One way of coping with living in the northeast in the midst of the bitter cold months is to begin planning your gardening projects and conjure up visions of sugarplums……nope wrong story. How about visions of fluttering butterflies and sprite yellow and black bumble bees flitting throughout your backyard oasis? Not to mention planning how to attract a variety of beautiful birds.

Even if you live in a region that does not get winter weather you can start planning a gardening project for the coming months with these tips and trends. There are always brilliant new ideas being forged.

Plan a Colorful Spray
This year, it appears that bright colors are “what’s hot”. Think yellows, bright pinks and blues and reflective metal colors like gold and silver.

Plant Flowers that Attract Wildlife
When planning your gardening projects try to keep in mind the environment, and by this I don’t simply mean being eco friendly. Plan your projects to attract all the vitally important wildlife to your space. Research native flora for your specific area, and avoid planting species that are not native to your area. There are several reasons to keep this in mind, but one key reason is planting invasive species disrupts the natural eco-system that exists, which can truly have a negative ripple affect.

By sticking to native plants you will become an inviting stop for many pollinators. These pollinators are responsible for producing 3/4 of the food we eat, and they also keep the unwanted insect population under control, which makes your job of inviting them to your home that much more important!

Don’t Stop with the Flora You Decide to Plant
Consider incorporating items that will be used as housing for wildlife, like rock walls and thick bushes and possibly a source of consistent water. You can plan a small garden area with a mini pond and stone wall with a plethora of  beautiful flowering plants and grasses that will not only be an oasis for the surrounding wildlife but a place of serenity for you (click here for some planning help). Or perhaps you don’t have room for something that elaborate. That’s where our next tip comes in.

Think Vertically
Vertical gardening is the newest trend and can be functional and charming. You use pockets, of sorts, that can attach to a wall of the house, deck, or garage (here is one by woollypockets) or you can use a freestanding wooden pocket system. Either can be used for a variety of plants including herbs, vegetables and flowering plants. If you want to be really green and you know of a farmer that may have burlap feed bags, you can fashion your own pockets to create a vertical garden. They must be burlap to allow for drainage.

Don’t Forget to Compost
Whatever you do, don’t neglect having your own compost to reduce your household and gardening waste and to produce the most nutritious soil for your beloved plants.

Swap Plants
Look into a neighborhood plant swap. Some towns designate places where you exchange plant shoots or seeds and enhance your garden variety.

Most importantly have fun with your gardening plans. If it’s not an enjoyable project, you are likely to abandon it and not be able to enjoy the full spectrum of a garden full of ripe veggies and spectacular flowers to harvest.

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Maria Romano-Trampe'

Maria currently serves on the Board of Directors and as the Docent Council President for the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown PA. She has volunteered thousands of hours at Elmwood to educate the public about conservation and wildlife issues and their global impact, as well as initiating and heading up the collection of tens of thousands of “waste” items that are upcycled through a program called Terracycle each year, ensuring the reduction of waste in landfills. Her full-time employment is as the Director of Operations and Finance at Fromer & Gross Orthodontics. A premier Orthodontic practice in Pottstown Pa. Follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/cookingallday

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