“Fascination is fertilizer. Whatever you place your attention on grows.” ~ Alan Cohen

    The rain finally arrived at the end of February, followed by several warm days reaching into the high 70s. It felt like bathing suit weather, and I was tempted! Fascination is fertilizer.

    I am tickled with the signs of spring. Birdsong enchants me throughout the day, magical music energizing creativity. While the buzz of the honeybees fills the morning air, the croaking of the frogs reverberates throughout the evening. The pollinators are busy savoring the sweetness of the flowering peach tree, crabapple, and the viburnum in full bloom. March 20th marks the vernal equinox, yet we have been enjoying an early spring since the beginning of February. Yellow is the predominant color in March with wild mustard, Acacia trees, oxalis, Mexican stonecrop, and daffodils dotting roadways, gardens, and hillsides. 

    Daffodils and jonquils of varied throat colorations, frills, ruffles, and petal markings decorate my landscape and my floral arrangements. Daffodil is the common name for the genus narcissus, while a jonquil is a specific species with several strong-scented yellow florets with leaves that are rounded. Depending on the expert speaking, there are 40-200 different species, subspecies, and varieties of daffodils with thousands of hybrids. Daffodil bulbs and blooms are poisonous to deer, squirrels, and rodents. Daffodils are weather-tolerant, and they will grow beautifully in sun or shade. They will naturalize when planted in drifts, making them the true trumpets of the vernal equinox.

    Spring is the time to look forward. The 2026 Garden Trends Report from the Garden Media Group names “Lemonading” as the gardening theme of the year. Lemonade…another March yellow! The philosophy is “rooted in turning challenges into opportunities with creativity, joy, and intention.” “Lemonading” is about curiosity and play, transforming setbacks into opportunities through mindfulness. Since I was a young girl, I have always embraced “lemonading”, the idea that when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Gardening is filled with examples. It doesn’t matter if one is an accomplished green thumb or a beginner; mistakes and disappointments always occur in the garden. Plants will get diseases, deer will devour the roses, and beloved plants will die. It is part of the cycle. Instead of giving up, my mantra is “failure is fertilizer.” Put the blunders and plunders on the compost pile and build a new garden. People I meet often tell me that they cannot grow anything. I’ve been told, “I have a brown thumb; everything I try withers and dies.” I don’t buy that response. That narrative is a belief they’ve told themselves. Plant a plot of shamrocks, also known as oxalis, and you’ll be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day every year! Dig a few bulbs into your garden bed and be surprised when blooms magically appear. Shift to succulents or cacti with almost no maintenance required. Wherever one places attention, growing and thriving occur.

    The early show of spring transpired in February, but March showcases the spectacular. While many trees remain bare, camellias, tulip magnolias, crabapple, redbuds, peach, Bradford pear, and plum blossoms sweeten the sky. Dutch iris, calla lilies, Bergenia, sedums, rosemary, Chinese fringe flower, and numerous spring flowering bulbs engage our senses. Optimism and reflection soar with the flamboyant, mystical quality of the sweeping spring landscape as we welcome this month of rebirth. The quiet crunch of gravel underfoot as I gather a bouquet of fluffy plumes reminds me to experience the calmness as well as the beating pulse of the floral abundance of my spring garden. How grateful I am for a stroll in the serenity of nature with its twinkling patterns of wistful beauty.

    Lemonade life, March forward, and be fascinated!

 

Cynthia Brian’s Goddess Gardener Guide for March

    • BUY azaleas, camellias, and rhododendrons now so you can choose colors that complement your landscape.
    • FERTILIZE all plants throughout the month.
    • APPLY snail bait around plants susceptible to snail and slug damage.
    • SPRAY roses, fruit trees that have not budded, and citrus with a combination of mineral oil and     liquid copper to kill overwintering insect eggs and disease spores. Wash any citrus fruit with warm water before consuming it after spraying.
    • TREAT viburnums and other plants that may exhibit powdery mildew. An effective organic spray is to mix one tablespoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of non-detergent soap into a gallon of water. The soap helps the mixture stick to the leaves. Neem oil is also a useful, organic fungicide.
    • MONITOR irrigation. Since rain is predicted throughout March, water your landscape only when necessary.
    • PREPARE flower beds by enriching the soil with compost, earthworms, and mulch.
    • WEED, weed, weed. Weeds steal nutrients and moisture from your favorite flowers.
    • GATHER the tender leaves of wild mustard and miner’s lettuce to add to your salad bowl.
    • SHARPEN and clean garden tools. You’ll be busy next month.
    • COLLECT fallen camellia florets. Rotting flowers left on the ground encourage petal blight.
    • CUT a few branches from flowering peach or plum trees to enjoy the slow release of the sweet-smelling, beautiful blooms.
    • GET a tetanus shot if you haven’t had one in the past 10 years. Digging in the dirt doubles the hazards.
    • AERATE your lawn. The soil is compacted from winter rains and foot traffic.  Leave the plugs to add nutrients back into the grass.
    • FERTILIZE lawns with an organic high-nitrogen mixture specifically for spring growth.
    • SOAK bare-root shrubs, roses, and trees in tepid water for four hours to rehydrate them before planting.
    • BUY seed packets from catalogues or your favorite garden center. Be brave and explore new samplers.
    • CELEBRATE March 17th with a container of shamrocks, also known as oxalis. Erin go bragh, Ireland Forever!