Great Escape: Find Your Green Thumb

Jean Harkey of knows plants. She also knows people. The manager of the store was open and friendly on Sunday as we discussed flowers, vegetables and motherhood.

She is a mother and instantly answered my questions about which plants, flowers or vegetables, would be ideal for a busy mom to lay in the earth and admire without too much upkeep.

Here are Jean's top picks for easy to grow, beautiful, gratifying garden choices that you won't have to stop your life to tend to. They're also the ones she uses to teach her own kids how to garden, so when you're feeling relaxed and confident enough to throw on some overalls and dig in the dirt, grab the kids and bring on the gardening lessons.

Flowers:

• Black-eyed Susan — A perennial, this flower comes back every year and boasts a purlish-brown black eye center and vibrant yellow petals.
• Coneflowers — These are found growing naturally in fields and prairies with light purple petals and a spiny central disk.
• Shooting Stars — Also a perennial, it is a fascinating flower with a leafless stem and pink-purple colors. Also known as American Cowslip, Mad Violets, Sailor-caps and Mosquito Bills.
• Sunflowers — Save the seeds you were eating and plant them! 

Vegetables:

• Tomatoes
• Lettuce
• Radishes
• Green beans
• Sugar snap peas

Why? Because they're so easy to grow and can withstand various weather conditions.

Harkey says if you want to plant vegetables, add some marigolds to the mix. Marigolds have an unappetizing smell to rabbits and squirrels so the flowers will keep your garden safe.

Happy gardening!