The sun was out for a little bit today, and in the Midwest in winter, that’s a big deal. I saw it through the window in my classroom. I *should* have gone outside and just soaked it up for a couple minutes, but today was a work day before the new semester and I needed every second of that precious work time. So I missed the sun but got my desk clean(ish). Life’s all about trade-offs. And sunshine. 

Since sunshine is such a rare treasure here in the beautiful snowy flatlands, sometimes we need to make our own sunshine–or, since Valentine’s Day is coming up, make sunshine for someone else. While there’s obviously no substitute for the real-live, actual sun, one of our Garden Grams might be just the sunshine someone needs to to get through these last brutal weeks of winter. Here are some of my favorite Garden Grams this year: 

• Our Friendship is a Big Dill: not just my favorite because the name was my idea, but because dill is an easy-to-grow, versatile herb. Throw it in the ground in late spring, and you’ll be enjoying perfectly flavored salmon, homemade pickles, and pickled carrots (oh yeah. Those are a thing. Stay tuned). 

• You are Radishing!: great for novice growers and those with little patience. Radishes can be planted right in the ground as soon as the ground is thawed enough to work. They grow super fast, so if you are sharing your love of growing with a newbie, this is a great introduction to gardening. 

• Peas by Mine: another excellent choice for new gardeners, especially those with little patience. These Sugar Magnolia Peas grow incredibly fast, and nothing better captures the sweetness of early summer than a pea picked right from the vine. 

• Sow Me Some Love: this gram, containing marigolds, spreads love and sunshine! The best part about this pack is that the seeds can be sowed right into a pot and grown indoors in the dreary winter months. 

• Be My Valen-Thyme?: the thyme makes the list because it can be grown in a container. What better way to remind someone you love them than an herb that can be planted and set on the windowsill? They see it and know you love them. They smell it and know you love them. They make an amazing dinner with it and know you love them. They completely destroy dinner with it and know you love them even when things suck. 

We’ve got many more Garden Grams on the site, so hop on over and order yours today! You’ll need to order by 2/8/23 to ensure that you get your Garden Grams in time for Valentine’s Day. Once you order, go get some sunshine (preferably real, but realistically, metaphorical). 

- Jess