Well… Spring break is over, but I just can’t seem to get back into the swing of things, so instead of focusing on my school work, I decided to see what games I could play to further procrastinate!

Of course I was immediately drawn to Garden Dash. I’m a huge fan of any Diner Dash game and I love the farming aspect so this seemed like a great combination to try out, and I wasn’t disappointed! If you’re a fan of the Diner Dash games, you’re really going to love the twist on this game.

While Flo makes an appearance in this game, the starring character is her friend Barb, a workaholic who can’t seem to de-stress. Hmmmm I wish I had this problem! My problem is kind of the exact opposite… Oh well. Anyhow, Barb’s boss forces her to take a vacation… (do you ever wonder if this REALLY happens? Does anyone really force someone to take a vacation?) and to get some advice, Barb visits Flo’s diner. Flo tells her that she heard gardening is a good way to relax, and Barb seizes on the idea! And, like any good business woman with an idea, she turns her relaxing hobby into a business!

The first few stages begin on Barb’s apartment roof where she creates a garden and the game walks you through how to play. Again, if you’ve played the Diner Dash games before you really aren’t going to have a problem. You begin by putting dirt into the pots, and then planting the seeds. Of course, here’s where you have to use your imagination since in real life plants won’t grow in 5 seconds, but here they do just that, with a little help fro you that is!

Each plant needs something different to grow once you plant it. Some things are basic like watering and pruning, but it gets a little silly in later levels. For example, cucumbers need a good chat, eggplant need to be vaporized, and garlic needs a squirt of perfume because Barb doesn’t like the smell.

Remember that Barb is still supposed to be relaxing so as you harvest each plant, you will see a green leaf icon drop. Quickly click on it and pick it up! Once you collect enough leaves, you can use them to start a bonus that will give you more time on the clock!

As you level, you can upgrade your garden with better tile, or decorations. You can even place an upgrade on a pot that will help you as you grow your vegetables. Some upgrades include watering, pruning, and harvesting. One note about this is that you can only have one upgrade per pot, so don’t think you can have watering and pruning… you have to choose one. I made this mistake early in the game…

Overall, this game was another awesome addition to the Diner Dash family, and a great way to pass the time… much better than doing my homework!