Spring has Sprung!

This may be my favorite time of year. . . It's s time of beginnings, fresh starts; a time when nature starts again. And aside from the allergies, a time when finally, you can get outside!

So why would anyone want to come to the library now?! Well: here's an idea - - -

Pick up some gardening books - the library has several shelves on planning, planting and cultivating all sorts of gardens - flowers, vegetables, those in the sun, in the shade. . . This is the time of year to begin. Try these titles :

The Complete Guide to Landscaping - Homeowners who want practical information, ideas, and solutions will find this guide an unmatched resource. Creative design solutions and plant selection lists for a variety of landscape situations. Inspiring photographs and illustrations provide easy-to-follow instructions. (Barnes & Nobel)

The Moosewood Restaurant Kitchen Garden by David Hirsch - In what is called ``a gardening book for cooks and a cookbook for gardeners,'' Hirsch offers brief seed-starting instructions, cultural requirements, harvesting instructions, garden design plans, and culinary tips for a variety of vegetables and herbs. He also includes general gardening techniques, insect control, and recipes from the Moosewood kitchens. Of special interest are the culinary tips, especially for less-common vegetables and for herbs. This book has the visual attractiveness of the other Moosewood titles, with charming initials and line drawings on the text pages, decorative title pages for each section, and garden plans and drawings throughout. (Library Journal)

The No Work Garden by Bob Flowerdew - Bob Flowerdew has been investigating and testing cultivation techniques for more than 20 years, and the result of his efforts is an approach to gardening that produces high yield and high quality with relatively little effort. This guide to more efficient gardening includes tips on easier mowing, weeding, digging, and saving time and effort in the yard. (Barnes & Nobel)

Heirloom County Gardens by Sarah Heffner
Heffner provides six different heirloom garden designs to reflect early regional gardens from New England to the Southwest. Initially, she discusses how both climate and the ethnic background of area settlers contributed to each design, then she offers such particulars as the type (and even the number) of plants to include, along with their cultivation habits and growth requirements. Of special interest is the history and evolution not only of each type of garden but of individual plants. Onions, bachelor's buttons, grapes and nasturtiums all receive equal billing. Since, according to Heffner, country gardens "reflect a wonderful combination of creativity, thriftiness, regional character and love of gardening," she also includes chapters on creating garden ornaments, utensils and crafts along with old-fashioned recipes contributed by living history museums. (Publisher's Weekly).

So stop by the library , pick up a book on your favorite outdoor activity (like baseball) and enjoy the Spring. (you don't really think I could go a whole blog on Spring without mentioning baseball do you? )

- - The Village Librarian

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.” - - - Rogers Hornsby