Spring flowers are sign that warmer days are around the corner.
The best way to greet the season is by spending time outdoors. Gardening can ensure you soak up your daily dose of vitamin D. It can also ensure you sleep deeper and feel peaceful. Gardening evokes relaxation, creates a sense of responsibility and even release happy hormones!
That’s right, gardening can make you happier.
A little time in the dirt can make your body release serotonin and dopamine. These are hormones that make us feel good and are released during physical activity.
It’s easy to conclude that gardening is the perfect way to relieve stress during the spring season.
“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.” Alfred Austin
Grandma knows the benefits of getting your hands dirty. Her time in the garden led her to create her Grime Away Bar. It’s a safe way to remove dirt and grime from hands without stripping away skin's natural oils.
We listed a few of Grandma’s favorite blooms below and included a few tips.
Pansies
Early spring is the perfect time to plant pansies. They enjoy the cool transitional weather. These cheery blooms will lift every gardener’s spirit. Pansies are great if you living in cooler climate.
- Plant in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil.
- Space the plants about 7 to 12 inches apart.
Lilacs
Lilacs give off a sweet spring fragrance. They are a cottage garden favorite. They come in all shapes and sizes, from shrubs to tall trees.
- Select a site where your lilac will get full sun—at least 6 hours.
- Grow lilacs in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil.
Daffodils
Daffodils come in a range of shapes and sizes. These lovely blooms are a great addition to any garden.
- Daffodils will tolerate some crowding but prefer to be spaced 3 to 6 inches apart.
- Plant in EARLY spring for success. Bulbs do better when planted while weather is still cold, but it is possible to plant in spring.
Tulips
Tulips are multifoot-high blooms and there is a variety for every gardener. They are one of the best flowers for spring.
- Tulips prefer a site with full or afternoon sun.
- Plant in EARLY spring for success. Bulbs do better when planted while weather is still cold, but it is possible to plant in spring.
Azaleas
Azaleas are bright and cheerful blooms. They are the perfect transition from spring to summer. Pairing these shrubs with hellebores or around a sidewalk.
- Soil should be well-drained, humus-rich, moist, and acidic.
- After flowering, deadhead where practical, to promote vegetative growth rather than seed production. Remove dead flowers from rhododendrons carefully; next year’s buds are just under the old heads.
Tips are from farmer's almanac. Learn more about Grandma's Grime Away Bar.