A sure winner in the summer garden, phlox is my go-to, especially for beginning gardeners. The rewards of this perennial are as numerous as its blossoms. Beautiful star-like buds. Tall, yet sturdy. This one is at least five and a half feet tall, yet it doesn't need staking. A plethora of colors: pink, lavender and, my favorite, white. Interestingly enough, I only ever planted the pink, the others volunteered. I still haven't figured that one out. Long blooming. This year the

What do they all have in common? They're all in my garden, of course! Here is the headboard, the newest in my collection. I made it useful by adding some hooks to hang my tools from. And of course I had to sneak a peek of my hydrangeas in there! This used to be bright yellow, with green leaves and purple grapes. It also used to sit in a grocery store, holding a display of wine. Now, it is creamy white, minus the grapes and minus the wine. It is host to David Austin climbing r

I find it easy to ignore the garden when it's raining. Truth be told, I might even breathe a sigh of relief. No dragging of hoses or getting my feet wet, too damp to weed or mow, might as well pour a cup of tea and pick up a good book. But then I looked out the window, and saw that the first flush of my David Austin roses were head down, their tea-cup like blooms filled with rain. I had to go out and enjoy them, if for no other reason than I can't stand to see beauty wasted.

I took a walk the other morning in the old and lovely part of town. The gardens surrounding these houses were so beautiful, so trim and tidy, so well-loved and cared for. Void of weeds, bursting with blooms of all colors, sizes and textures. Then I walked across a grassy field to a park, and these caught my eye. A greater contrast to the gardens I had been enjoying I couldn't imagine. Not planted by human hands, untended by fertilizer, watering can and spades. Cut, even, with

Is it just me, or have the lilacs this year been tremendous? I don't remember them ever filling the air with this much fragrance. Hopefully, that just means it's a good year for them, and doesn't reflect anything about my memory. I did my best to capture the prettiest I could find. This one is, I believe, a Beauty of Moscow variety. Pure, snowy white, turning to baby girl pink at the edges. The scent is over-the moon lovely. This one is much more common, but no less lovely. T

In honor of May Day, it seems only fitting to share with you my favorite spring pairings. My garden beds are looking rather like a big bouquet, and I have been admiring how well the blooms compliment each other. Forget-me-nots and lily of the valley, a match of toe-tingling sweetness. I must confess, I did not dream this pairing up on my own. The forget-me-nots showed up one day of their own accord, and the lilys had been planted a few years ago and never did a thing. It's my