Just came inside after a morning of working in the garden in Florida. Whining while walking inside to watch this video and take a break from the heat and humidity!!! Still loving every minute of the garden. That’s when you know you’re doing what you love. Complaining, drenched in sweat, tired and achy, but still happiest in my garden!
I am in Florida🏖️ as well!🤗 Very hot🥵 I was outside also, took a break🥤💦 started this morning. Done for today☺️. I am a new gardener(3yrs)is this new🤔. However, taking lots of notes. Planting wisely now, that, I have so many garden mentors.🤗 Thank you, Linda & garden family. I am being trained by the best!🥰
I am in Florida🏖️ as well!🤗 Very hot🥵 I was outside also, took a break🥤💦 started this morning. Done for today☺️. I am a new gardener(3yrs)is this new🤔. However, taking lots of notes. Planting wisely now, that, I have so many garden mentors.🤗 Thank you, Linda & garden family. I am being trained by the best!🥰
I am in Florida🏖️ as well!🤗 Very hot🥵 I was outside also, took a break🥤💦 started this morning. Done for today☺️. I am a new gardener(3yrs)is this new🤔. However, taking lots of notes. Planting wisely now, that, I have so many garden mentors.🤗 Thank you, Linda & garden family. I am being trained by the best!🥰
Here in Minnesota, we just had a week of Florida weather (I know, because I once lived near Orlando). We caught a break today, but I hear round two is coming. This is June!
Miss Vater I was in Lowe's garden section yesterday and I was so pleasantly surprised to see your beautiful face on a product display🌺 Congratulations on your growth and success!💗
So crazy, as a 5 years new gardener I was just thinking I don’t need everything, I started out collecting plants instead of stepping back and looking at the cohesiveness of my garden. I have been rehoming some “clutter”! It’s never ending changing! Love your familiar thoughts and how you deal with your beautiful garden.
Linda , you got me reflecting now...so here goes. 90 degrees and very humid here in Kyle Texas. Moved here 9 years ago from Austin, our second down size 😉. We moved around a lot because of my husband job , been married 44 yrs. I always put in a garden , trees and lots of grass in every house we’ve lived in.. total of 7 homes! Never could do without grass while the kids were growing up but now my gardening is all about what I’ve always wanted.. lots of shrub, flowers trees and flagstone walk paths with no grass. The back yard was a blank canvas when we moved in to our house now. It had a pitiful Bradford pear tree and no grass just holes a dog had dug. Now it’s a little paradise. I’m 71 and have fibromyalgia but it hasn’t stopped me from doing what I love.. gardening. Early mornings is my favorite time to work in my back and front yards. Just want to say ... Its beyond me why young couples don’t plant trees when they move into a house. The builder gives you one tree yeah but it doesn’t mean you can’t plant more trees , etc. Even if you’re not a gardener.. think of shade and the future ☺️. So Linda ... don’t change a thing in your beautiful gardens .. it’s perfection!
“I’m not a real gardener, I’m a learn as you go gardener.” Oh Linda, I think any gardener worth their salt just has to learn as they go at SOME point. Your years of experience are invaluable to those of us just starting out, like me. No need to always be so humble. Your Gardener status is well earned. 💕
YOU ARE SO HUMBLE, LINDA THIS MAKES ALL OF US CLUMSY GARDENERS HAVE HOPE!!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU LINDA!!!!!!! YOUR GARDEN HAS EVOLVED BEAUTIFULLY, IT IS VERY COZY!!!!!!!!!! AND PLEASE STOP BEING SO HARD ON YOURSELF, YOUR GARDEN 🪴 IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE JUST LIKE YOU!!!!!!!!!!
This year I had raised vegetable beds constructed and I LOVE them! My veggies do too. I will be 82 in August and crawling around on my hands and knees is not fun! The best part of my garden right now is eating salad every day for lunch from my garden: kale, snow peas, asparagus, grape tomatoes, basil or French tarragon, onion ... yum! I add a little cheese and some nuts or seeds.
I love how Linda uses her own language lol.... I mean she's not making up words she's using words that I don't typically use in a way that just sounds so cool, luxurious, and effortless! I find myself saying why the hell did I use that word that way! There's just a coolness a hipness that oozes from her. I like it! Her coolness is not exclusive to her It seems so obtainable if you just put in a little effort! I walk around my garden talkinh about I need me a "terracotta theater!" Or "where the hell is my potager"😂✊🏿🖤
An online friend of mine (a horticulturalist) shares my love of words, and we routinely send each other unusual words we come across, often preceded with the line, "New to me. You?" Just recently I shared with him that Linda had used the word "bibelot" in one of her videos. While I was familiar with it, the word was new to him! One of Linda's wonderful talents is that she is so very articulate, and yet has a lovely conversation tone as she shares her knowledge and love of gardening!
I’m 29 and just starting our garden/landscaping in earnest. I definitely want to plan for aging and future limitations. I originally wanted to plan so my mother and grandmother could enjoy and navigate easily, but it’ll also help me out later in life. What a great tip!
Thank you for this video. For the first time I now; at the age of 70, finally have a house in a small town in Indiana after living in the desert. There is a back yard that needs to be started from nothing except mature trees. It is a big dream for me to have this space for a garden. I really appreciate your "if I started over" insight. I have some physical challenges so it will be slow going. I feel inspired to get going and feel encouraged by your videos.
I’m doing fantastic! I have everything she wished she did differently, I have the native plants and trees, the fruit trees and blooming shrubs ❤️. Thanks for your inspiration, I was in a deep dark funk, then I found you. Linda you changed my life, ❤️ to you. ✌🏼🇺🇸🪴
Yes these videos lift me as well. May I also suggest if you don’t already check out “Garden Answer”, and my personal mood brightener, “White Cottage Company”.
I wanted a pond really bad but heard of the upkeep. We did invest in a nice fountain and that has been a great blessing! Little upkeep. Happy gardening from Raleigh!
I, too, love the sound of water. I mean, my favorite vacation spot is Lake Superior. But after hearing all the work involved at season end or start, I said no.
I thought I felt the same. I live in Oklahoma I'm land locked and have an obsession with water probably for that reason. I asked my husband who has a landscaping company to build me a beautiful a small pond with a fountain for me and the frogs. He did and it is gorgeous but I find myself getting annoyed with the constant background noise. I have realized I actually like it quiet more than anything.
We moved into a well established shade garden 10 years ago. I wish we had trimmed up a few trees sooner. I don't mind moss on my pots, but constantly fight it on my patio and outdoor furniture. You should consider editing a few plants around the sentimental bench. One day you and Hubs may want to sit there again to watch your grandbabies show off their superhero moves!
Junuary here in the Pacific Northwest, high today is 63° and rain. The bonus is I fertilized the other day and nature is watering for me. Change I made in my garden - we removed our wood deck and replaced it with a concrete patio with a permanent roof cover that comes off the house 9 yrs ago. It extended our summer living area during both cool and hot times if the year💚
VERY rainy here inMD 7b . I typed before finishing the video,, your are an inspiration to yourself and others. Don’t ever not call yourself a gardener!!! You are! And I too have learned over my 30 years of gardening that we change are priorities change and our gardens change as we change with them. My beautiful spring flowers are being beaten down. I noticed the summer flowers are blooming a little early also. Ok I would do a lot of research about the flowers that have “weed” in their names and not plant or put in pots. And watch out for flowers that have runners, lol I design in head and then on paper. And do more bones in the garden first off. And plant for all seasons. Oh and be a patient Gardner, lol
I love them too but if she wants to grow veg then they have to go. They are taking up the whole space also, so as beautiful as they are, their shape is lost by their size now. I’d toss them, put veg in, and have it surrounded by new, baby boxwoods. And then keep Them smaller. I do love yours tho!!
Linda, I know we all agree that your garden is exceptionally dreamy and magical and have a hard time imagining it any other way. However, it is your garden and you should feel free to make whatever changes you and your brilliant, creative mind can dream up! I for one would LOVE to see Linda Vater in action should you decide to make some changes! Good luck with your decision! 🪴😎💕
Gardening can be a wonderful source of healthy movement - helping us to maintain strength and balance as we enjoy something we love while “working out” in our gardens! The less we do the less we will be able to do!! Keep moving, living and enjoying, even the hard work that your garden provides along with the beauty
I’m a zone 8a in central Mississippi and it is so humid here this entire week. I have just started this year doing more container gardening in my beds. I agree with planting more flowering shrubs and adding more veggies in.
Love that kids are jumping on the trampoline in the background, miss both sets of my kids at this age, having so much fun! They are now 30,27, 16, and 14 years old( three young ladies and one young man). Enjoy your afternoon!
Linda, I LOVE this video!!!! I am starting to garden only in the last few years and I redid my front yard only to end up hating it. I made the mistake of wanting to plant one of everything which resulted in a mismatched yard with little success. Now I am planning my back yard and today for the first time ever, bought three small plants of the same type, colour etc. in order the create some sort of cohesion rather than buying three different plants to plot wherever. I am so grateful for this video Linda and will try my best to keep all of your tips in mind.
Linda this was of your best videos yet. I agree that we don’t know what nature will do to our plans and our bodies. That’s why our gardens are never “done”. We learn how to adjust to change and live in the moment by tending to our gardens. Thank you for sharing your authenticity❤️ from my gardeners heart to yours. MK
Springfield, Missouri is hot and humid. I don't think as hot as you are. I think our gardens teach us to have confidence in our abilities to design and adapt. Your garden is beautiful and I love to watch you as it helps me know that I am not alone in my desire to make beautiful choices with beautiful things. I always say there are no mistakes....only embellishment opportunities.
I started late building flower beds. I'm 68 and I feel like I need to use more pavers than gravel for most of my walkways and patios. I love shrubs that bloom ,so I will mainly focus on the appropriate sizes needed in certain areas. Thanks for the tips.
I’m a late bloomer I guess lol If I could tell my younger self what I know now, I would have insisted on a larger property for a larger garden and my younger self would have said “A garden? Really? You a gardener? No way!” 😂 Thank you for sharing your garden and your fashion pieces. I love all your earrings - I’m a bit envious to be honest as I can’t wear earrings at all. Blessings to you and Stewart! 😊
I love how your garden, and those you have featured by friends, are restful and comfortable to hang out in. As someone new to a property, and able to return to perennials, I have got to watch making a hodgepodge.
I would have been more thoughtful in planning. My garden is over 40 years old and I know so much more than I did. Also there is so much more information available for support...such as you😁
Linda, I am in my mid 30s and starting my own garden. This video was made for me! I began planting last year during the pandemic and I’ve enjoyed it so much. We had a record breaking winter storm in February like you guys did and it destroyed a lot of my plants. I had to start all over again this spring but I don’t mind it one bit. This video was so helpful and I truly appreciate it. I am writing all of your advice down and incorporating some of your ideas in my own design. You are an inspiration and I’m so happy to have found your channel! ❤️
Zone 5 Illinois. Northerner here. Summer has slapped us in the face with her humid,hot hand! What I would do differently; you have taught me about drift planting. I dotted one here one there. Your drifts look a beautiful and cohesive. I would definitely drift plant!
I love your idea of going with "more of less" plants. Since I am so new at gardening, I have gone crazy, planting too many varieties, but all my gardens are beautiful!
Hi Linda, I hope you don't make drastic changes to your garden!!!! It's such a beautiful and peaceful place. I started my present garden in my 50's and still need to improve. When we moved to this house I planted too many Rhododendrons but forgot that there is a lot of green around us in the forest and the flowers don't last very long. Now I am trying to plant more Hydrangeas, yellow roses and Lavender for butterflies to visit, and add some color with small terracotta planters to attract the Bumble Bees. Very important to me is a place where I can rest because at 74 my body needs to pause during my gardening marathons. Therefore, since last year I started renovations in our porch because is one of my favorite places in the house. This is the place where I sit in between, have a cup of tea, quilt a bit, enjoy looking at my accomplishments and appreciate what nature really is. 👋
@@marthahoffmann8674 Have you noticed an increase in dragonfly population where you are? I sit in my yard, holding the hose trained on my newish garden and they swarm and dart among my plants. They are so lovely to admire. Their wings are like stained glass.
Zone 3.North West Central Mn. I would have cut more of the trees out while they were smaller! I just have almost no sun now the Maple are huge and they shade most of our yard and my little vegetable garden. I have small pockets of sun here and there now. I am surprised that some of the flower beds still do alright but I think they would do a lot better with less shade. 30+ year old Maple trees really get huge canopies!
You have the best organic/simplistic, structured garden I’ve ever seen. I don’t see it as messy or to much. I think it matches your personality perfectly. 🧚🏼🧚🏼🧚🏼
What you would have done? You've spent years on your garden and have shared many of those years with us. It has gone through many changes. You have 104K followers on RUclips from all over the world who love your garden and post and repost pictures of it and some are even trying to copy your garden as closely as they can. You certainly have done something right. Don't even go there with what you would have done. I think that is quite a negative thought. Changes are constant whether we like them or not. Look at this crisis not as what you would have done but where you can take it moving forward. You're so right about tight spaces and difficulty moving as you age. You can make room in your potager and still keep your boxwoods by just taking a few out to change the heart shape and trimming more off little by little. Once again, I've said too much. What you offer us is appreciated more than you know.
Living 50miles outside of Chicago and moved from my house on a pond to anew home with only two larger trees on the property. I am slowly adding shrubs. My favorite shrubs so far are hydrangia Annabelle. The first plants that I planted I actually rescued from someone's garbage after the Holidays. Four Alberta spruce trees which I took home and planted in large pots in a protected area. I then planted them into my yard( not yet garden) the following spring. You are my inspiration!!!
Oh Linda please don't touch that spot with the bench. What a beautiful, romantic vignette!!! You should definitely preserve those memories...so precious! Wish I could recreate that look in my own garden 😁
I love this..... dear younger me... I always tell young gardeners to make gardens that their older self will be able to handle..... I wish someone told me that. I am glad that I found your channel, because it has let me container garden and topiary hobby now and that way I am not adding knee work... already have enough of that.... good video Linda and Stuart.
I am zone 9, north of Houston. Until I found you, I just let things grow as they wanted. I am 70 and have learned so much from you. The humid heat we have now and the mosquitos have driven me inside. We had so much rain a few weeks ago, I missed being able to clean up as much as I wanted. But that happens every year....I really have had no plan so if I could go back, I would make a plan, I just planted what I liked. Always love your thoughts and tours.
Started a ‘new’ garden at 63yrs old. Well new to me, 20 yr old property but planted in the ‘ I don’t garden’ French style. 6 trees and 6 shrubs spaced out around the garden and the rest grass. No trees anywhere near the building ,so all the shade was at the bottom of the garden, and so were the birds ! You should never underestimate the value of shade in a climate such as ours, very hot summers but dry heat. Have gradually over the last three years made changes, so now I have lots of colour from perennial plants, and have added more trees. It’s still a work in progress but I’m happy with how it looks this year. 😍🇫🇷😎
Hi Linda! The one thing I would change in my younger New Jersey gardening days is............I would not let people (Hubs) talk me out of adding new pathways and shrubs to make small garden rooms in my landscape! Always an excuse of why are you looking for more work!! I should not have given in!!! Oh well........now at the age of 71 I am living in a villa in Florida with all these great ideas you have given me and no where to apply them!!! LOL! That's ok...........I have a few beautiful containers on our porch and lanai and enjoy your beautiful gardens! Have a great day and I will see you in the next one! Hugs! :) HI Stewart!
IN THE SOUTH 🥵 I asked myself this question in the spring and my solution ended up with all my shrubs by the road. Then, I sketched out my yard to scale and planned everything. Even though it won’t be complete until next spring, It’s the best decision I could have made❤️ My worst decision when planting was to buy what I saw at other homes in my area. Now, I’m planting to reflect my personality and not what’s “in style”.
It has been so hot in Illinois the last few days being outside working yesterday felt Like august . It is cooling down. Starting a new garden is always fun, we would love to watch you make the magic happen. Enjoy and do whatever you would like, although we follow you, it is your life
Less lawn more flowers and shrubs I like. Bigger Patio for gazing at it😍 it is in the 90's and muggy near Lake Michigan we crave rain..Thanks for all your tips💟
Linda, I love your gardens. I love how you talk about rooms, it’s just like decorating the rooms inside ones home. Gardens are a reflection of the person and their creativity. You’re right as we age though we get limited on our movement. I would have put birdbaths in sooner, and a fountain. I do have rain barrels and being in Arkansas you know we have had lots and lots of rain. I love using the rain water, so good for the plants.
It’s horribly humid in Central Texas. Feels like being on the coast. I’ve learned to space out plants and be patient and try out new plants in pots for instant color.
What I like best about your gardening is the "clutter" as you call it. Seeing your yard has given me permission to plant more things and use more pots in my outdoor gardening as well as bibelot.
I always wondered why you never had a greenhouse. Ive always had ugly plastic ones so now in my new garden I started with a beautiful black framed glasshouse. It’s my happy place
Warm and damp in the Upstate of SC too. I enjoyed this tremendously. I'm calling this a masterclass. I'm getting ready to redo my small front yard. Can't say how many plantings in my own garden were eye candy, or became much to large for the space allotted. Some were just more maintenance that I wanted to give. I felt particularly aligned with more of the same when chosing plants and getting g those foundation evergreens decided on. Thank you so much 🤗 ❣⁸
I would love to give my Garden more informality and like yours ...it looks so charming...than a more formal garden look . And Yes I love the gravel look as well .
I have found this reflection on the evolution of your garden spaces truly fascinating. As you were reminiscing about the functions your garden was required to undergo eg “play space for your sons” and that evolution of your entertaining space limited by the encircling trees, I was forced to consider my own choices. I am now in my eighth decade (forty years with this garden…!) and am continually regretting decisions made, or not made, about the spaces around my suburban house. Thank you, Linda, for that philosophical exercise. I love your spaces because they fulfil, or not, the functions required of them. Time changes everything.
The weather is cool and dry here in Maine. We just had an unusual heat wave. The weather has certainly played tricks on us for the the last few years! The one thing I'm still struggling with (I've been gardening for 40 years) is the reluctance to buy 3 or 5 of the same plant at the same time rather than 1 of several different plants. I have such a difficult time limiting my selection to one variety and buying 5 of those. I made a promise to myself this year to not buy ANY plant unless I buy at least 3. I haven't been 100% compliant but I'm doing much better and my gardens will be better for it. My gardens would look so much more pleasing with larger drifts of the same plant.
I think this is actually one of my favorite videos from you. It gave me so much personal insight and so much to think about from a much wiser and more experienced gardener than I! 🙂 Thank you for this!
Amazing that I have happened on your you tube...just a couple of weeks ago. I have, at 63, moved to " new" home. I am so thrilled to be able to use my plan which has evolved through years of gardening and designing. I feel we are kindred spirits because it seems we are similar...for example, I call myself a lifetime learner....I LOVE correct grammar and extensive vocabulary....you excell in them! I could go on and on. I only need to work less and garden more...soon I tell myself. Love you Linda. LydiaEllisor
I live in the mid-south, Bartlett, TN, right outside of Memphis and the humidity has settled in big time! Linda, if I were you, I'd keep the garden bench right where it is, thin out around it and maybe put a small pergola over it. Also, if you still dream of a greenhouse and want to remove those big boxwoods, I'd clear them all out and put a beautiful greenhouse right there. I think that would be the PERFECT spot! I so enjoy your page!
Hi Linda , I am in 7b which was 6 when I was younger . I would concentrate more on permaculture . I am currently doing just that by creating more winter interest rather then bring in my citrus and other plants that I have to winter over i doors . I have done layering with my seedlings so All I do maintain my space . I also wouldn’t have had pavers in my courtyard . I would use small pebbles . And much more ... sow as you go meant a lot of work every outdoor garden seasons . I do incorporate many pots in fact with small trees and topiaries that winter well . Thanks Linda . It’s always Stewards fault ☺️🤗💚😃
I’m in Annapolis on the water, zone 7a. We moved here to a property that had been uninhabited for many years…always mowed but not “gardened”. My property has so much potential but it’s a bit overwhelming right now. After watching your videos, I’m now thinking I’ll concentrate on vignettes and areas I can tackle over time. My biggest challenge is deer…there are literally herds of them and my property has been their “chomping” ground. I’d love to have many of those plants you feature but I will be focusing on deer resistant and natives plants to attempt to find some success. You are an inspiration!! Love your videos.
It's crazy hot in TN Linda!! We skipped Spring per usual. Your garden is very cute, I love the dappled shade throughout the main part. I agree with whomever said you should do an arbor with roses over the bench, reducing the size of the hydrangea would be a must. Maybe just pressure wash the bench too if it can take it, if not maybe a good scrub by hand and possible stain or clear coat only, but I would not remove it. I was happy to hear things you would do differently. I now convinced I'm doing most of the right things this time. I have learned as I go too, and left behind some pretty gardens in my past two house (not large ones because I was unsure that I would stay). When I sold my last house (yes, I sold, and I'm not a realtor) I had written in my house contract that I could take 3 things from the yard when we left, a simple asiatic lily that my youngest daughter gave me, a calla my oldest gave me and a wisteria, I propagated and I had formed into a topiary (knowing I was going to take it some day). It's still a topiary for now after 2 years of being relocated in our new house. My hubby built me a 10x12 glass and wood greenhouse after I lost my first one (a kit) one year prior. He feeds my passion so I feel very blessed. (edit: Whoops I shouldn't have assumed Stewart was your husband, my mistake sorry).
Be happy with all your thoughts I AM A ADVID Gardner taught my husband how to garden...40 years of gardening the love of our life... My husband just passed suddenly.... Find contentment ..your garden is BEAUTIFUL, WE ARE always learning...❤
Toledo, Ohio. Linda, I always enjoy your content. My biggest lessons learned are 1) create generous beds in the beginning as things will grow and fill in, and 2) resist the temptation to plant things in a linear fashion.
Great advice Linda!! Things I would change: plant more trees, and probably remove several that are here. Insisted on a smoother yard before the sod was installed, and had a sprinkler system installed prior to that. (My grass took forever to recover from that). Summer is here in Mississippi! Temps in the high 90’s and feels like 102+ already! Advice to new gardeners: if you don’t like what is in your garden, rip it out. Plant what you like. But get to know your landscape before you do too much. Such as: where is the sun at all times of the day, where does water stand, where is it drier, know your zone! Go to a reputable local garden center and get to know them. Lots of great advice can be gained from them. But mostly enjoy your garden. If you enjoy it, it is not so much work but your hobby. 🌳🌳🌳
As a gardener in my 30s that gets excited about so many different types of plants and wants them all, this is helpful. This year I transplanted so many things to group together in drifts and the impact it’s made is huge. Thank you for you insight! ❤️ an amateur gardener in Charlotte, NC 7b
Same I would have found a way to do a greenhouse. I would have insisted to my husband to have rooms throughout the garden. And most of all I would have not had my husband sink the trampoline in the ground, because now that my children are older, and we are almost empty nesters no one used it, so it's unused space. 😬 Also we have a large covered deck, which is part of the structure of our house, and I've always loved patios instead, so I guess I would have waited to find a house with a patio.i could go on and on. I do however like the way the garden is coming together and we do have lots of fruit trees. We are cutting back on our lawn this year, so that's exciting. I liked hearing that you had things you would have liked different, because I always look at your yard as perfect! I guess no yard is perfect though. 💜
It's so hard not to try all the lovely plants when you are a plant addict. 😀 But I hear you on plant what thrives in your garden for easier maintenance and that does take trial and error. My gardens are a color explosion during the summer and I love that cottage vibe but I am working towards more evergreen for winter interest. I never bothered with winter interest before as we were covered in snow from December well through March but the past few years we have hardly gotten any snow. I also think the evergreen element will bring a bit of calm to the chaos.
I would suggest buy a well established tree to put in its place! Might be expensive but go for it!! Well I just think you have a beautiful design! Wish I had your garden in my space lol!! I suggest start a garden at Stewart’s house!
Loved this video! I’ve gardened for 3 years but am considering starting over in the front yard to make a more cohesive design. Listening to experienced designers and gardeners helps me a ton! Thanks for all of your tips and wisdom🙂
Agree with totally armcluesent. The second thing would be to take a course on pruning. A nip here or there means most of my shrubs got out of control and visually never reached their potential. So that would be my top tip : )
I love your garden and the personality there. There is so much to view and so many good ideas. I'm constantly changing things in my garden and would love a small water feature and a few small trees. Your thrifting ideas are great!
I wish my younger gardening self had known about the cardboard/compost/wood chip method of creating no dig garden bed space. I used to dig out sod by hand. It was backbreaking in rocky, Virginia red clay. My no dig beds have better soil and fewer weeds and they are much easier to create. I still trench edge my beds so I can mow along them, but I will never dig out sod again!
@@gardener5158 The first step is to weedeat all the grass and weeds down to the ground so that it looks like bare dirt. Put down your cardboard with pieces slightly overlapping. Put down 1" of compost for nitrogen replacement. Pile on 8" of fresh wood chips. The weeds don't come back.
It is very courageous and brave to go over what you could haveor should have done differently.You said it all in the beginning..You learned over time.So did I.Your saying LESS SOMETIMES IS MORE..is very true .I keep that in mind whenever I intend to add something. Lately I have taken away,.and do not regret it.Your garden looks beautiful. You have put your heart and soul into it....and it shows.You should not regret anything.Things can be changed around anytime you want to, to a certain extend. I feel the love for nature in your yard...that what counts for me.😍😊
You’re the cutest. I think we’re about the same age…I think I’m a wee bit older, but who’s counting? I’m fairly new to gardening, and I’m learning so much from you. Thank you for your wonderful videos, and your cute style, which I totally relate to. I am a sculptor, and I’ve recently created a large shade garden on my property. I’m about to embark on a large Fat Lady sculpture in one of the lower gardens. If it turns out better than a bad 4th grade science project, I’ll send you a picture. Thanks again for all the fun garden videos! I’m loving them!
Hi Linda, I Absolutely Love your channel, your style, and your home and garden that you loving share with us through your videos. Linda, I know the point of this video was to "rethink" some design decisions that you (we) possibly would redo in our current gardens. I appreciate you and your honesty concerning your ideas and changes that you would have made. As the saying goes, "Hind sight is 20/20." I for one, Love your charming garden and your Tudor Home. It always gives off a warm, welcoming feeling like a "storybook" home. During your walks in your beautiful garden, it feels as if Peter Rabbit himself will show up at any minute. 🥰 Linda, your garden truly does give me that charming Beatrix Potter feeling. I say all of that to say, please don't be so hard on yourself. Your garden is lovely. At the same time, I get the... "If I knew then, what I know now" feeling as well. I believe that whatever changes that you may decide to make in your current garden, or if you decide to do a totally new garden; it will be Amazing! By the way, my husband and I moved away from my beloved home state of Tennessee (7a zone), to Indianapolis/Zionsville area (5b zone). Honey, I have a change that I would make in our current garden. I would have most definitely read up more on the cute "little" arborvitae shrubs that we saw and bought at Lowes at the end of the season. We decided to plant 3 of them, at the time next to our newly built home beside our garage. Those cute "little" shrubs that we planted have grown to the height of our garage, and beyond. Not to mention that they are now getting those "bagworms" on them. Did I mention that I am terrified of worms of ALL sorts? 😲 So, now I am trying to convince my husband that we should either have them moved away from the house (and treated), or cut them down. We'll see what this 50 year old couple will do, and how I wish we at 50 would have told our 30ish selves to read up more on these end of the season cute "little" shrubs. Oh well, we live and learn. 😀 So Linda, I Truly get it. Take care Linda & thank you for being an inspiration. Sincerely, Paula
Paula, I love this accounting of your garden! My sister lives in the Indianapolis Zionsville area and I grew up in Knoxville, Oklahoma, and then back to Indianapolis! Kindred spirits!
I've started doing research 2-3 years ago, about planting and plants, for starting from scratch a semi-private urban garden. Only started planting last fall and this season. Just wanted to thank you for all the content, tips, advice! Thank you for the love of nandinas, for the love of viburnums, for the love of gravel you instilled! Today's content resonates also! Hope to invite you some day on my very own walk-about! :) ( Gardening in zone 6 - Romania )
For the last five years, I have been removing perennials and putting in summer flowering shrubs. I have even spoken at Garden Club’s encouraging them to add some summer flowering shrubs because it is beautiful and as we all get older we are still able to have a lot of flowers in the garden without as much work.
I’m in 🇨🇦 53.5461° N, 113.4938° W. zone 3b/4a. It’s 78*F today which is much warmer than usual for June. I’ve greatly reduced my annuals, and increased my perennials, it’s a change that has allowed me more more time to enjoy my yard.
Container veggie gardens. You can have them plopped in and around everywhere. Paul James the Gardener Guy says he gone all container veggies in his smaller garden now that he has downsized. 🤷🏻♀️
I love that you do most of your own gardening. You dress nicely when you garden so the first few videos I watched I thought you were fake gardening. I am dressing a little better now, a nice looking long sleeved shirt and shorts. I also like that your gardening is for the urban garden, not acres of garden space. I have been attempting gardening in this house for 30 years and I am finally becoming successful (Shasta daisies do not like zone 9 and in Bakersfield, CA, "partial shade to sun" means partial shade).
I have the same furniture as in your bistro area. I've had it for 20 years and just restored it's lustre with a product called 303 Protect. My design has evolved too so I see edits as well. Some plants work, others don't. I've pulled out many that just got too big for my foundation gardens (oh man the hardest thing is to pull out a healthy plant). Switched to mostly native species and I'm having success, finding plants need less maintenance and thrive. Love how authentic you are about your garden history.
It will be 117 here and in the desert tomorrow. I am struggling to keep my plants watered and living. Very little humidity which is good. Love all your green!!
Hi Linda , I live in Northern California and bought my home in 1986 it was a new home so I had a blank space I love my Gardens front and back but the one thing I would have done different would have been to make my boarders larger exspecialy in the planter in front of my house. I love your home and the gardens are beautiful really love the spring blooms of Tulips there so pretty congratulations on all your success enjoyed seeing you at Lowe’s very cool to see you was like running into a friend 🌸🌷👍🏻
Just came inside after a morning of working in the garden in Florida. Whining while walking inside to watch this video and take a break from the heat and humidity!!! Still loving every minute of the garden. That’s when you know you’re doing what you love. Complaining, drenched in sweat, tired and achy, but still happiest in my garden!
I am in Florida🏖️ as well!🤗 Very hot🥵 I was outside also, took a break🥤💦 started this morning. Done for today☺️. I am a new gardener(3yrs)is this new🤔. However, taking lots of notes. Planting wisely now, that, I have so many garden mentors.🤗 Thank you, Linda & garden family. I am being trained by the best!🥰
I am in Florida🏖️ as well!🤗 Very hot🥵 I was outside also, took a break🥤💦 started this morning. Done for today☺️. I am a new gardener(3yrs)is this new🤔. However, taking lots of notes. Planting wisely now, that, I have so many garden mentors.🤗 Thank you, Linda & garden family. I am being trained by the best!🥰
I am in Florida🏖️ as well!🤗 Very hot🥵 I was outside also, took a break🥤💦 started this morning. Done for today☺️. I am a new gardener(3yrs)is this new🤔. However, taking lots of notes. Planting wisely now, that, I have so many garden mentors.🤗 Thank you, Linda & garden family. I am being trained by the best!🥰
Here in Minnesota, we just had a week of Florida weather (I know, because I once lived near Orlando). We caught a break today, but I hear round two is coming. This is June!
Me too! Love it even while complaining how hot and humid it is!
Miss Vater I was in Lowe's garden section yesterday and I was so pleasantly surprised to see your beautiful face on a product display🌺 Congratulations on your growth and success!💗
Aw. Thank you ☺️
Wow! I’ll have to check Lowe’s for Linda too!
Yes. I found a pink auger earlier in the spring. And, yes, I bought it, and so glad I did!
I would have started new trees 4 years ago when I moved unto this place. I’m finally starting to plant the trees that I love!
So crazy, as a 5 years new gardener I was just thinking I don’t need everything, I started out collecting plants instead of stepping back and looking at the cohesiveness of my garden. I have been rehoming some “clutter”! It’s never ending changing! Love your familiar thoughts and how you deal with your beautiful garden.
Linda , you got me reflecting now...so here goes. 90 degrees and very humid here in Kyle Texas. Moved here 9 years ago from Austin, our second down size 😉. We moved around a lot because of my husband job , been married 44 yrs. I always put in a garden , trees and lots of grass in every house we’ve lived in.. total of 7 homes! Never could do without grass while the kids were growing up but now my gardening is all about what I’ve always wanted.. lots of shrub, flowers trees and flagstone walk paths with no grass. The back yard was a blank canvas when we moved in to our house now. It had a pitiful Bradford pear tree and no grass just holes a dog had dug.
Now it’s a little paradise. I’m 71 and have fibromyalgia but it hasn’t stopped me from doing what I love.. gardening.
Early mornings is my favorite time to work in my back and front yards.
Just want to say ... Its beyond me why young couples don’t plant trees when they move into a house. The builder gives you one tree yeah but it doesn’t mean you can’t plant more trees , etc.
Even if you’re not a gardener.. think of shade and the future ☺️.
So Linda ... don’t change a thing in your beautiful gardens .. it’s perfection!
You are my heroine! Yes. Plant a tree!!
“I’m not a real gardener, I’m a learn as you go gardener.” Oh Linda, I think any gardener worth their salt just has to learn as they go at SOME point. Your years of experience are invaluable to those of us just starting out, like me. No need to always be so humble. Your Gardener status is well earned. 💕
YOU ARE SO HUMBLE, LINDA THIS MAKES ALL OF US CLUMSY GARDENERS HAVE HOPE!!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU LINDA!!!!!!! YOUR GARDEN HAS EVOLVED BEAUTIFULLY, IT IS VERY COZY!!!!!!!!!! AND PLEASE STOP BEING SO HARD ON YOURSELF, YOUR GARDEN 🪴 IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE JUST LIKE YOU!!!!!!!!!!
This year I had raised vegetable beds constructed and I LOVE them! My veggies do too. I will be 82 in August and crawling around on my hands and knees is not fun! The best part of my garden right now is eating salad every day for lunch from my garden: kale, snow peas, asparagus, grape tomatoes, basil or French tarragon, onion ... yum! I add a little cheese and some nuts or seeds.
Ooh! I hadn't thought of adding French tarragon to my salads. I have an enormous plant and a tiny one and no recipes.
An idea for your now-sunny bench area: how about an arch over the bench, with a climbing rose each side for each of your sons
I love how Linda uses her own language lol.... I mean she's not making up words she's using words that I don't typically use in a way that just sounds so cool, luxurious, and effortless!
I find myself saying why the hell did I use that word that way!
There's just a coolness a hipness that oozes from her. I like it!
Her coolness is not exclusive to her It seems so obtainable if you just put in a little effort!
I walk around my garden talkinh about I need me a "terracotta theater!"
Or "where the hell is my potager"😂✊🏿🖤
Damn I love you for this comment😆🤣😂
@@LindaVater I watch all of your videos , You're addictive!
Every time I pot a shrub or tree I say to myself, “Now let’s get this to fly right.” 😂
@@nevnaidoo9801 🤣🤣🤣
An online friend of mine (a horticulturalist) shares my love of words, and we routinely send each other unusual words we come across, often preceded with the line, "New to me. You?" Just recently I shared with him that Linda had used the word "bibelot" in one of her videos. While I was familiar with it, the word was new to him!
One of Linda's wonderful talents is that she is so very articulate, and yet has a lovely conversation tone as she shares her knowledge and love of gardening!
I’m 29 and just starting our garden/landscaping in earnest. I definitely want to plan for aging and future limitations. I originally wanted to plan so my mother and grandmother could enjoy and navigate easily, but it’ll also help me out later in life. What a great tip!
Thank you for this video. For the first time I now; at the age of 70, finally have a house in a small town in Indiana after living in the desert. There is a back yard that needs to be started from nothing except mature trees. It is a big dream for me to have this space for a garden. I really appreciate your "if I started over" insight. I have some physical challenges so it will be slow going. I feel inspired to get going and feel encouraged by your videos.
I’m doing fantastic! I have everything she wished she did differently, I have the native plants and trees, the fruit trees and blooming shrubs ❤️. Thanks for your inspiration, I was in a deep dark funk, then I found you. Linda you changed my life, ❤️ to you. ✌🏼🇺🇸🪴
Then here’s to you and the sassiness to pull yourself out of a dark funk! Well done you!👏👏👏👏👏
Yes these videos lift me as well. May I also suggest if you don’t already check out “Garden Answer”, and my personal mood brightener, “White Cottage Company”.
I'm in Chicago, i would incorporate water features, i love the sound of water when im in the garden 😍
I wanted a pond really bad but heard of the upkeep. We did invest in a nice fountain and that has been a great blessing! Little upkeep. Happy gardening from Raleigh!
I, too, love the sound of water. I mean, my favorite vacation spot is Lake Superior. But after hearing all the work involved at season end or start, I said no.
@@Edu_Kate yeah, it's a bit of a job especially during summer because algae blooms and it's a constant battle during the warmer months.
I thought I felt the same. I live in Oklahoma I'm land locked and have an obsession with water probably for that reason. I asked my husband who has a landscaping company to build me a beautiful a small pond with a fountain for me and the frogs. He did and it is gorgeous but I find myself getting annoyed with the constant background noise. I have realized I actually like it quiet more than anything.
I put a water fountain close to my deck and just love the sound.
We moved into a well established shade garden 10 years ago. I wish we had trimmed up a few trees sooner. I don't mind moss on my pots, but constantly fight it on my patio and outdoor furniture.
You should consider editing a few plants around the sentimental bench. One day you and Hubs may want to sit there again to watch your grandbabies show off their superhero moves!
Yes! I have gardened with my two grands and it’s a sweet blessing!
Junuary here in the Pacific Northwest, high today is 63° and rain. The bonus is I fertilized the other day and nature is watering for me. Change I made in my garden - we removed our wood deck and replaced it with a concrete patio with a permanent roof cover that comes off the house 9 yrs ago. It extended our summer living area during both cool and hot times if the year💚
That’s my one regret, I was so undecided on a deck or patio. I went with the deck, wish I had done the patio.
VERY rainy here inMD 7b . I typed before finishing the video,, your are an inspiration to yourself and others. Don’t ever not call yourself a gardener!!! You are! And I too have learned over my 30 years of gardening that we change are priorities change and our gardens change as we change with them.
My beautiful spring flowers are being beaten down. I noticed the summer flowers are blooming a little early also.
Ok I would do a lot of research about the flowers that have “weed” in their names and not plant or put in pots. And watch out for flowers that have runners, lol I design in head and then on paper. And do more bones in the garden first off. And plant for all seasons. Oh and be a patient Gardner, lol
Your boxwood hearts are the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in a garden. My advice, never get rid of those. Way too beautiful.
I love them too but if she wants to grow veg then they have to go. They are taking up the whole space also, so as beautiful as they are, their shape is lost by their size now.
I’d toss them, put veg in, and have it surrounded by new, baby boxwoods. And then keep
Them smaller.
I do love yours tho!!
@@sarahsiskin6780 I agree…take them out. She could put her greenhouse there…or raised beds with boxwood accents.
@@joywhitley3141 I think she should get rid of the boxwood and get a hartly greenhouse.
@@msroro3127 Good idea, Rolanda!
Linda, I know we all agree that your garden is exceptionally dreamy and magical and have a hard time imagining it any other way. However, it is your garden and you should feel free to make whatever changes you and your brilliant, creative mind can dream up! I for one would LOVE to see Linda Vater in action should you decide to make some changes! Good luck with your decision! 🪴😎💕
Gardening can be a wonderful source of healthy movement - helping us to maintain strength and balance as we enjoy something we love while “working out” in our gardens! The less we do the less we will be able to do!! Keep moving, living and enjoying, even the hard work that your garden provides along with the beauty
I’m a zone 8a in central Mississippi and it is so humid here this entire week. I have just started this year doing more container gardening in my beds. I agree with planting more flowering shrubs and adding more veggies in.
Love that kids are jumping on the trampoline in the background, miss both sets of my kids at this age, having so much fun! They are now 30,27, 16, and 14 years old( three young ladies and one young man). Enjoy your afternoon!
Linda, I LOVE this video!!!! I am starting to garden only in the last few years and I redid my front yard only to end up hating it. I made the mistake of wanting to plant one of everything which resulted in a mismatched yard with little success. Now I am planning my back yard and today for the first time ever, bought three small plants of the same type, colour etc. in order the create some sort of cohesion rather than buying three different plants to plot wherever. I am so grateful for this video Linda and will try my best to keep all of your tips in mind.
That pleases me no end!
Gardening must be anti-aging. You look so young!
Cheesecake works wonders too.. 😉
Linda this was of your best videos yet. I agree that we don’t know what nature will do to our plans and our bodies. That’s why our gardens are never “done”. We learn how to adjust to change and live in the moment by tending to our gardens. Thank you for sharing your authenticity❤️ from my gardeners heart to yours. MK
Springfield, Missouri is hot and humid. I don't think as hot as you are. I think our gardens teach us to have confidence in our abilities to design and adapt. Your garden is beautiful and I love to watch you as it helps me know that I am not alone in my desire to make beautiful choices with beautiful things. I always say there are no mistakes....only embellishment opportunities.
Yes!!
I started late building flower beds. I'm 68 and I feel like I need to use more pavers than gravel for most of my walkways and patios. I love shrubs that bloom ,so I will mainly focus on the appropriate sizes needed in certain areas. Thanks for the tips.
My favorite "shrub" is peonies. Sadly, the heat forced an early end to the show. But now I'll deadhead them and they'll look like green shrubs.
It's a pleasant 60°F here in Scotland. Advice would be get the hard-landscaping, electric and water supply done first
Oh I fell in love with Scotland and cant wait to visit again. Hopefully next year
Yes!!!
Lovely weather in Scotland, wish I were there!
Absolutely! And also drainage areas. Was just talking to my husband that when we get our second home, those bits would have to be done first.
I’m a late bloomer I guess lol If I could tell my younger self what I know now, I would have insisted on a larger property for a larger garden and my younger self would have said “A garden? Really? You a gardener? No way!” 😂 Thank you for sharing your garden and your fashion pieces. I love all your earrings - I’m a bit envious to be honest as I can’t wear earrings at all. Blessings to you and Stewart! 😊
I would do more evergreen plants. I love my Perennials but one part of my garden is so blah in the winter.
New Gardner here, Zone 9, glad you all are here! I’m learning so much!🌸
I love how your garden, and those you have featured by friends, are restful and comfortable to hang out in. As someone new to a property, and able to return to perennials, I have got to watch making a hodgepodge.
I think gardening is one of those things that you never seem to stop learning new ideas no matter how long you do it.
Exactly!
I would have been more thoughtful in planning. My garden is over 40 years old and I know so much more than I did. Also there is so much more information available for support...such as you😁
And a garden is never finished.
Linda, I am in my mid 30s and starting my own garden. This video was made for me! I began planting last year during the pandemic and I’ve enjoyed it so much. We had a record breaking winter storm in February like you guys did and it destroyed a lot of my plants. I had to start all over again this spring but I don’t mind it one bit. This video was so helpful and I truly appreciate it. I am writing all of your advice down and incorporating some of your ideas in my own design. You are an inspiration and I’m so happy to have found your channel! ❤️
Welcome Nancy! You’ll find lots of great advice in the comments here :-)
Zone 5 Illinois. Northerner here. Summer has slapped us in the face with her humid,hot hand!
What I would do differently; you have taught me about drift planting. I dotted one here one there. Your drifts look a beautiful and cohesive. I would definitely drift plant!
I'm working on incorporating this into my gardens as well
I love your idea of going with "more of less" plants. Since I am so new at gardening, I have gone crazy, planting too many varieties, but all my gardens are beautiful!
In my garden I would stop trying to grow things that I am repeatedly unsuccessful with, and add more plants that like to grow in my garden.
Exactly!!
Hi Linda, I hope you don't make drastic changes to your garden!!!! It's such a beautiful and peaceful place.
I started my present garden in my 50's and still need to improve. When we moved to this house I planted too many Rhododendrons but forgot that there is a lot of green around us in the forest and the flowers don't last very long. Now I am trying to plant more Hydrangeas, yellow roses and Lavender for butterflies to visit, and add some color with small terracotta planters to attract the Bumble Bees. Very important to me is a place where I can rest because at 74 my body needs to pause during my gardening marathons. Therefore, since last year I started renovations in our porch because is one of my favorite places in the house. This is the place where I sit in between, have a cup of tea, quilt a bit, enjoy looking at my accomplishments and appreciate what nature really is. 👋
Yes! This year I have FINALLY abandoned my desire for citrus.
@@marthahoffmann8674
Have you noticed an increase in dragonfly population where you are?
I sit in my yard, holding the hose trained on my newish garden and they swarm and dart among my plants. They are so lovely to admire. Their wings are like stained glass.
Zone 3.North West Central Mn. I would have cut more of the trees out while they were smaller! I just have almost no sun now the Maple are huge and they shade most of our yard and my little vegetable garden. I have small pockets of sun here and there now. I am surprised that some of the flower beds still do alright but I think they would do a lot better with less shade. 30+ year old Maple trees really get huge canopies!
You have the best organic/simplistic, structured garden I’ve ever seen. I don’t see it as messy or to much. I think it matches your personality perfectly. 🧚🏼🧚🏼🧚🏼
What you would have done? You've spent years on your garden and have shared many of those years with us. It has gone through many changes. You have 104K followers on RUclips from all over the world who love your garden and post and repost pictures of it and some are even trying to copy your garden as closely as they can. You certainly have done something right. Don't even go there with what you would have done. I think that is quite a negative thought. Changes are constant whether we like them or not. Look at this crisis not as what you would have done but where you can take it moving forward. You're so right about tight spaces and difficulty moving as you age. You can make room in your potager and still keep your boxwoods by just taking a few out to change the heart shape and trimming more off little by little. Once again, I've said too much. What you offer us is appreciated more than you know.
Living 50miles outside of Chicago and moved from my house on a pond to anew home with only two larger trees on the property. I am slowly adding shrubs. My favorite shrubs so far are hydrangia Annabelle. The first plants that I planted I actually rescued from someone's garbage after the Holidays. Four Alberta spruce trees which I took home and planted in large pots in a protected area. I then planted them into my yard( not yet garden) the following spring. You are my inspiration!!!
Oh Linda please don't touch that spot with the bench. What a beautiful, romantic vignette!!! You should definitely preserve those memories...so precious! Wish I could recreate that look in my own garden 😁
Great video! Lots of very usable information!
I love this..... dear younger me... I always tell young gardeners to make gardens that their older self will be able to handle..... I wish someone told me that. I am glad that I found your channel, because it has let me container garden and topiary hobby now and that way I am not adding knee work... already have enough of that.... good video Linda and Stuart.
I mean your garden is not cluttered at all. In fact, I am always impressed by the elegant yet relaxed look of your garden. This garden is unique.
I am zone 9, north of Houston. Until I found you, I just let things grow as they wanted. I am 70 and have learned so much from you. The humid heat we have now and the mosquitos have driven me inside. We had so much rain a few weeks ago, I missed being able to clean up as much as I wanted. But that happens every year....I really have had no plan so if I could go back, I would make a plan, I just planted what I liked. Always love your thoughts and tours.
Started a ‘new’ garden at 63yrs old. Well new to me, 20 yr old property but planted in the ‘ I don’t garden’ French style. 6 trees and 6 shrubs spaced out around the garden and the rest grass. No trees anywhere near the building ,so all the shade was at the bottom of the garden, and so were the birds ! You should never underestimate the value of shade in a climate such as ours, very hot summers but dry heat. Have gradually over the last three years made changes, so now I have lots of colour from perennial plants, and have added more trees. It’s still a work in progress but I’m happy with how it looks this year. 😍🇫🇷😎
Hi Linda! The one thing I would change in my younger New Jersey gardening days is............I would not let people (Hubs) talk me out of adding new pathways and shrubs to make small garden rooms in my landscape! Always an excuse of why are you looking for more work!! I should not have given in!!! Oh well........now at the age of 71 I am living in a villa in Florida with all these great ideas you have given me and no where to apply them!!! LOL! That's ok...........I have a few beautiful containers on our porch and lanai and enjoy your beautiful gardens! Have a great day and I will see you in the next one! Hugs! :) HI Stewart!
IN THE SOUTH 🥵 I asked myself this question in the spring and my solution ended up with all my shrubs by the road. Then, I sketched out my yard to scale and planned everything. Even though it won’t be complete until next spring, It’s the best decision I could have made❤️ My worst decision when planting was to buy what I saw at other homes in my area. Now, I’m planting to reflect my personality and not what’s “in style”.
It has been so hot in Illinois the last few days being outside working yesterday felt
Like august . It is cooling down. Starting a new garden is always fun, we would love to watch you make the magic happen. Enjoy and do whatever you would like, although we follow you, it is your life
Less lawn more flowers and shrubs I like. Bigger Patio for gazing at it😍 it is in the 90's and muggy near Lake Michigan we crave rain..Thanks for all your tips💟
Linda, I love your gardens. I love how you talk about rooms, it’s just like decorating the rooms inside ones home. Gardens are a reflection of the person and their creativity. You’re right as we age though we get limited on our movement. I would have put birdbaths in sooner, and a fountain. I do have rain barrels and being in Arkansas you know we have had lots and lots of rain. I love using the rain water, so good for the plants.
We've had such odd weather in So Cal this Spring but Tues hits 111! Unusual for this time of year!
It’s horribly humid in Central Texas. Feels like being on the coast. I’ve learned to space out plants and be patient and try out new plants in pots for instant color.
In Florid🏖️🥵💦🥤 Doing the same now, I am container craz!🤭🤗
What I like best about your gardening is the "clutter" as you call it. Seeing your yard has given me permission to plant more things and use more pots in my outdoor gardening as well as bibelot.
Hee hee. I’m constantly trying to tame it!
I always wondered why you never had a greenhouse. Ive always had ugly plastic ones so now in my new garden I started with a beautiful black framed glasshouse. It’s my happy place
Warm and damp in the Upstate of SC too.
I enjoyed this tremendously. I'm calling this a masterclass. I'm getting ready to redo my small front yard. Can't say how many plantings in my own garden were eye candy, or became much to large for the space allotted. Some were just more maintenance that I wanted to give. I felt particularly aligned with more of the same when chosing plants and getting g those foundation evergreens decided on. Thank you so much 🤗 ❣⁸
It’s 81 degrees at 8:00 a.m. here in Katy TX
I’ve just got started back into gardening and really enjoy hearing your wealth of knowledge.
I would love to give my Garden more informality and like yours ...it looks so charming...than a more formal garden look .
And Yes I love the gravel look as well .
I have found this reflection on the evolution of your garden spaces truly fascinating. As you were reminiscing about the functions your garden was required to undergo eg “play space for your sons” and that evolution of your entertaining space limited by the encircling trees, I was forced to consider my own choices. I am now in my eighth decade (forty years with this garden…!) and am continually regretting decisions made, or not made, about the spaces around my suburban house.
Thank you, Linda, for that philosophical exercise. I love your spaces because they fulfil, or not, the functions required of them. Time changes everything.
Enjoy your space! 😊
I’m also wishing you could have a greenhouse. A smaller version of Laura’s new one would be beautiful! 🌺
Love Laura's garden answer...looking forward to seeing the ending of their project with glasses green house.
The weather is cool and dry here in Maine. We just had an unusual heat wave. The weather has certainly played tricks on us for the the last few years! The one thing I'm still struggling with (I've been gardening for 40 years) is the reluctance to buy 3 or 5 of the same plant at the same time rather than 1 of several different plants. I have such a difficult time limiting my selection to one variety and buying 5 of those. I made a promise to myself this year to not buy ANY plant unless I buy at least 3. I haven't been 100% compliant but I'm doing much better and my gardens will be better for it. My gardens would look so much more pleasing with larger drifts of the same plant.
I think this is actually one of my favorite videos from you. It gave me so much personal insight and so much to think about from a much wiser and more experienced gardener than I! 🙂 Thank you for this!
Great episode. I wish I would have had a husband who is supportive and enjoys gardening, but alas I cannot change that.
Amazing that I have happened on your you tube...just a couple of weeks ago. I have, at 63, moved to " new" home. I am so thrilled to be able to use my plan which has evolved through years of gardening and designing. I feel we are kindred spirits because it seems we are similar...for example, I call myself a lifetime learner....I LOVE correct grammar and extensive vocabulary....you excell in them! I could go on and on. I only need to work less and garden more...soon I tell myself. Love you Linda. LydiaEllisor
I live in the mid-south, Bartlett, TN, right outside of Memphis and the humidity has settled in big time! Linda, if I were you, I'd keep the garden bench right where it is, thin out around it and maybe put a small pergola over it. Also, if you still dream of a greenhouse and want to remove those big boxwoods, I'd clear them all out and put a beautiful greenhouse right there. I think that would be the PERFECT spot! I so enjoy your page!
Hi Linda , I am in 7b which was 6 when I was younger . I would concentrate more on permaculture . I am currently doing just that by creating more winter interest rather then bring in my citrus and other plants that I have to winter over i doors . I have done layering with my seedlings so All I do maintain my space . I also wouldn’t have had pavers in my courtyard . I would use small pebbles . And much more ... sow as you go meant a lot of work every outdoor garden seasons . I do incorporate many pots in fact with small trees and topiaries that winter well . Thanks Linda . It’s always Stewards fault ☺️🤗💚😃
I’m in Annapolis on the water, zone 7a. We moved here to a property that had been uninhabited for many years…always mowed but not “gardened”. My property has so much potential but it’s a bit overwhelming right now. After watching your videos, I’m now thinking I’ll concentrate on vignettes and areas I can tackle over time. My biggest challenge is deer…there are literally herds of them and my property has been their “chomping” ground. I’d love to have many of those plants you feature but I will be focusing on deer resistant and natives plants to attempt to find some success. You are an inspiration!! Love your videos.
you are really special and can't believe all the things you would have done differently, thanks for sharing
You are not selfish, I enjoy your questions and answers. Thanks again , you make my morning coffee enjoyable 😉
It's crazy hot in TN Linda!! We skipped Spring per usual. Your garden is very cute, I love the dappled shade throughout the main part. I agree with whomever said you should do an arbor with roses over the bench, reducing the size of the hydrangea would be a must. Maybe just pressure wash the bench too if it can take it, if not maybe a good scrub by hand and possible stain or clear coat only, but I would not remove it. I was happy to hear things you would do differently. I now convinced I'm doing most of the right things this time. I have learned as I go too, and left behind some pretty gardens in my past two house (not large ones because I was unsure that I would stay). When I sold my last house (yes, I sold, and I'm not a realtor) I had written in my house contract that I could take 3 things from the yard when we left, a simple asiatic lily that my youngest daughter gave me, a calla my oldest gave me and a wisteria, I propagated and I had formed into a topiary (knowing I was going to take it some day). It's still a topiary for now after 2 years of being relocated in our new house. My hubby built me a 10x12 glass and wood greenhouse after I lost my first one (a kit) one year prior. He feeds my passion so I feel very blessed. (edit: Whoops I shouldn't have assumed Stewart was your husband, my mistake sorry).
Be happy with all your thoughts
I AM A ADVID Gardner
taught my husband how to garden...40 years of gardening the love of our life...
My husband just passed suddenly....
Find contentment
..your garden is BEAUTIFUL, WE ARE always learning...❤
Prayers for your loss. Prayers for healing as you garden. 🙏🏻
Oh Marcia. I will be sending many loving thoughts your way. 🙏
@@LindaVater Thank you, Linda...❤
@@dianegentry3255 Thank you, Diane❤
Good idea .Gardening is hard work. Just think of all the master gardeners.
Toledo, Ohio. Linda, I always enjoy your content. My biggest lessons learned are 1) create generous beds in the beginning as things will grow and fill in, and 2) resist the temptation to plant things in a linear fashion.
Yes!
Great advice Linda!! Things I would change: plant more trees, and probably remove several that are here. Insisted on a smoother yard before the sod was installed, and had a sprinkler system installed prior to that. (My grass took forever to recover from that). Summer is here in Mississippi! Temps in the high 90’s and feels like 102+ already!
Advice to new gardeners: if you don’t like what is in your garden, rip it out. Plant what you like. But get to know your landscape before you do too much. Such as: where is the sun at all times of the day, where does water stand, where is it drier, know your zone! Go to a reputable local garden center and get to know them. Lots of great advice can be gained from them. But mostly enjoy your garden. If you enjoy it, it is not so much work but your hobby. 🌳🌳🌳
I wish I terraced some of my property with stairs years ago. CT zone 6a. Btw I think you are definitely an experienced gardener. 🌱
As a gardener in my 30s that gets excited about so many different types of plants and wants them all, this is helpful. This year I transplanted so many things to group together in drifts and the impact it’s made is huge. Thank you for you insight! ❤️ an amateur gardener in Charlotte, NC 7b
Same I would have found a way to do a greenhouse. I would have insisted to my husband to have rooms throughout the garden. And most of all I would have not had my husband sink the trampoline in the ground, because now that my children are older, and we are almost empty nesters no one used it, so it's unused space. 😬 Also we have a large covered deck, which is part of the structure of our house, and I've always loved patios instead, so I guess I would have waited to find a house with a patio.i could go on and on. I do however like the way the garden is coming together and we do have lots of fruit trees. We are cutting back on our lawn this year, so that's exciting. I liked hearing that you had things you would have liked different, because I always look at your yard as perfect! I guess no yard is perfect though. 💜
It's so hard not to try all the lovely plants when you are a plant addict. 😀 But I hear you on plant what thrives in your garden for easier maintenance and that does take trial and error. My gardens are a color explosion during the summer and I love that cottage vibe but I am working towards more evergreen for winter interest. I never bothered with winter interest before as we were covered in snow from December well through March but the past few years we have hardly gotten any snow. I also think the evergreen element will bring a bit of calm to the chaos.
I would suggest buy a well established tree to put in its place! Might be expensive but go for it!! Well I just think you have a beautiful design! Wish I had your garden in my space lol!! I suggest start a garden at Stewart’s house!
Loved this video! I’ve gardened for 3 years but am considering starting over in the front yard to make a more cohesive design. Listening to experienced designers and gardeners helps me a ton! Thanks for all of your tips and wisdom🙂
Agree with totally armcluesent. The second thing would be to take a course on pruning. A nip here or there means most of my shrubs got out of control and visually never reached their potential. So that would be my top tip : )
I love your garden and the personality there. There is so much to view and so many good ideas. I'm constantly changing things in my garden and would love a small water feature and a few small trees. Your thrifting ideas are great!
I wish my younger gardening self had known about the cardboard/compost/wood chip method of creating no dig garden bed space. I used to dig out sod by hand. It was backbreaking in rocky, Virginia red clay. My no dig beds have better soil and fewer weeds and they are much easier to create. I still trench edge my beds so I can mow along them, but I will never dig out sod again!
I just learned about this, I am doing this method everywhere in my garden.🤗
I'm 69 yrs old & still digging sod by hand...I use the cardboard method but still get weeds!
@@gardener5158 O wow! Hopefully this won't happen for me. I just put some in one of my favorite beds, just last week.
Same here in Raleigh. Terrible rocky, clay soil. I’m thinking of trying this method. Do you have a link. Happy gardening!
@@gardener5158 The first step is to weedeat all the grass and weeds down to the ground so that it looks like bare dirt. Put down your cardboard with pieces slightly overlapping. Put down 1" of compost for nitrogen replacement. Pile on 8" of fresh wood chips. The weeds don't come back.
What about removing only the 4 globe boxwoods at the entrances of the pottager? Start gradually.
It is very courageous and brave to go over what you could haveor should have done differently.You said it all in the beginning..You learned over time.So did I.Your saying LESS SOMETIMES IS MORE..is very true .I keep that in mind whenever I intend to add something. Lately I have taken away,.and do not regret it.Your garden looks beautiful. You have put your heart and soul into it....and it shows.You should not regret anything.Things can be changed around anytime you want to, to a certain extend. I feel the love for nature in your yard...that what counts for me.😍😊
All last week we had hot and humid weather here in Western Massachusetts then finally back to seventies and opening windows, sooo nice .
You look stunning! Your ensemble is so chic as well as your garden.You have great taste. I agree: less is more.
You’re the cutest. I think we’re about the same age…I think I’m a wee bit older, but who’s counting? I’m fairly new to gardening, and I’m learning so much from you. Thank you for your wonderful videos, and your cute style, which I totally relate to. I am a sculptor, and I’ve recently created a large shade garden on my property. I’m about to embark on a large Fat Lady sculpture in one of the lower gardens. If it turns out better than a bad 4th grade science project, I’ll send you a picture. Thanks again for all the fun garden videos! I’m loving them!
Love love love this video! If you’re not a gardener then I don’t know who is! Your garden is magical and I’ve seen a lot of beautiful gardens!
Hi Linda, I Absolutely Love your channel, your style, and your home and garden that you loving share with us through your videos. Linda, I know the point of this video was to "rethink" some design decisions that you (we) possibly would redo in our current gardens. I appreciate you and your honesty concerning your ideas and changes that you would have made. As the saying goes, "Hind sight is 20/20." I for one, Love your charming garden and your Tudor Home. It always gives off a warm, welcoming feeling like a "storybook" home. During your walks in your beautiful garden, it feels as if Peter Rabbit himself will show up at any minute. 🥰 Linda, your garden truly does give me that charming Beatrix Potter feeling. I say all of that to say, please don't be so hard on yourself. Your garden is lovely. At the same time, I get the... "If I knew then, what I know now" feeling as well. I believe that whatever changes that you may decide to make in your current garden, or if you decide to do a totally new garden; it will be Amazing!
By the way, my husband and I moved away from my beloved home state of Tennessee (7a zone), to Indianapolis/Zionsville area (5b zone). Honey, I have a change that I would make in our current garden. I would have most definitely read up more on the cute "little" arborvitae shrubs that we saw and bought at Lowes at the end of the season. We decided to plant 3 of them, at the time next to our newly built home beside our garage. Those cute "little" shrubs that we planted have grown to the height of our garage, and beyond. Not to mention that they are now getting those "bagworms" on them. Did I mention that I am terrified of worms of ALL sorts? 😲 So, now I am trying to convince my husband that we should either have them moved away from the house (and treated), or cut them down. We'll see what this 50 year old couple will do, and how I wish we at 50 would have told our 30ish selves to read up more on these end of the season cute "little" shrubs. Oh well, we live and learn. 😀 So Linda, I Truly get it. Take care Linda & thank you for being an inspiration. Sincerely, Paula
Paula, I love this accounting of your garden! My sister lives in the Indianapolis Zionsville area and I grew up in Knoxville, Oklahoma, and then back to Indianapolis! Kindred spirits!
@@LindaVater Wow, small World! Linda, thank you for sharing, and for Always inspiring! Kindred spirits for sure! Take care. 🙂 -Paula
I've started doing research 2-3 years ago, about planting and plants, for starting from scratch a semi-private urban garden. Only started planting last fall and this season. Just wanted to thank you for all the content, tips, advice! Thank you for the love of nandinas, for the love of viburnums, for the love of gravel you instilled! Today's content resonates also! Hope to invite you some day on my very own walk-about! :) ( Gardening in zone 6 - Romania )
I would absolutely love it!
For the last five years, I have been removing perennials and putting in summer flowering shrubs. I have even spoken at Garden Club’s encouraging them to add some summer flowering shrubs because it is beautiful and as we all get older we are still able to have a lot of flowers in the garden without as much work.
I’m in 🇨🇦 53.5461° N, 113.4938° W. zone 3b/4a. It’s 78*F today which is much warmer than usual for June. I’ve greatly reduced my annuals, and increased my perennials, it’s a change that has allowed me more more time to enjoy my yard.
Thank you for giving the fore thought of a long time garden. Too late for me but I love the walk abouts in yours.
Container veggie gardens. You can have them plopped in and around everywhere. Paul James the Gardener Guy says he gone all container veggies in his smaller garden now that he has downsized. 🤷🏻♀️
I love my raised beds. Now that I’m 70 it helps my back!
Steaming and whining here in Raleigh NC zone 7b💕! Love your videos and at the end describing what you are wearing!💕
I love that you do most of your own gardening. You dress nicely when you garden so the first few videos I watched I thought you were fake gardening. I am dressing a little better now, a nice looking long sleeved shirt and shorts. I also like that your gardening is for the urban garden, not acres of garden space. I have been attempting gardening in this house for 30 years and I am finally becoming successful (Shasta daisies do not like zone 9 and in Bakersfield, CA, "partial shade to sun" means partial shade).
Congratulations!
I have the same furniture as in your bistro area. I've had it for 20 years and just restored it's lustre with a product called 303 Protect. My design has evolved too so I see edits as well. Some plants work, others don't. I've pulled out many that just got too big for my foundation gardens (oh man the hardest thing is to pull out a healthy plant). Switched to mostly native species and I'm having success, finding plants need less maintenance and thrive. Love how authentic you are about your garden history.
It will be 117 here and in the desert tomorrow. I am struggling to keep my plants watered and living. Very little humidity which is good. Love all your green!!
Hi Linda , I live in Northern California and bought my home in 1986 it was a new home so I had a blank space I love my Gardens front and back but the one thing I would have done different would have been to make my boarders larger exspecialy in the planter in front of my house. I love your home and the gardens are beautiful really love the spring blooms of Tulips there so pretty congratulations on all your success enjoyed seeing you at Lowe’s very cool to see you was like running into a friend 🌸🌷👍🏻
👋 hello friend!