Naomi gets into the gardening groove.

Posted by Naomi Gabay

Working at Martha Stewart Living Radio has allowed me to expand my horizons of cooking, crafting, and even flower arranging. The one thing that still scares me for some reason, is gardening. Now that I’m a first time home owner, it’s time for me to pull out my shovel and get ready to get some dirt under my nails!

Gardening editor Stacey Hirvela was patient with me through all my questions both on and off the air, and more than a few emails! She finally convinced me that bulb planting was a great way me for to get started. I chose some colorful scilla and allium bulbs that are deer resistant from my local garden center. The only other tools I needed were gloved and a shovel. Total investment was only about $20.

I picked a spot along the walkway to my front door, so I could be greeted by flowers every day. It was a rainy day, and I couldn’t wait to get initiated into home gardening by getting muddy!

I started with the scilla, which was a bag of about 20 tiny bulbs. After digging to the depth recommended on the package, I scattered them throughout the space, hoping that they would look natural like wildflowers.

While digging, I discovered that the previous owners must have already planted there. Oops! I carefully removed the old bulbs, not even knowing what they were, and relocated them to a corner in the back of the flower bed. Hopefully I’ll be surprised in the spring!

I planted the 2 large allium bulbs in the back, next to the mystery bulbs.

I covered it all back up again, let the rain water them, and am now crossing my fingers till spring. Can gardening really be this easy? Will let you know in a few months!