Edsel, the only child of Henry Ford I & Clara Bryant, married Eleanor Clay in 1916. The Fords began building their dream home in 1926 at Gaukler Pointe in Grosse Pointe Shores, a fashionable new suburb on Detroit's eastern boundary. The family moved in at Christmas 1929. Built along the shores of Lake St. Clair, the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House is an impressive yet unpretentious home featuring exquisite architecture by Albert Kahn and landscape design by Jens Jensen.

Wednesday, April 22, 7-8:30 p.m. Learn how to enrich your soil and reduce waste through easy, inexpensive composting methods.

It’s about that time to get your lawn in shape. Here at CPL we have multiple items to choose from. Check out some of the various items we have for all of your Lawn and Garden needs.

Early spring is the time when flowers from bulbs come up to greet us and reassure us that, despite the sometimes fickle weather, warmer weather is on the way. These daffodils are blooming in the courtyard outside the Children's Library. You can grow your own with a little help from our collection.

Spring is here and I am getting out my Bonsai. The Library is a good source for books on how create and take care of these miniature trees. The Bonsai Workshop by Herb L. Gustafson has an excellant section on pruning. It not only describes how to do it but why and when.

Get your compost ready for spring gardening with these tips and titles:

• Composting: Nature's Recyclers
• The Magic School Bus Meets the Rot Squad
• What's Going on in a Compost Pile?
• Re-Cycles

I've been doing a little prep work in my gardens, and I'm not the only one. First Lady Michelle Obama recently started a garden at the White House with the help of some local students. The fruits (and vegetables) of their labor will be used to feed the residents and visitors to the White House. You can even check out their garden plan for some inspiration.

Herbs by William Denne is a new addition to the library's rich collection of gardening books. As I've come to expect from DK books, it has crisp, colorful photos that complement and illustrate the concise and informative text.

Ever heard of the Food Not Lawns movement? If you have and are planning to get an early start on growing your own foods this spring, we have goodies for you. Brussel sprouts, cabbage, marjoram, potatoes, parsley...what seeds should you plant in March?

Most people think of architecture when they think of Frank Lloyd Wright, but he also created some stunning gardens, showcased in The Gardens of Frank Lloyd Wright by Derek Fell. In addition to being drool-worthy, they also provide inspiration and some great ideas for planting combinations.

The Associated Press reported in "Dollars from Dirt: Economy Spurs Home Garden Boom" that people are gardening to save money. I love the thought that backyard gardening can not only make people and the environment healthier, but can perhaps help solve the economic crisis. CPL's "Yard Scraps to Garden Treasures" program on April 22 from 7:00-8:30pm can get you off to a great start by showing you how to compost and enrich your soil.

My First Garden is a site for kids, parents, and teachers to learn more about gardening and the things we grow in our gardens. You can find out more about veggies, flowers, how to plan your garden and more.

While it's still too cold to do any planting outdoors, I find myself looking for projects that will help me get ready for those warmer days. Instructables has a tutorial on making your own durable plant markers from materials you might have around the house: an empty aluminum can and heavy gauge wire. It's so easy - the tutorial includes photographs of each step!

Local Harvest is a website dedicated to helping people find local food. You can find events, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), farmers markets, co-ops, and more. There are many listings in the Canton area, including the Canton Township Farmers Market, which will start on April 26, 2009.

Flowers and Herbs of Early America by Lawrence D. Griffith is a detailed look at a variety of annuals, perennials, and herbs that were around in the early days of the United States and are still found in many gardens and yards today. The color photographs are gorgeous and include both wide shots and close-ups, making for easy identification even by an amateur gardener like myself.

The warm weather we had earlier this week was like a quick taste of spring, and it inspired me to start planning in earnest for the vegetable garden I'll plant later this year. So far I'm thinking peppers, carrots, lettuce, broccoli, and corn, though I'm sure I'll find more goodies to add to the list. Did you know that you can check out seed catalogs at CPL?