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A Gardener's Notebook: The latest incarnation of my column detailing the trails and tribulations of my garden. Join the list and ask your own questions about gardening Subscribe

As Spring approaches our gardens take on their major role in our lives. The cold, hard ground of Winter is giving way to the abundance of Summer. Whether you raise vegetables or flowers, the coming months are sure to bring much abundance...probably more than you can use or enjoy by yourself.

We all share our gardens in some way. It can be the casual sharing of your garden’s beauty as neighbors stroll by or the active sharing of inviting friends and family into your garden for a barbecue. It can also be what I consider the most important sharing of all. Sharing with those in need, both physically and mentally.

In the past I have written about the "Plant a row for the hungry" program sponsored by the Garden Writers of America. This program is an excellent way to share the abundance of your garden with others, but you needn’t join a large effort to make a difference. Perhaps you have extra vegetables or fruit from your garden. Contact a local food shelter and see if they might be able to make use of your surplus. If so, talk to your gardening friends and get them to contribute, too. Before you know it, you will have your own local group that can make a difference in your town.

Food for the body is a necessity, but we should also remember that food for the soul elevates us above mere subsistence living and brings joy to our lives. My roses, trimmed back in January, have recently resumed blooming. Nearly every visitor comments of the explosion of pink blooms that border our property and driveway. My wife’s mother, Mary, has always made a habit of collecting a vase full of these roses and other flowers from the garden each time she visits. Rosanne often takes a vase of flowers into her office. In fact, anyone who comes to my house is welcome to snip some blooms and take them home. Even though I tend to enjoy my flowers more in the garden than the house, I am always happy to share, especially with those that don’t have a garden of their own to enjoy.

Perhaps you can find a way to share your bounty of flowers with others in your area. While hospitals are finding many good reasons not to allow flowers in patient rooms there are still public areas that could use a nice bouquet of flowers to brighten the days of those passing by. Senior citizen centers might like fresh flowers for reception areas. You might even look into setting up a flower arranging class for residents where you provide some flowers from your garden or assist them in setting up their own cutting gardens.

Not everyone has the time, space or ability to start their own gardens. You can brighten not only your life but the lives of countless others by sharing the "fruits" of your labors.

Keep digging! -- Douglas