By Linda Chuss

As warm weather plays hide-and-seek early in the New England spring season, green thumbs in the region become itchy to work their gardens. 

“Having moved here from Oklahoma, I was surprised that spring arrives so late and much of the planting needs to wait until May,” said Patsy Timmons, President of the Greenleaf Garden Club in Milford. 

Uplifting blooms along Main Street in the summer of 2022, provided by the Greenleaf Garden Club. Courtesy photo

The club has been around for 55 years, with one original member still participating. Their 50 members share advise and plants, hold educational programs, and give back to the town.

“Right now, clean your beds, removing the leaves, pruning back the spent perennials, and adding new mulch. Don’t do that in the fall because the beneficial insects and other critters like to use the stalks over winter,” Patsy advises.

As for planting, according to Judy Thomas, a board member who also spearheads town beautification, “Place plants where they need to be in terms of shade and sunlight – sun plants need at least six hours of light. I like to plan for continual color throughout the seasons – bulbs from fall plantings, then irises, and day lilies.”

Don’t till the soil because it brings dormant seeds, including from weeds, to the surface. Instead, Thomas recommends trying a “lasagna garden,” which the club did when planting the Purchase Street island. Start with a layer of cardboard on the ground at the site for the planting, layer compost, manure, and wood chips, then cut through the layers and cardboard and put your plant into the opening.

Emily Hooper Alston joined the club after moving here from California, impressed by the plantings around town and looking to learn how to garden in this climate. 

“To deal with potential droughts, avoid species that need frequent watering. Mulch to preserve moisture. During watering bans, you can use rain barrels and water from dehumidifier buckets.” For her vegetables, she conserves water with a drip irrigation hose.

Vegetable gardening, especially in raised beds, has become popular in recent years. Another trend is using native plants and those that will attract pollinators.

 “They like bee balm and native asters,” Timmons said. “Hummingbirds love a trumpet flower bush with its long-throated orange blooms,” Alston added.

The Greenleaf Garden Club welcomes members of any experience level. New members are paired with a mentor their first year. The club has program meetings from September to April and holds summer field trips. For more information, visit greenleafgardenclub.org or email [email protected]