Maggie Collins 

Arts and Entertainment Editor 

Photo credit: Dylan Auman 

The prolonged isolation we experienced during the heights of COVID-19 caused many people to take up various hobbies in an attempt to pass the time. Searching for a sense of joy and purpose in a time that lacked both, many people took up knitting, TikTok dances, baking, songwriting, and gardening. 

For Dylan Auman, the pandemic and some inspiration from his neighbor provided motivation to start an organic garden. However, he ran into a considerable issue: he couldn’t find any non-GMO plants aside from herbs. 

Rather than letting this halt his inspiration, Dylan taught himself to grow them. He states that one thing led to another, and now, “I am growing about 1,500 plants in my spare room every year for the neighborhood and surrounding areas.” What started four years ago has turned into a nanofarm with raised beds, allowing him to grow produce at a rapid pace. Auman also has a few modern chicken coops on his farm.  

Auman’s organization,Collective Productions, will host its third annual event this year on April 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 301 E. Bessemer Ave. in Greensboro. The event recently expanded to include makers and artists. This year will a;sp feature a flower truck, local coffee cart, potters, pasta makers, and other artists. Attendees can get local plant starters that are organic, non-GMO, and grown in Greensboro’s Fisher Park. Auman wanted the event to “feel somewhat more curated than your average market,” and it will include Grayhill Made, Loom Coffee, Found and Foraged, Bottom of the Fox Farm, Pasta by Bianca, and many others.  

To find more information and follow Auman’s journey, you can follow him on Facebook and Instagram at chkn.dad. You can find a PDF that lists all the plants they are growing for this year’s event and get a special look into their makers’ spaces. Auman states, “at its core, this is a heartwarming event with a loyal following in our surrounding neighborhoods.” The event gives people a place to find unique items made locally and responsibly. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet local gardeners, makers, bakers, and artists while enjoying some music along the way. 

There’s very little that is pretty about a garden in winter, unless it is covered with a blanket of pristine snow. Occasionally, a red cardinal will visit, giving the dreary scene a splash of color and a faint promise of spring. There’s also a rabbit that lives under the storage cottage and shows up at the kitchen door, as if to ask “What’s for lunch?”

Winter days however are a perfect time to begin planning ahead for the garden scene you hope to create when spring arrives. You have probably already perused the spring garden catalogs, giving you new ideas about the trees, flowers, or vegetables you hope to plant.

So, what can you do now to get the best results for your spring and summer garden?

Soil preparation is your first step toward having a successful show in your garden. That involves using natural ingredients and adding organic fertilizers. You may also want to shake up the earth with some tilling. This is also the time to plant bigger trees and shade plants. March is the perfect time to plant pansies. Mid to late April is the prime time to plant all other spring flowers.

If you are planning a vegetable garden, it’s crucial to have your soil tested. Veggie gardens thrive when the soil is mixed with mulch or mushroom compost. The County Extension office will test your soil, according to the Oklahoma State University Extension staff.

Another tip from the Extension Service is to map out your garden on graph paper before you start planting and remember to allow space for your plants to grow. Tulsa’s Southwood Nursery garden staff also suggests “Keep your garden simple, if you’re a novice gardener. Start small to avoid garden frustration.”

On a field trip to the Linnaeus Teaching Garden in Tulsa, our tour guide suggested: “Consider the size of garden appropriate for you. Gardens require maintenance. Don’t over-crowd. Space plants properly. Over time, this leads to excessive pruning and poor plant performance.”

Other tips included:

• Plan for all four seasons when choosing garden plants.

• Consider using native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, which thrive in hot weather.

• Pay attention to the garden’s traffic paths.

• Finally, enhance your garden with visual attractions — fountains, garden art, decorative pots or urns.

Micki J. Shelton is a Muskogee native and master gardener.

Homeowners enjoy gardening for many different reasons. In addition to adding beauty to a property, gardens can offset grocery costs by yielding tasty produce. They also offer important habitats and food sources for both insects and animals.

While growing a vegetable or flower garden can turn into a rewarding hobby, or even a passion, gardening also can be overwhelming – particularly when the results are less than stellar. Novice gardeners have scores of resources at their disposal, including the advice of gardeners who have made mistakes and learned from them. The following guidance can make home gardens that much more successful.

Start small

You may have visions of an expansive garden growing rows of crops or acres of flowers. But it is smart to start small and build on what you find successful, which includes plants that thrive in your lawn and garden.

This also is beneficial if you are unsure of vegetable yields. Several blooming plants producing bushels of crops can be overwhelming, especially if you can’t get to harvesting or cooking them in a timely fashion.

Assess the soil

Plants need nutrient-rich soil to encourage extensive root systems and produce strong, hardy plants, according to the gardening resource GrowVeg. Nourish soil with organic matter, such as manure, compost, shredded leaves, and natural mulch. Add this organic matter in the off-season to give it enough time to be incorporated into the ground before spring. You can have your soil tested for pH and other characteristics that make it friendly or averse to plants at a local garden center.

Arm yourself with knowledge

Do you know how deeply to plant seeds and how far apart to space plants? Are you aware of the sunlight needs of certain flowers or plants? If not, read the packaging and do your research so your plants have the best chance of not only sprouting, but also surviving. Many people prefer to start seedlings indoors in late winter and then transfer those plants outdoors when they are stronger and more established.

Sit in your yard and observe

Watch the way the sunlight dances over areas of your landscape. Take note of which areas get the most sun and shade. This will help you plan what to plant and where to plant it. Vegetable gardens tend to need ample sunlight to bear pick-worthy produce. You can give plants a leg up by growing them in optimal conditions.

Choose hardy varieties

Certain plants have been bred to thrive in your climate, including heat-tolerant plants for climates with sweltering summer sun. Consult with a local gardening center to figure out which plant zone you are in and which plants will do best within that zone.

Use rainwater

Rainwater contains fewer contaminants and additives than tap water, which can benefit garden plants. Collect rainwater in rain barrels and use irrigation systems to deliver it to the garden.

Home gardens can yield many gifts, from flowers to fruit. Beginners can utilize some time-tested strategies to increase their chances of planting a successful garden.