Spring has sprung in all its glory, bringing sunshine and empty garden beds waiting for your attention. Now that the threat of frost is gone, start preparing your garden beds so you can enjoy the upcoming bounty of summer. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, April and May are great months to plant veggies like beans, carrots, cauliflower, celery, corn, cucumber, leeks, melons, okra and onions. Perennial favorites like peas, peppers, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, and watermelons should also be planted during this time. A good garden begins with careful planning. Prep the garden and flowerbeds by weeding and removing sticks, acorns, and debris left by Old Man Winter. Add lime and soil additives to perfect the pH before planting. Be sure to plan space in your garden for veggies that grow large and spread out, like squash and melons. Be sure to add trellis and tomato cages for ones that need height and standing support. Every garden needs some eye candy, so add colorful flowers that often work double duty to keep deer away (think marigolds), or scented geranium that work to attract Japanese beetles and paralyze them for 24 hours, just long enough for you to pick them off and keep them away from your growing veggies. Once your plantings are in place, keep them watered, and let sunshine and photosynthesis do its work. As seeds become sprouts and eventually fresh food, enjoy the bounty that nature – and your careful tending – has provided!