Well-manicured yards, gardens and porches are staples of any good southern home, but they do require a little maintenance. Spring officially begins today, March 20, but in South Georgia, we get going a little earlier. The azaleas are already blooming, however, there are plenty of ways to freshen up your front porch and garden throughout spring and into summer.
If you have a vegetable garden, you’ve probably start planting your seeds for this year, but they may be in need of some tender loving care. There’s something magical about watching your food grow and shopping in your own backyard for produce. Your BLT (that’s bacon, lettuce & tomato for those that don’t know) never tasted so good as when you get the lettuce and tomatoes straight from the backyard. You can eat supper outside and have the table spread with fresh, crunchy veggies picked an hour before.
If you want to get ahead on your planting, or maybe you’re thinking of venturing into the land of container gardening, it’s a great time to head out to your local seed store to pick out your seeds and plants. Liberty County has quite a few places that can help with maintaining your garden, whether you go full vegetable or opt for flowers only. Stacy’s Florist (yep, they’ve got a nursery out back), American Feed & Seed, Tractor Supply, Harris Ace Hardware and Wal-mart are some of the ones we’ve frequented.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a green thumb. Local farmers have done the work for you, and you can pick up some local, garden-fresh veggies and fruits at the Hinesville Farmers Market now through Oct. 31, every Thursday from 3-7 p.m. in Bradwell Park in downtown Hinesville. It’s a great place to bring the family, mix and mingle with your neighbors and pick out some healthy foods.
As far as your porch is concerned, you might as well consider it the second family room for the house, albeit one that’s completely open-air. If you live in South Georgia and have live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss in your yard, you may get quite a few leaves and piles of moss on the porch. Make sure you sweep once or twice a week, then have a seat to enjoy the view and sip some iced tea after your hard work.
Ferns help to bring in some lovely greenery, and since they typically enjoy a shady setting, the porch is the perfect place. Bonus points if you’re able to hang them. Of course, you need some good seating on your porch and this can range from rocking chairs to hammocks to a classic porch swing. Set a little table by the side with a small arrangement of fresh flowers (Florabell is a nice choice to get these), and you’re good to go.
Once you’ve got your porch spring ready and your garden tended, it’s time to invite over some guests. Who doesn’t love a bit of front porch sittin’ and some fresh food from the garden? Don’t fuss with being too fancy. A good place to sit, a cold beverage, a few snacks and a pleasant breeze are all you need to enjoy some southern hospitality.
The Right Blend Blog is written by different authors employed by the Liberty County Chamber/CVB. All content provided on The Right Blend blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of the blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on their site or found by following any link on their site.