After a long, white winter, it’s time to embrace spring and its flora. And whether you have a windowsill or a yard at your disposal or were born with green thumbs, Boston blooms with gardening opportunities.
Not sure how best to use your limited space? Find inspiration on one of Boston’s private-garden tours. On May 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Beacon Hill Garden Club’s Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill tour ($25 in advance; $30 same day) will feature 12 gardens. On June 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Secret Gardens of Cambridge tour ($20 in advance; $25 same day) will open more than 35 gardens, with proceeds benefiting Cambridge public libraries. And on June 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the South End/Lower Roxbury Open Space Land Trust’s South End Gardens Tour ($17 in advance; $20 same day) will feature more than 30 gardens.
At Target, you’ll find stylish and affordable gardening gear, such as an alligator watering can ($7.99) and lightweight one- and two-gallon plastic watering cans ($2.95 and $5.95) in blue, yellow, and green. Target’s two-packs of polka-dot, striped, and checked jersey gloves ($2.99) let you mix things up while keeping dirt from getting under your nails, while the Mary Jane style of khaki gardening clogs ($14.99) makes them suddenly appealing. Target also has a good selection of tools, including a transplanter ($4.99), trowel ($4.99), Fiskar bypass pruner ($14.99), and garden shears ($9.99).
City gardening is often synonymous with container gardening. For containers with a wonderful patina, try Antiques on Cambridge. A recent visit found a rusted iron Victorian garden urn ($76) and a weathered pair of cement planters ($85/pair) bearing fleurs-de-lis. For whimsy, look to Nomad’s Mexican terra-cotta planters ($18–$42) with chicken, donkey, pig, and lamb heads. Meanwhile, Salem Street True Value Hardware offers a dizzying selection of hand-painted Italian ceramic pots ($8.99–$29.99).
At Ricky’s Flower Market, you’ll find early bloomers such as pansies, violas, and primroses ($1.79/three-pack; $2.29/six-pack), daffodils and hyacinths ($2.98–$19.98), and tulips ($6.98). In coming months, Ricky’s will offer perennials ($3.49; $29.98/10), hanging baskets ($9.98–$24.98), and much more. Mahoney’s Garden Center also has an exceptional selection of violas and pansies ($1.98–$2.98/six-pack; $2.99 and up/pots). For cold-weather window boxes, add boxwood ($9.98 and up), heather ($9.50), and snapdragon-like linaria ($3.98–$6.98). Other good early-spring choices are ivy ($12.98/36 plants) and African daisies ($6.98) in orange, yellow, blue, or lavender-tinged white.
Those who crave summer flowers now can browse the selection of choice rare roses, perennials, and shrubs available through the Wayside Gardens catalogue. Order as early as you like; your plants won’t arrive until it’s the right temperature for planting.
Frustrated by the overgrowth of hyacinths in your garden? If you’re lucky enough to have a plot in the Fenway Victory Gardens, you can use its virtual plant swap to list plants you’re willing to share or trade.
Where to find it:
• Antiques on Cambridge, 1076 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, (617) 234-0001; www.antiques-on-cambridge.com.
• Beacon Hill Garden Club 2003 Tour, (617) 227-4329; beaconhillgardenclub.org.
• Cambridge Public Library, (617) 349-4032; www.ci.cambridge.ma.us.
• Fenway Victory Gardens Virtual Plant Swap; www.fenwayvictorygardens.com.
• Mahoney’s Garden Center, 880 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, (617) 354-4145; www.mahoneysgarden.com.
• Nomad, 1741 Mass Ave, Cambridge, (617) 497-6677.
• Ricky’s Flower Market, 9 Union Square, Somerville, (617) 628-7569; www.rickysflowermarket.com.
• Salem Street True Value Hardware, 89 Salem Street, Boston, (617) 523-4759.
• South End/Lower Roxbury Open Space Land Trust, (617) 437-0999.
• Target, various locations; www.target.com.
• Wayside Gardens, (800) 213-0379; www.waysidegardens.com.