Storytelling in the garden seems to gain momentum with the arrival of the first day of spring, so let’s follow suit with a tale about the origins of the word “spring.” This term is derived from the German word, “springen,” and suggests the surging from the ground like a freshwater spring, of which West Virginia has plenty.

Before the coming season was first called spring, this time of year was simply called Lent in Old English. Starting in the 14th century, the season was referred to as “springing time,” suggesting plants bounding from the soil. The season’s name was further shortened in the 16th century to just “spring.”

Every plant has an interesting story to tell this time of year. The late winter-blooming camellia tattles that it was pruned at the wrong time of year and, therefore, has no flowers to showcase this time around. The flower beds and borders, covered with emerging annual weeds, suggest that the mulch layer has worn too thin and is now ineffective for smothering the non-native weeds that are becoming so pervasive in the landscape.

The forsythia gossips to the neighbors that it was planted in shade, rather than full sun for best flowering. The saucer magnolia that should be full of magenta blooms, may have sadly passed on given the amount of herbicide applied too close to its root system. And the shrub hints that the fertilizer used last year was too acidic when it tend to enjoy more neutral soil conditions.

Birds express their disappointment that the crepe myrtles were trimmed too early last autumn (instead of waiting until February), leaving no pods of seeds for feasting on in early spring. The honeybees suggest that a few mahonia plants be included in the lineup of plants for ordering. And the ornamental grasses complain that they can’t send up tender new shoots, because last year’s plant litter hasn’t been removed and is blocking their appearance.

We have only to watch the leaf buds form, the flower petals unfold, the beneficial insects emerge and the songbirds assemble to understand the tale about how much our landscape plants are enjoying their environment. A plant’s tale is often full of drama, mystery and plain old common sense, ripe for the solving. Unraveling the story is sure to keep a home gardener entertained and reveals better ways to care for plants in the coming growing season.

Don’t discount nature’s jibber jabber in the garden, but rather listen and watch closely to learn from the telltale signs. Investigate garden clues with the help of Cooperative Extension articles, which are regularly published, or attend a gardening workshop held at a local plant nursery, for experienced advice.

Kristi Hendricks is a graduate of Shepherd College and West Virginia University and a Master Gardener with the Virginia Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at belowthejames@yahoo.com.