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Vast Horizons For Organic GardenerOrganic gardening is moving to the forefront of gardening philosophy worldwide.Organic gardening is gaining favor at every level of communication. On the news, in magazines, at every type of gardening event, organic gardening is in the focus.
This year, ecologically friendly topics were highlighted at each and every event I attended. From the Chicago Flower & Garden Show on Navy Pier to the Garden Writers tour of the Olbrich Gardens in Madison Wisconsin to the Summer Meeting for Garden Clubs of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. Eco-friendly practices are highlighted at them all. If you want to broaden your knowledge of gardening, nothing beats meeting local gardeners. If you are not already a member of a garden club in your area, try to find one to visit. Exchange of ideas, encouragement, reliable information or the gardening camaraderie are just some of the benefits. If you think you can't afford the time, it may be you can't afford to miss what other gardeners have to offer. Fresh ideas energize your garden projects as they expand your thinking. Gardeners can chat about growing things for hours. Of course, some choose to use products I have banned from my garden. Some decide to use practices that I have rejected awhile ago. There is still plenty we have in common, though, and I enjoy pointing out naïve plants and explaining the leaf mulch (when asked). Perhaps some more gardeners will try the organic approach. Even in the face of keen competition, gardeners are naturally generous with each other. I often come home from a visit to a friend's garden with not only new ideas, but new cuttings to root, plant divisions or seeds to plant, even a pound or two of produce to eat! Tried and true specimens from gardeners who live nearby have the best chance of thriving. They are already acclimated to your space, and good advice comes with them. Of course, I am always excited to introduce area gardeners to the varieties of native plants from my yard. I save seeds in little envelopes and have stacks of containers ready to hold a plant for a new home. Local gardeners connect throughout communities in garden clubs, programs at the library, classes at the community college or a botanical garden, if you are lucky enough to live near one. There are specialized groups such as plant societies for roses, lilies, iris and many others. Your Forest Preserve District has numerous programs concerning plant life and the natural world that are certainly of interest. Many state universities sponsor websites giving scientifically based information about the soil, weather conditions, insects and other challenges unique to your area. We gardeners are all finding our way through a sea of information. It's good to know fellow gardeners who are in the same boat to give us an even richer gardening experience. We may not all agree on what's best, but as we tour each others gardens, commiserating on this year's bugs, heat, rain and stubborn clay, we all learn from each other.
The copyright of the article Vast Horizons For Organic Gardener in Organic Gardens is owned by Meredith Nichols Schnelle. Permission to republish Vast Horizons For Organic Gardener in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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