GET A GREEN(ER) THUMB

Whether you love digging in the dirt, planting seeds and reaping the bounty that bursts forth, or find the whole idea of gardening intimidating, this spring offers the promise of a fresh start. Growing flowers, vegetables, herbs or anything else need not be endlessly fussy or take up your entire Saturday. As an avid gardener, I'm not opposed to a little sweat, but I much prefer working smart and keeping things easy. Here's a quick guide to minimize your effort and maximize your joy.

- Julie Lane-Gay

What if I have no idea where to start?

When I moved to my current garden, I got a wonderful blank slate, but the beds looked eerily sparse. To create an immediate feeling of “presence," I planted some scented-leaf pelargoniums (sometimes called scented geraniums). These shrubby plants are a good starting point, as they grow quickly in a variety of home garden landscapes without lots of attention, and their fragrant leaves come in a vast range of colors, sizes and shapes. I put them all over the garden that first spring and summer-in pots, around my newly planted (but spindly) shrubs, and as a temporary hedge surrounding my new little fountain.

Best of all, true to their name, these plants offer exceptional fragrance. Different species carry aromas of lemon, rose, apricot, ginger, chocolate and more. Kate Jayne, co-owner of Sandy Mush Herb Nursery in Leicester, North Carolina, grows and sells 90 varieties. "Scented pelargoniums are great planted with vegetables," says Jayne, "as they are fast growing, deter pests, and attract bees and hummingbirds." And, she says, their fragrance makes weeding a pleasure. Because scented-leaf pelargoniums won't survive hard frosts, in November, she moves a small array into the house to enjoy their scent through the dark days of winter. Come April, she moves them back out.

How can I grow flowers and food in a small space?

Sometimes I mix my carrots and tomatoes and lettuces in with my ornamental daisies and catmint. A pretty poppy, for instance, sparkles next to a blueberry bush.