Dear Henrietta,
It’s springtime and I’m feeling like I want to freshen up my yard with some flowers. What kind of things could I plant that wouldn’t be too hard to keep up as a new gardener?
Signed,
Flower Lover
Dear Flower Lover,
There are so many wonderful flowers that you can plant in Eastern North Carolina! Did you know that Tryon Palace has a plant sale each year in the Spring and that there are farmer’s markets in downtown New Bern, and locally owned gardens like Pinecone that can give you guidance on what to plant, where to plant it, and how to make it thrive?
• Florals are classified as either annuals or perennials. Annuals such as wave petunias, zinnias, begonia, celosia, geraniums, impatiens, marigolds, snapdragons, chrysanthemums, and dahlias are beautiful and easy. You can plant them in pots or beds, but just make sure that in the intense heat of July and August in New Bern you give them plenty of water in pots that drain, or in beds in your yard.
• If you haven’t considered it, maybe plant some veggies and herbs. The easiest way to start is with something simple like tomato plants or herbs like basil, which you can put in either hanging baskets or pots on your patio. You can buy these at many local stores, but my favorite place to buy florals, herbs and veggies is Mitchell Hardware in downtown New Bern. If you would like to review a planting schedule for veggies that is specific to Eastern NC, go to this website: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/eastern-north-carolina-planting-calendar-for-annual-vegetables-fruits-and-herbs.
So, now it’s time to go out, get your hands dirty, and enjoy the spring!
Love,
Henrietta
Henrietta Craven was born and raised in New Bern and enjoys gardening, hunting bears and improvisational dance. She is a self-proclaimed expert on a wide variety of subjects including (but not limited to) fashion, mixology, and cooking. Henrietta resides in a lovely Victorian home in downtown New Bern with her five cats: Graffenreid, Bethune, Devereux, Stanton and Carraway.