The hills are green and the weather is in turns warm or rainy.  Its time to get out into the garden and get some work done!  I've been walking out and doing a little bit of weeding every morning and today I sowed some seeds. 

March is a great month to get started with the following:  Fertilize trees and shrubs, plant potatoes and summer blooming bulbs like caladiums and elephant ears.

Whether you have a small orchard or a few plants in pots on your windowsill, SJPL has a lot of resources to help you plan this year's garden and give you inspiration!

The world-renowned San Jose Heritage Rose Garden at Spring and Taylor is a great inspiration to rose lovers.  A dedicated cadre of volunteers maintain the garden. Check out this aerial view video of the volunteers hard at work!  How's that for inspiration?  I've only got four roses to prune!

Spring is soon approaching, bringing a variety of intriguing and exciting changes in nature, weather and activities! Learn more about spring and the many ways to celebrate this season by checking out the following titles:

Divided into two chapters, this book is about friendship between Jefferson Bear and Figgy Twosocks.  Whenever Figgy needs help, Bear is always there.  When it's time for Bear to hibernate, Figgy feels lonely, so she builds a white snow bear to remind her of her friend Bear.  Along the way, she finds a new friend, Hoptail the squirrel.  When spring comes, her friend Bear reappears to play with her, so, in the end, she has two friends: a new one and the old one.

She has learned that sometimes an unhappy thing happens so that it can bring in a new happy thing.

Written by Sally Grindley, illustrated by Penny Dann.

Spring is soon approaching, bringing a variety of intriguing and exciting changes in nature, weather and social activities! Learn more about spring and the many ways to celebrate this season by checking out the following titles:

Now that the rains have come and gone it is finally beginning to feel like Spring! For many, this season is the start of spending lots of time outdoors and making new friends--so why not combine the two? The San José Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) is hosting a series of Spring Fling Egg Hunts and Events citywide throughout this month . The events, all of which are open to the public, are designed to promote outdoor activities and healthy exercise. The Spring Fling will have everything from Rabbit Runs to Egg-on-a-Spoon Skate Races. Please visit www.sanjoseca.gov/prns for more information. For questions, contact Mona Favorite-Hill at 408-793-5589 or mona.favoritehill@sanjoseca.gov.

With the recent heavy rains and sunny weather and plant life starting to reappear, spring is finally here! We are celebrating spring at West Valley this April with a variety of interesting and informative events.

Open Space Authority: Wildflowers & Butterflies. Tuesday, April 12 at 6:30pm

The Open Space Authority returns to West Valley with more stunning visuals and engaging information. This time, spring is the thing, with all things wildflowers and butterflies. You won't want to miss these beautiful images! Check these books out for some pointers on how to take your own lovely pictures of flowers and plants.

Alternatives to Lawn Culture. Saturday, April 16 at 1:00pm

Why stick with a boring, water-hungry, and time-consuming lawn when you can explore beautiful, sustainable, and low-maintenance alternatives using native plants? I can't wait for this workshop. My yard is turning into a bit of a jungle after all this rain, and I'd love to explore some different options. Check these natural landscaping books out for some unique ideas before you put on the gardening gloves.

Master Gardeners: Gardening for a Healthy Diet. Wednesday, April 20 at 6:30pm

The Master Gardeners' excellent monthly events shouldn't be missed, and they're back in April with another great and timely topic: vegetable and fruit gardening! Learn how you can start planting now to enjoy the healthy fruits (and vegetables) of your own labors all year long. Start growing!

Our City Forest: Eating with the Seasons. Saturday, April 30 at 2:00pm

After you've learned from the Masters about how to plant your own garden, why not come back and learn more from Our City Forest about the many health and environmental benefits to eating with the seasons? We are fortunate here in California to be able to enjoy many delicious and unique foods during each of the four seasons, and spring is no exception! Try Clean Food or The Harvest Eating Cookbook for delicious recipe ideas.

I don't blame you if you'd prefer to spend most of your time this spring enjoying the great outdoors, but be sure to stop in and visit us for these great events or to pick up some seasonal reads for your next picnic. Happy spring!