Last month I lamented the final gloomy throes of winter we must sometimes weather through February. But now it’s March, and we stand at the threshold of another promising growing season. Spring officially begins this month, so it’s time to sharpen the loppers and mower blades, plan our plantings and dream of the bounty from our own gardens.
My personal landscaping goals are far from ambitious, but even small-scale success takes a little bit of forethought. One tip I try my best to follow is to take full advantage of the first nice days to spend some time in the yard. It gets easier each week to put off the outdoor maintenance, and you never know which future weekend will turn out to be a rainout or scorcher.
Our gardening guide, found on pages 16–18 with supplemental tips online at tnmagazine.org, is a great starting point. This year, we’re offering ideas for trimming the gardening budget.
March is also National Reading Month, and we invited Kathleen Davis to share strategies for improving children’s literacy. Learn about the pillars of reading success beginning on page 14.
Tennessee is full of interesting, endearing people with fascinating stories to share. In our latest Shutterbug Photography Contest, we tasked readers with showing us their personalities through self portraits. Find the winners on pages 28–31.
Step outside and take a deep breath. Spring is a wonderful time in the Volunteer State! We hope you enjoy this March edition of The Tennessee Magazine.
Thanks for reading,
Chris Kirk
Editor, The Tennessee Magazine
