Dreaming of Paradise

It's spring, and when I say it's spring I mean it finally feels like spring in Wisconsin.  I just came in from mowing the lawn for the first time.  The weather has finally turned a corner.  Every year around this time the wheels in my mind start turning the soil in my garden.  I'm a dreamer, I dream big, and I dream often.  Sometimes I need the people around me to pull me out of the clouds.  When I envision what I want my garden to be I see flowering trees, beautiful willows, perfect gravel pathways, colors of deep plum and bright yellow, a white picket fence strewn with morning glories, and peonies a plenty.  Unfortunately to obtain all of that would cost an arm and a leg, so I'm forced to edit that vision.  I don't mind editing though it helps to make the big goal much more obtainable.   Baby steps and the appreciation for what I do have is a much healthier approach as spring arrives each year and brings a flood of new dreams along with it.  What good is it if you get everything your heart desires the moment you want it?   If you're interested in starting a garden but have no idea what you're doing, don't fret, I had no idea either and I'm still here.  I do have just a couple of tips though.  Read on if you're interested.

• Be prepared to work and work hard (hopefully I didn't just scare you off).  It is such rewarding work, you feel tired and worn out at the end but you get to see practically instant results as you start to transform an area.
• Start small, don't think you'll be able to transform the entire front and back yard in one season, unless you're paying others to help you out.
• Make sure you read up on what plants and flowers are native to your zone.  Also, research if there's a pest you'd like to keep out, there are plants that can deter certain insects and even animals from approaching your garden.  We planted a bunch of lavender last year because we read that they can help deter mosquitoes. 
• Plan.  Don't just grab a shovel and start digging.  Call diggers hotline to know where underground lines might interfere with your ideas.   Draw out a plan on paper, or better yet, try your hand at google sketchup (it's free!) to help you visualize the layout.  
• Check out your local city or town center and see if they have a recycling center.  Often times you can get free wood chips, mulch, and even compost.
• Have fun and take it one step at a time.

“The many great gardens of the world, of literature and poetry, of painting and music, of religion and architecture, all make the point as clear as possible: The soul cannot thrive in the absence of a garden. If you don't want paradise, you are not human; and if you are not human, you don't have a soul.” 
― Thomas More