Cindy Lyon, pictured above, met with the Faribault County Register at Blue Earth’s Cabin Coffee to share all she knows about starting a garden.

According to Mary – quite contrary – gardens grow with silver bells and cockle shells.

Or, so the classic nursery rhyme goes.

Cindy Lyon, a Blue Earth resident, has slightly different advice for the horticulturally obtuse.

Lyon, a Master Gardener, suggests a successful garden is first conceived in the mind, rather than in the dirt.

“Where do you want to visualize what you’re doing?” she prompts first-time gardeners.

Lyon’s thumb has been green long enough to warrant taking her advice.

When asked how long she has been gardening, Lyon answers, “Probably my whole life.” 

She recalls growing a single sunflower when she was six years old. The cheerful giant, which Lyon patiently fed with milk, grew to an impressive six feet tall.

“We had to cut it down with an axe,” Lyon laughs.

She officially became a member of the Master Gardener program, which trains individuals in the science and art of gardening, 15 years ago.

Now, Lyon enjoys sowing seeds of gardening knowledge in her community.

She has done everything from offering basic advice to resolve local gardening quandaries, to serving as superintendent at the Faribault County Fair’s Horticultural Building, to founding a garden tour during Blue Earth’s Giant Days celebration.

After many years of watching gardens blossom, Lyon still gets excited at the prospect of a new landscape.

When confronting a new outdoor space, Lyon suggests using visualization to determine what the space ought to be filled with.

For example, prospective gardeners should first visualize which of the many types of gardens will suit their needs best.

Do they want a nursery landscape out front for passersby to admire? 

Or, perhaps they have a front path and would enjoy planting a convoy of blooms along it, leading to the front door.

A garden in close proximity to the kitchen may call for a variety of sweet-smelling herbs.

However, Lyon also suggests new gardeners realistically tailor their vision to their environment. They should consider not just what they would like to grow, but also what will consent to grow in the space they have.

“What’s the soil like around the house?” Lyon urges prospective gardeners to consider.

Soil type has a huge effect upon which plants will be at home in a particular plot. Lyon shares those unfamiliar with their property’s soil type can send it to the University of Minnesota for a soil test.

New gardeners should also consider their property’s growing zone.

Growing zones, which range from one to 10 in the United States, are established by the US Department of Agriculture according to the climate of specific areas of the country. They are an easy way for gardeners to determine which plant species are best suited to their area.

The Minnesota area, Lyon explains, occupies growing zones four and five.

Lyon also says gardeners should consider whether their property contains a microclimate: an area altered by extra shade or sunshine, high winds, or other factors affecting the growth of its green inhabitants.

A single backyard can contain multiple microclimates, so plants’ new homes should be chosen thoughtfully.

Some shrubs enjoy the shade provided by a large oak tree.

Other bright blooms flourish in un-obstructed sunlight.

After a prospective gardener has given consideration to these many factors, however, they can get more specific with their preferences. After all, the world of horticulture offers endless possibilities for each garden bed.

For example, a gardener interested in flowers can select picking flowers, or flowers they intend to let alone. They may want to consider flowers which bloom annually, or perennials.

Lyon notes climbers can be fun, although they may necessitate the purchase of a trellis.

There is also a whole realm of vegetables for those looking to eat the products of their outdoor toil.

For those who feel bewildered by the wide world of plant life, Lyon suggests several resources worth consulting.

She highly recommends the University of Minnesota Extension site, which houses an Ask a Master Gardener site at

extension.umn.edu/master-gardener/ask-master-gardener.com. There, gardeners in a quandary can send their question to a Master Gardener volunteer and receive a personal response.

“It’s a wealth of information,” Lyon says.

Lyon also loves combing gardening magazines for new ideas.

However, she adds seeking advice can be as simple as visiting a local nursery.

“I’d hope someone at a nursery can give you advice,” she says.

Lyon recommends several spots which are worth a visit for those in search of seeds, soil, greens or guidance.

In Blue Earth, Lyon notes Gartzke’s Greenhouse, Twisted Vine Floral, Bomgaars and Juba’s stock gardening supplies.

For those willing to travel further, Lyon mentions that Hill’s Gardens in Albert Lea, is a favorite horticultural haunt of hers.

Of course, the work has only just begun after the plants have been selected and transplanted into their new home.

Lyon shares a few words of wisdom for tending to a newly-planted plot.

“Follow the instructions on everything,” Lyon suggests, noting printed instructions on gardening products should be followed to the letter.

She also urges those who expect children will be frequent visitors of their gardens to be on top of which products may be poisonous.

“Sometimes, (plants) get diseases,” Lyon warns, adding this is a possibility for new gardeners to be on the look out for.

Finally, she advises new gardeners be aware of what their plant friends may attract. Someone who is allergic to bees may not wish to plant blooms which will tempt a swarm of the striped pollinators.

When asked how much time a new gardener can expect to invest in their greens, Lyon says, “You can spend an hour every day, or spend weekends.”

For Lyon, though, the time is well worth it.

“It’s a lot of work,” Lyon admits, “but it’s pleasurable, and rewarding.”