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When God brought the first couple together in holy matrimony, he didn't tie the knot in a shopping mall or at a baseball game. God started off the first marriage in a garden— probably one with the right soil PH and without rocks. And weeds. Adam and Eve were assigned the happy task of taking care of it, so there must be something special about the combination.

Of course, the perfect garden wedding didn't have a happy ending. Gardening—like marriage—turned out to be a lot of hard work. But today, it's the favorite pastime for hundreds of thousands of Americans. Alarming news about pesticides and genetically engineered foods may be enough to propel you into the backyard to grow a few chemical-free veggies. For others, it might be the desire to recapture childhood memories of snapping beans or picking the first red tomatoes. For some of you, creating a garden may be a good chance for you and your spouse to trade the couch and TV for some fresh air and exercise.

Gardening together is a wonderful opportunity to cultivate a hobby the two of you can enjoy. Gardening even has a way of spilling into different areas of your marriage. One of my favorite anniversary gifts was a truckload of dark, loamy topsoil my husband had delivered to our backyard garden spot. He knew I'd be ecstatic.

Maybe you don't know an annual from a perennial, or radishes from radicchio. No matter how great or small your experience level, gardening can be a seedbed for new marital adventures in cooperation, anticipation, planning, and compromise.

So if you are looking for a stress-relieving, productive way for you and your spouse to enjoy your own backyard together, marriage partnership offers a basic, no-fail, first-year blueprint for a field of dreams.

Every good garden—just like a good marriage—starts with a plan. The golden rule for first-time gardeners is "keep it simple." It starts with location—figuring out what climate you're gardening in. The USDA divides up the United States into climate zones, which will tell you what flowers, vegetables, and herbs will flourish—and what will perish—in your little plot. Most seed packets and seed catalogs will show a Plant Hardiness Zone Map, and you can figure out yours. Then you won't be tempted to grow tulips in Florida or artichokes in Minnesota.

Basic tools. Nope, you don't need the $800 rototiller, no matter what your husband the gadget guy thinks. Invest in a decent shovel, a reasonably good trowel, a garden rake, a tape measure, a cheap bucket, a garden hose, and you're ready to go. You'll also want to purchase a basic gardening book or two. Resist the temptation to buy anything called "The Garden Gopher," expensive tools, or glitzy watering attachments. Keep it basic. Keep it simple. Yeah, I know Martha Stewart has that cool apron with the multiple tool pockets. Throw your tools in the bucket.

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