Since April, Coastkeeper Garden Director Marianne has imparted her gardening wisdom through live lessons on our virtual programming, OCCK Streams. By offering simple tips and tricks like how to create beautiful butterfly gardens, she has created and taught hands-on gardening activities for families or anyone looking to try out their green thumb.
Have you ever wanted to grow a garden and had no clue where to begin? Watch and learn from our library of gardening lessons below.
Before you get your hands dirty, here’s a bonus treat – A Q&A with the garden guru, herself.
- How did you get into gardening?
- Marianne: I began gardening when I moved into my first house. The garden was in terrible shape and I was forced to fix it up. After I started the job I realized that I was actually enjoying it and having fun. The rest is history!
- What do you love most about gardening?
- Marianne: I love the fact that gardening is fun, relaxing, and it reduces stress. After I go outside and garden, I always feel better! Also, there is a sense of accomplishment after you finish a project, especially when a beautiful plant grows from your efforts.
- Where do you get inspiration from?
- Marianne: My inspiration comes from new plants. When I find a plant that I have not grown before it motivates me to give it a try. In doing so, I usually end up redoing the portion of my yard where I want to plant it. I am also inspired by the environment and choose plants that are water wise and attract beneficial insects and birds.
- Have there been any challenges you faced, for example, trouble growing or maintaining a certain plant or vegetable? And how did you work around that challenge?
- Marianne: The challenge of planting a plant and getting it to thrive is the fun of gardening! Usually if I have a plant die, I reevaluate what I did so next time I can do it differently.
- What advice would you give someone just starting out?
- Marianne: Do some research to figure out what growing zone you are in. Also, in Southern California it’s important to pick plants that can grow with less water and hot sun. Gardening is a process with no exact rules. I’ve been gardening for years and I still have plants die. Just move on and try again. Once you figure out your specific growing environment you will have success!
Gardening Lessons:
If you find these lessons fun and helpful, tell us! We’d love to see what you grow and how you do it – tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
