By time your garden is prime for planting, you should already have a plan of attack in place. Are you going to be planting bulbs, annual, more perennials, or a vegetable and herb garden. Maybe even all of above if you are blessed with a big yard. Once you have a plan, its time to acquire your new plants. The quickest and easiest way is to buy your plants online. Everything you need from seeds, bulbs, and tools can be found through online merchants, and many sites even offer online coupons for increased savings. Small starters usually cannot be shipped directly to you, but can be sent to a store close to home for pick-up at your convenience.

Where did nettle get its name? Problably from that 'nettle' is derived from Noedl meaning a needle - referring needle like sting.

Because very few grazing animals will touch nettle because of sting it is a great place for butterflies to raise their young. One will find small tortoiseshell and peacock butterfly larvae which feed in large groups hidden in silken tents at top of nettle stems. In late summer huge quantity of seed produced provide a food source for many of our seed eating birds. Not only insects and birds are benefited by nettles but when dried into hay horses and cows feed on it. In Sweden nettles is raised for dairy cows it increases milk production. Horse breeder feed it because it is so good for horses coat. If you are wondering why anyone would eat nettles having experienced their sting, sting goes away with cooking. You can enjoy nettle leaves in soup, steam them when they are young and picked before they flower just like spinach or kale. Nettles are reportedly high in calcium, iron, magnesium, chromium, potassium, and zinc, as well as vitamins A, B, C, D and K. Nettles are said to nourish adrenal glands, and are also rich in carotene. You can preserve nettles for winter several ways. Nettle vinegar can be made by soaking fresh herbs in white vinegar. The vinegar leaches calcium and other minerals out of nettles, and then you can sprinkle vinegar on salads, veggies, stir fry. Purple nettles will tint vinegar a nice rose hue. You can use nettles in any recipe calling for spinach. Use leftover water as a hair rinse. For centuries, nettles have been used for medicinal purposes. They have beneficial influence on various body systems, including lungs, kidneys, skin, and blood. The herb has been recognized for its ability to stop bleeding, relieve mucous congestion and water retention, and improve skin irritations. It is considered to be an excellent blood purifier. Try some of these interesting Nettles recipes: Pasta with Nettles and Parmesan

3-4 cups fresh nettles

3 Tablespoons olive oil

3-4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1 small hot red pepper

1 pound pasta (traditionally penne, pennette, or rigatoni)

1. Wash nettles and put in salted boiling water for about seven minutes.

2. While they are cooking, put olive oil, garlic, and hot pepper into a frying pan over medium heat for three to four minutes.

3. Remove cooked nettles from boiling water and put into frying pan with garlic and pepper. Stir and cook for a few minutes, until excess water has evaporated and nettles are coated with oil.

4. Use water nettles were boiled in to cook pasta. When pasta is al dente (chewy), drain and toss with cooked nettles. Serve with fresh grated parmesan. Serves four.

Potato Nettle Soup

200 Nettle Leaves (young shoots) 1 Sml Onion 6 Small Potatoes 250ml Water 1 Tsp Salt 1 Tsp Parsley 3 Cloves Garlic

Method Puree onion, garlic, and nettles with 1 cup of water. Cut potatoes into small pieces. Simmer pureed mixture with potatoes and remaining water for 45 minutes or until tender. Use a potato masher to mash potatoes making soup thick and creamy.

Olde English Nettle Pudding

An old English recipe, which is not a dessert but a hearty main dish. Use English teacup measurement again. Volume of one of these is approximately 250ml Water to top.

Method In a bowl add ingredients below:-