11 Readers Share Their Lovely Gardens

It’s my favourite time of the 12 months — after we function the beautiful gardens of the Cup of Jo neighborhood. Sprawling native wildflowers! Towering sunflowers! Sweet-colored ranunculus! Each picture submission is a delight. So, with out additional ado, listed below are 11 readers’ gardens…

Each images above: “My companion and I turned our entrance garden right into a native wildflower meadow 5 years in the past. It has over 40 flower species, and the meadow is greater than 2,000 sq. ft (bigger than our home!). Of us strolling or driving by at all times cease to inform us how a lot they adore it. Random strangers have even dropped seed packets and love notes to the meadow into our mailbox!” — Annalisa, New Haven, Connecticut

“This has been a troublesome season for my household, however each time I see these glad ranunculus by my entrance door, I can’t assist however smile.” — Laura, Northern Eire

“Veggie gardens really feel magical with children. We develop tons of cherry tomatoes (excellent for little ones to choose), fairytale eggplants, blackberries, and pink lemonade blueberries, which flip a rose coloration when ripe.” — Sarah, Ridgefield, Connecticut

“We added chickens to our backyard final 12 months. My two-year-old named them Cashew, Evie, and Pumpkin. She loves feeding them and amassing eggs. They’re voracious eaters, nonetheless, so I’m at all times shooing them away from my crops!” — Naudia, Nyack, New York

“My delight and pleasure is my agave. It’s huge, daring, 5 ft tall, and the center of my entrance yard. They sometimes stay for about 25 years and flower solely as soon as earlier than they die!” — Lisa, San Jose, California

“We moved three years in the past to a distant island off the coast of Vancouver Island and acquired somewhat 100-year-old yellow home. My pal stated it seemed like Miss Honey’s cottage from Matilda, and that has been the backyard blueprint ever since. It’s all a work-in-progress, but it surely’s my want is to maintain constructing and rising this backyard till I’m 100 years outdated.” — Jess, Cortes Island, Canada

“Individuals don’t at all times understand after they’re beginning out that gardens take a LOT of time. You may’t have your dream backyard in a single day with out spending a ton of cash, and there’s no amount of cash that may manufacture the texture of a mature, well-tended backyard. So, I’ve been making an attempt to take issues slowly. I not too long ago constructed a graveled fire-pit space and breakfast nook. I like the sensation of guide labor, and seeing it come collectively is so satisfying!” — Gabby, Nashville

“When my husband and I moved into our house, my mother and father introduced over seeds from their backyard — cosmos, zinnias, marigolds. We acquired married in our yard that summer time and used the flowers in our bouquets. My father, who had been an avid gardener my complete life, handed away final 12 months, simply two weeks after my daughter was born. I saved the seeds from that summer time and can plant them along with her this spring. We’ll use the watering can my mother and father gave her; and when the flowers bloom, we’ll consider him.” — Chelsea, Ottawa, Canada

“4 years in the past, my pretty grown-up daughters acquired me a peony plant for Mom’s Day. Its large, fluffy scented blooms at the moment are the largest pleasure of my (largely vegetable) backyard.” — Sasha, Belgrade, Montana

“After the lengthy darkish winter, it’s so enjoyable to see what we are able to carry to life — sunflowers, cucumbers, watermelon, catnip for the cats, and tomatoes that the canines eat straight off the vines. Some years are extra profitable than others, however our backyard makes us glad each summer time.” — Lauren, Columbus, Ohio

“We’re so fortunate that our next-door neighbors’ cherry tree and azaleas have been rising beneath their care for nearly 40 years. The colours are unbelievable! This weekend, we had some stormy climate, so it was raining pink petals. My toddler likes to throw them up within the air like confetti.” — Emma, Philadelphia

Thanks a lot for sharing! How are everybody else’s gardens coming alongside? We’d like to know.

P.S. 14 extra readers share their beautiful gardens and Abbey Nova’s Connecticut house is stuffed with vegetation and books.

(Photographs of Gabby Llewellyn by Mary Caroline Russel.)