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We always think of the act of gardening as a celebratory event. But during the month of April, our green thumbs get an extra special boost because it is National Gardening Month, as designated by the National Gardening Association (NGA). So even if you have never planted a single thing in your life, April is an excellent time to get started.

6 Great Ways to Celebrate National Gardening Month

(1) Host a Plant Swap Party

The basic gist of a plant swap is to ask your friends to bring a few plant starts that they have divided from their gardens. Most perennials can be easily divided and therefore are easy to share. Make sure that you, as the host, have extra containers on hand, and plant markers, such as Popsicle sticks or plastic spoons that can be written on with a permanent marker. Make it clear to your guests what they are expected to bring to swap- you may wish to include seeds and bulbs, or even tools and gardening books. We think plant swaps are an awesome idea because they can truly save you a lot of money. To make your plant swap special, consider serving iced tea and a yummy garden-inspired treat, like these Rose-Walnut Scones. (And you can learn how to make your own rose water here!)

(2) Organize a Neighborhood Garden

Chances are, if you live in a big city, you’ve witnessed an awesome trend that has started to grow lately. Driving down the street, you may notice an unexpected green patch next to an apartment building, or a plot of flourishing herbs and vegetables next to a vacant lot. These community gardens have been started by individuals who wish to maintain a garden, but don’t have a yard in which to do it. The community collectively shares the responsibilities and decides what to grow- some are flower-filled relaxing spaces, while others are vegetable gardens from which the harvest is donated to a local food bank. For tips on how to start your own neighborhood garden, check out this guide from Urban Harvest.

(3) Help a Friend Start a Garden

Sometimes all a friend needs is a little support when it comes to starting something new. If you have a friend who swears she has a black thumb, give her an extra boost of encouragement this month. Try tucking an adorable Matchstick Garden into a card and popping it into the mailbox for her. When she receives the matchsticks, all she needs to do is tear one off, drop  it in some soil, and water it. It couldn’t be easier. Or, if you have a friend who is super crunched for space in her little one-bedroom apartment, how about a Greenbo Planter or a Recycled Glass Hanging Terrarium. These awesome accessories make it possible to have plants while not using any floor or yard space.

(4) Begin a “Flower Brigade”

Who doesn’t love to receive a cheery gift of fresh flowers? And chances are, there are some places in your nieghborhood that could use a little cheering up. How about the local hospital, oncology care center, retirement home, or nursing home? Collaborate with friends so that an arrangement of freshly cut flowers may be delivered to the location of your choice once a week. You may even be able to get a local florist to participate.

(5) Join a CSA

Joining a CSA may initially seem like an investment. But it is one that definitely pays off, and you have little to lose. A CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, basically means that you will pay a local farm in advance to receive a weekly supply of fresh fruits and vegetables throughout its growing season. This means that not only do you get fresh local produce every week, but you are supporting your local economy. Plus, you have the opportunity to try fruits and veggies that you may not otherwise, such as tatsoi and lacinato kale.

For more information, please read our blog What Is A CSA and Why Does It Matter?

(6) Take Inventory of All Your Gardening Tools

April is an excellent time to take all of your gardening tools out of storage and do a good head count. Don’t trek off to the garden store until you have done this- otherwise you are more likely to purchase things you do not need. How many gas-powered tools do you have? Is it possible to downgrade to more eco-friendly options? How about that big ol’ pile of rusty, assorted pruners? Maybe it is time to upgrade to a sleek and handy multi-tool. Organize all of your gardening items, including pots and seeds, and donate anything you do not need to a nearby school or community garden.

For more ways to commemorate April, check out 101 Ways to Celebrate National Garden Month at the National Gardening Association’s website.

Gardening is about nourishing the body, mind, and spirit. It is about adding color and vibrancy to both your outdoor and indoor spaces. A garden is your own personal statement, and it can say absolutely anything you want it to.  May Sarton, a 20th century poet and novelist once wrote:

“Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace.”

What we love about May’s philosophy is that she, like us, understood gardening to be much more than just a hobby. One of the greatest things about a gardening  lifestyle is that you’ll reap what you sow. Whatever you put into your garden, you’ll most certainly get back from it.

Now if you’re like us, you can recall your very first gardening experience as a child. We remember plucking ripe red tomatoes right off the plant in the backyard and popping them straight into our mouths. They were still slightly warm from the summer sun, and left our fingers scented with the earthy fragrance of tomato leaves. Each gardening memory is filled with sights, sounds, and scents, engaging all of our senses. It comes as no surprise, though, that our favorite gardening experience is all about taste. There’s nothing like the fresh flavor that comes straight out of a garden.

It’s all about the flavor

You’ll find that herbs, vegetables, and fruits are simply more flavorful when they’re home or locally grown. Oftentimes major chain grocery stores use a chemical gas on their produce to quicken ripening. This gas leaves produce looking pretty, but often robs it of its naturally luscious flavor. On top of that, you’ll also find that this gas causes your grocery store produce to rot very quickly once you get it home. Gross.

The best way to avoid yucky chemical gases, insecticides, and pesticides on your food? Grow your own, or buy local organic produce. You’ll discover a whole new world of flavors that have been hidden by conventional farming procedures. Local or homegrown produce is best when prepared in simple recipes. Don’t fuss over complicated dishes; when you use fresh herbs, vegetables, and fruits, the flavors have the power to speak for themselves. Check out Amy Cotler’s book The Locavore Way for simple, tasty recipe ideas.

Savor fresh produce with simple recipes

For starters, try making this easy and absolutely delicious flat bread next time you entertain. We found this recipe in a recent addition of Real Simple magazine, and totally fell in love with it. It’s easy to make, and we love it every time we get to use fresh herbs from our herb garden. If butternut squash is not in season, try experimenting with what you can use from your garden, such as zucchini or tomatoes.

Butternut Squash Flat Bread with Cheddar and Pine Nuts:

1 pound of prepared pizza dough (We found pre-made whole wheat pizza dough in the prepared food section of our local cooperative food market. You could also make your own.)

1 pound of butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and sliced into 1/4 inch thick pieces

1/2 of a red onion, thinly sliced

1/4 cup of pine nuts

1 tablespoon of fresh thyme

1/4 teaspoon each salt and black pepper

1 tablespoon of oilve oil

1 and 1/2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Mix together the butternut squash, pine nuts, olive oil, salt, pepper, red onion, and thyme. Next, prepare a pizza pan or cookie sheet for the crust by lightly spraying it with non-stick cooking spray, then sprinkling on a handful or yellow cornmeal. Press the pizza dough into the pan until it is the desired thickness. (We used a full size cookie sheet and ended up with a nice, thin crust.) Scatter the butternut squash mixture over the crust. Sprinkle on the cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Slice it up and serve!

Not only is this dish completely yummy, but it is wonderfully fragrant, too. It will scent your whole home with the terrific smell of fresh thyme. Try cutting this up into narrow slices at your next cocktail party. Or, serve it with a fresh fruit salad for a delicious brunch. You’ll never want to go back to flavorless prepared foods again.

Flower and garden shows are magical events, especially when they occur in early spring. As a veteran of many shows and a past show-garden creator, I have advice that might make your next garden show even better. The pictures are from the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show archives.

(1) Dress for spring gardening, not a summer garden party. Jeans, comfortable shoes and several layers will keep you happier than a flowery frock and strappy sandals, especially if there are outdoor displays. Shows like San Francisco often cover several acres, and you’ll want to see every square inch.

(2) Bring a friend, someone who totally understands when you squeal  “oh my gosh, is that a [insert object of horticultural lust here]” and is willing to trudge the last weary mile with you.

(3) Bring a camera. There is an overwhelming amount to see at a garden show. Finding the most interesting and pleasing aspects of each garden to photograph can help you…focus! And don’t stop there: post your photos to Flickr and tag them with the name of the show for others to enjoy!

(4) Keep your hands free to take notes, snap pictures, and hug your friends; wear a backpack or a cross-body messenger bag. Lightweight rolling carts are very popular among the savviest show visitors (just mind people’s shins!)

(5) Try not to touch. Yes, this is hard, but please don’t use those free hands to touch everything you see. This gentlemen gets an A+ for proper attire, but considering that 50,000 people will be seeing this garden, that plant isn’t going to last long if everyone touches it (and don’t even get me started on picking!)

(6) Curb your children. PLEASE don’t let your children climb on display gardens! I was horrified to find several youngsters romping in mine while their parents watched and smiled. Please show respect for the artists and the work they have created, and encourage your children to do the same.

(7) Meet the garden creators. The poor dears are excited, proud and exhausted too. Let them know you appreciate their work! A tip: most garden creators publish a flyer that identifies the plants and materials they’ve used. Most plants will also be labeled. So instead of asking ‘what’s that tree?’ share your experience of the garden instead!

Pop Quiz: Appropriate clothing, check! Shoulder bag, check! Show buddy, check! Pointing instead of touching, check! This garden show visitor makes the grade (unless she’s pointing at her toddler amongst the bromeliads, in which case, FAIL!)

(8) Expect it to be busy. During peak hours (mornings and weekends) this is what you’ll see, patient lines strolling slowly through the displays. Not a bad way to take a first pass, but not very conducive to lingering. (Look how nicely everyone is keeping their hands to themselves, though!)

(9) Find the quiet times. In the afternoons and evenings things calm down. Take advantage of this time to take pictures WITHOUT people in them, chat at length with the garden creators, or just sit and soak it all in with a cup of coffee or glass of wine.

And then, there’s the shopping. Most garden shows have terrific Marketplaces full of plants, hard-to-find tools, original art, garden clothing, jewelry, culinary delicacies, and more plants!

From plumerias to pansies. Many garden show visitors look forward to seeing and buying from their favorite nurseries and garden suppliers each year; it’s part of the tradition.

Buying from the source. By purchasing directly from local growers, artisans and craftsmen, show visitors support their economy and the small businesses that make marketplaces like these unique, and increasingly rare.

What do you mean the car is full? There’s ALWAYS room for more plants!

(10) Enjoy and return! Many garden shows have excellent educational seminars and workshops for gardeners of all ages and levels of experience. Come back another day to see a different speaker or meet a favorite author. Revisit a garden you missed or pick up more plants. Become a part of a small, temporary community that is all about gardening; the experience can enrich your own gardening life for years to come.

About the Author

Laura Livengood Schaub is an award winning landscape designer, photographer and garden writer turned publicist for the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show (March 24-28, 2010). If you’d like to watch a garden show grow, find us on Facebook. If you want a front row box seat, follow Laura on Twitter.

Matchstick Gardens $2.50 It’s your own portable garden that fits in your pocket.  Available in herb and botanical varieties. Our Matchstick Gardens also made Marie Iannotti’s, garden writer for About.com, Top 10 Gifts for Gardeners list.

Floral Clippers $5.00 Regular hand pruners can make trimming those small, delicate flowers quite challenging.  Your garden lover won’t have to worry about bending the stems those precious flowers with these compact, easily maneuverable flower clips. Great for snipping fresh herbs for savory recipes.

Pot Pads $6.00 Pot Pads will help your container gardener move heavy containers (up to 3,000 pounds) over uneven surfaces, keep deck or patios surfaces from staining, and provide much needed air flow to the plant’s roots. Available in red and green. Read Kerry Michael’s review of our Pot Pads on her About.com Container Gardening blog.

Garden Weeder Gloves $7.50 The unique foam coating will protect your gardener’s fingertips from the elements, while the extended cuffs will guard their wrists from scratchy, itchy weeds. Available in blue, pink, purple

Soil Scoop $18.00 NOW $14.40 The Soil Scoop is the jack-of-all-trades.  This tool can perform a variety of gardening tasks: digging, weeding, chopping, cutting, potting or planting. Available in blue, purple, yellow, green, red. Watch this tool in action on Fern Richardson’s blog, Life on the Balcony. “I LOVE my Soil Scoop.” Kerry Michaels, garden writer for About.com

Write + Erase Plant Tags $16.00 Help the garden lover in your life keep track of their seedlings with these stylish, modern plant tags. Made from U/V resistant soft rubber, these tags will stay legible and are re-usable season after season. Available in herb and botanical designs.

Ken Ho Weeder $16.50 This tool is great for scraping away those annoying shallow weeds in your gardener’s flower or veggie beds.  The Ken Ho Weeder will be hard to lose in the garden with its bold red handle.

Still not what you’re looking for? Check out more garden related gifts in our for Modern Garden category.