Around Crownsville

I took advantage of the mid-week warmth to look for signs of spring.  I always try to plant bulbs in the fall so that I’ll have clusters of color with the first warmth of spring. Sure enough the crocuses were in bloom, and as usual my attempt at the color clusters met with about 85% success.  I had profusions of purple crocus with one lonely yellow one right in the middle.  I found other signs of spring.  Daffodils about to bloom and the high-up honking of a large vee of Canadas heading back north.

But, the best sign of spring is a real sign – Delia Edelman and Peter Lally have opened the gates again to Crownsville Gardens after a brief winter hiatus.  Right now they’re tiding up the grounds and stocking up, but they are open for business.  As Peter puts it, “We’re not like the Orioles.  We don’t have an opening day.  Mother Nature determines if we’re open.”  In other words, if it’s a reasonable day, you’ll find them open.  If it’s cold and rainy, save yourself the trip.  As we move through March into April, you’ll be able to count on them being open daily.

When I stopped by, they were getting a load of my favorite non-plant goodies — pottery.  Every year, they have the greatest selection of glazed pots in fabulous blues, greens, reds, browns, and  more.  I can’t resist them even though I’m running out of space. For those who prefer terra cotta, Crownsville Gardens carries them in a variety of shapes and sizes.

As Delia stocked the shelves, she caught me up on what would be coming in soon.  If organic gardening is your passion, make CG your first stop.  They’ll be stocking even more than last year.

I’m looking forward to the new stock of native plants coming in.  Once again, they’re increasing their inventory in this department.  Fresh produce will be back again, too, as soon as it’s available.

Right now, they have  EarthBox Garden Systems available.  These self-contained, near-hyrdoponic systems lets those of us with limited space have our own “recession” garden.  Whether you want fresh herbs or have your mouth set for a sweet, homegrown tomato, these window-box style planters come with a special grid to promote root growth and a trellis to let your vines climb. If you just can’t wait to get started in your yard, CG already has a supply of mulch, landscaping stones, and other materials for preparing your yard.  If you’re not quite sure what to do with a certain flower bed or special container, stop by and talk to Delia and Peter.  They’re always ready and willing to share their wealth of knoweldge.

So, the next nice day, stop by– before we  know it, Crownsville Gardens will be a flood of color — think of it as carry-out for your yard.