Area & Garden Related Links
A rich local history (and garden tips) to explore!
- Airport Museum – Preserving Aviation History
- Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
- Bodie Island Lighthouse
- Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore
- Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station
- Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce
- Dare County Civil War Trail
- Currituck Beach Lighthouse
- Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
- Frisco Native American Museum & Natural History Center
Looking for a place to stay?
We are thankful for Atlantic Realty for their support of our gardens and proud to share their links with you.
Check additional listings here on The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau website: https://www.outerbanks.org/where-to-stay/
Garden-Related Links
- Monthly Tips for Your Garden from Ours!
- Garden Club of North Carolina
- Lawn Care
- Kids Guide to Planting a Flower Garden
Thanks to a Girl Scout troop and their spring garden project, we share the following link they found useful, with a shout out to Julia:
- Home Advisor Gardening Guide
- Our thanks to a mother and her son who shared this link with the thoughts that, “The more gardens around the world, the better!” Build a garden guide link.
- 10 Best Garden Crops for Beginners
- Vegetable Gardening for Beginners
- Gardening with Kids
- The Guide to Garden Maintenance & Improvement
- How to Start Your Own Urban Garden
- Growing Connections: Gardening with Seniors
- The Ultimate Guide to Turning Your Home’s Yard into a Community Garden
- Go Bee Friendly
- Bee Friendly Plants
- South Atlantic Region of National Garden Clubs, Inc. (SAR)
- National Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC)
- Daniel Boone Native Gardens Boone, NC
- Martha Franck Fragrance Garden Raleigh, NC
- J. C. Raulston Arboretum Raleigh, NC
- Sarah P. Duke Gardens Durham, NC
- North Carolina Botanical Gardens, Chapel Hill
- North Carolina Gardens (search ‘gardens’)
- North Carolina Plants and Nurseries Guide
- Scenic Gardens
- USDA Plant Information
- Seasonal Garden Planting Calendar
- Guide to Home Gardening
General Garden & Pool Tips submitted by Jane Sandwood
Preparing Your Garden for Spring
As the winter draws to a close, it is time to revisit the garden. With temperatures set to increase, flowers and trees will blossom to create a beautiful display. However, the garden will need a little help from you to achieve its full potential. Americans love a well-kept lawn. The animal and plant life help to reduce stress, as well as showing off to neighbors. Be proud of your garden by preparing it for spring and helping it to flourish.
Flowerbeds
The harsh winter weather has probably done some damage to your flower beds. You should remove the dead dirt, along with any pests, and put down fresh soil. The soil needs to have enough nutrients to help flowers to grow. Take the dead leaves and debris and toss them into the compost along with your food waste. This can then be reused to provide nutrients to the soil and restore its natural pH balance. It is also beneficial to the environment and stops unnecessarily filling up landfill.
Patio
The patio is often the centerpiece of any garden, where guests gather to socialize. So, you should take the time to ensure it looks as good as possible. Check the concrete and stone for cracks and replace if necessary. Then give the patio a thorough cleaning. Check all furniture and fixtures aren’t broken as well. Greenhouses can become dirty and damaged over time, so fix it up before attempting to grow anything. Fences around the patio and rest of the garden also tend to suffer damage over winter, so get them fixed and apply fresh paint if necessary.
Swimming Pool
Spring is when the swimming pool can come back into use. Remove any debris and give it a full clean. There’s nothing worse than a beautiful garden spoilt by a dirty swimming pool. Consider installing a fence to improve safety, particularly if you have an outdoor fountainor pool. This way, your garden will attract more visitors, who can see all the hard work you’ve put into your garden.
By spending the last weeks of winter cleaning and fixing up the garden, you are helping to create the ideal environment for gardening. Whether you wish to grow vegetables or flowers, they need some fresh soil. Use your swimming pool, patio and garden fixtures to accentuate a bright and colorful garden.
