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Garden Club Spring Fever is now in full bloom at Four Seasons. Even if you got your preventive shots, you will still succumb to this highly contagious infection. It can only be cured with a trowel and hoe. So, don the gloves, grab the liniment and heed Mother Nature's siren call. The warm days will belie the cold soil that doesn't really warm up until late in the month. Both seeds and young transplants will likely lie dormant wondering why they are in the ground so early. Of course, those undesirable weeds know they have to get an early start if they are going to propagate throughout your yard and will pop up overnight. The most productive work in April is in preparing the soil and removing those unplanted and unwanted natives. This won't satisfy the temptation to plant, so let's discuss a good candidate for the garden… marigolds. Marigolds are a New World plant first discovered by Portuguese explorers in southern Mexico during the 16th century. The seeds were taken back to Europe, Africa and Asia by traders. India became the center of marigold gardening as their golden color was considered to resemble the color of the Arya, or honorable people. It was used to demarcate special spaces like pavilions and to line sacred fire-pits or kunds in which ceremonies were performed. Flowers vary in color from yellow and gold to orange, red and mahogany. The flowers are used as decoration. The taller and larger-flowered Tagetes erecta are often called African marigold and the smaller Tagetes patula are known as French marigold. But marigolds are cultivated all over the world and lots of similar hybrid varieties have been developed from the two species. Working out which species is which isn't easy, and some botanists even believe they are the same species. Marigolds can grow in full sun to partial-shade, but it is preferable to plant them in sunny locations as shading may have an adverse effect on flowering. Marigolds grow best in moist, well-drained and fertile soil (what plants don't?). Grow tall marigold varieties 16" apart and the dwarf varieties 8" apart to give room to the growing branches. This will result in a uniform display. Marigolds do not need regular watering but require so during the dry spells. Be careful not to sprinkle water on the flowers of tall varieties, otherwise they become water-logged and soft. It is better to water marigolds during the early morning hours so that there is sufficient time for 36 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | APRIL 2013 | clubs & Groups the water on the foliage to dry up. Marigolds do not require fertilizers if the soil is rich in organic material. For poor soils, you can add a slow-acting, granular fertilizer (about 1 teaspoon per plant), but be careful not to add an excess of fertilizers which may result in an increased growth of foliage instead of flowers. When marigold seedlings are tall enough, spread a two or three inch layer of some organic material on the soil around them. Due to schedule conflicts and waning enthusiasm the Garden Club is now dormant. New leadership is needed by several homeowners willing to devote time and energy into preparing meetings, corralling speakers and handling administrative tasks associated with these meetings. In the meantime this column will continue to offer insights into gardening here at Four Seasons. ~ Leonard Tavernetti Air Conditioning & Heating Residential • Commercial Sales • Service Have You Serviced Your System Lately? • • • • • • • • Maintenance Contracts Fresh Air Adjustments Thermostats Filters Heating & Air Conditioning Service Fireplace Repair We Carry Parts HVAC Consultants Monte Beach State Lic. #C20-278262 • All Major Credit Cards Accepted 52 Years Experience • Solera Resident Ph (951) 845-6889 (909) 768-8933 Fax (909) 798-3623 CLUBS & GROUPS | FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | APRIL 2013 37

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