Five years ago, if you would have told me that my future would include 6:00 a.m. flower garden strolls in my jammies accompanied by a hot cup of coffee, I wouldn’t have believed you.
However, a LOT can happen in five years, and I have become a full-fledged plant lady!
Though some of my favorite memories in high school and college included working at a family-owned greenhouse {shoutout to Hulett Farms}, I felt that my expertise stopped short of knowing to water, and which plant needed full sun versus shade. In the past year, I have jumped into “Plantladydom” with both feet, along with many fellow plant lovers to help guide my journey.
Hydrangea {perennial} – $8.44 bargain buy from Wal-Mart!
In June of 2020, my family and I moved to a newly built home with no landscaping whatsoever. Pro side? We had a completely blank slate. Con side? We had a completely blank slate. I knew we needed grass and perhaps some kind of rock feature, but past that, I had no idea what I wanted or what would look nice. Thanks to some amazing help from Greenline Turf Services, Inc., we were provided a design, layout, and so much opportunity in the form of big front flower beds {not to mention what would become beautiful grass!}.
All sorts of fun perennials in here – Stargazer Lily, Daylily, Bleeding Heart, Shasta Daisy, Black-eyed Susan, Hyacinth, Clematis, Crocus, Blazing Star, Foxglove, Iris, Azaela, Crysanthemum, Columbine, and likely a bunch of stuff I’m forgetting!
Since then, we have added a hydrangea bed. I salvaged hostas from our previous home. These make up our “shady lane” on the side of the house, which has a bunch of tree cover. I purchased a minimal amount of annual flowers from a local greenhouse this spring, which make up our front and deck pots. The key for me has been learning what plant will thrive in the different locations of my yard, and how I plan to maintain everything moving forward.
Hydrangea {perennial} – part-sun
Previously, I would have thought starting flower beds from scratch would have been expensive and cumbersome. However, the case has been the opposite thanks to a bunch of help from my Mom, Mother-in-Law, friends, and neighbors who are flower enthusiasts. Looking at the entire picture at first was overwhelming, but taking it a little bit at a time has led to a really fun result.
Along my plant lady journey, I have learned a few things that I’ll share below:
- Don’t break the bank. Plant share with friends and family. Check out end-of-season sales at local greenhouses. Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, and Home Depot also have a nice selection.
- Rome wasn’t built in a day. Take things slowly. Planting and bed maintenance is fun, but can also do a number on your body. Aim to plant or weed a little at a time. Enjoy your outside time in the meantime. 🙂
- Pest and animal control. Learn the “friends” of your area. This could include different bugs, or in our case, deer. Don’t get me wrong, they’re beautiful to look at, but they love to come munch flowers off just as they’re about to bloom. If you’re in the same predicament and looking for a solution, we have loved Deer Out.
- Fertilize. Don’t forget to give your flowers food. Depending on what you have in your beds, good old-fashioned Miracle Gro may do the trick. There is also specific food for different kinds of flowers, for example, roses.
- Most importantly, enjoy the fruits of your labor! Take the coffee walk before the kids get up. Go on a flower walk with your significant other in the evening. Teach your littles to enjoy and appreciate.
Canna Lily {perennial{ and Gazania {annual} – sun lovers
Dahlia {annual} and Gazania {annual} – sun lovers
I look forward to seeing how my plant babies grow in the years to come. The enjoyment I have gotten out of these little guys has been more than I would have expected, and there has been a lot of reward in appreciating their beauty.
Are you a fellow plant lover? Share your favorites below!
