was love at first sight. "I think I wanted the hostas more than I wanted the house," she ruefully admits.

Beyond water and sunlight, gardeners know that time, patience and a little planning are imperative to a beautiful and healthy landscape.  They also know that sitting back and waiting for the product of their toil to spring from the soil is painstaking, especially when plantings are new and the garden requires actual years to take shape. 

For Dan and Carol Gravens, gardening is about sharing. Married for 56 years, it is a passion they share with each other that has grown and evolved over time. They also abundantly share their gardening expertise with a variety of community organizations and willingly share the garden itself. Just ask. 

“If you are looking to create a flamboyant color spectacle, Phasion Canna makes the perfect choice, fantastic as a stunning centerpiece of floral arrangements, or planted by themselves. It features exotic banana-like, striped foliage of green, yellow, pink and red with brilliant tangerine orange, torch-like blooms. It prefers full sun.” Ann Lapides, Sugar Creek Gardens.

April 1-7
Shrubs and trees best planted or transplanted in spring, rather than fall, include butterfly bush, dogwood, rose of Sharon, black gum (Nyssa), vitex, red bud, magnolia, tulip poplar, birch, ginkgo, hawthorn and most oaks.

April 1-14
Start cucumber, cantaloupe, summer squash and watermelon seeds indoors in peat pots.

April 1-14
Prune peaches and nectarines now.

April 1-14
Asparagus and rhubarb harvests begin.

April 15-23
When crabapples are in bloom, hardy annuals may be transplanted outdoors.