Backyard Stories

Every garden has a story, and that's why we created Backyard Stories. Explore our collection of real-life gardening tales told from the backyards of gardeners we know and love, featuring all the ups and downs, trials and errors, hits and misses, and more.

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  • Green In The Garden: Can You Have Too Much?
    Close up of large green leaves
    Even though a mostly green garden evokes a calm, serene feeling, I like to have some color contrast in the garden. When planting a new . . .
  • A Is For Amendment… Soil Amendment
    A farmer holding a handful of soil in between rows of crops
    We all know that healthy soil equals healthy plants. To that end it often takes a little bit of work on the gardener’s part to . . .
  • Gardening For Mental Wellness
    A smiling woman waters a garden with a green watering can
    Gardening is often touted as a good hobby for staying physically active. It burns calories and builds strength and flexibility as you lift, carry, squat, . . .
  • Vitamin D, Baby
    A smiling child holds and armload of freshly harvested vegetables
    We all know the benefits of being outdoors. Fresh air, exercise and sunshine all combine to enhance our wellness. Some folks like to take a . . .
  • The King Of Butterflies
    A monarch butterfly on a lantana flower
    I love seeing any kind of pollinator in my garden. All are welcome, but none are as showy or as exciting to spot as butterflies. . . .
  • Birds I Have Known And Loved
    A European robin sits on a branch
    Birds are one of the great joys of a gardener, and the wild variations in size, color and comportment of different species attest to the . . .
  • My Favorite Birds
    A white breasted nut hatch stands on a dead branch
    As a bird lover, it’s impossible to pick just one favorite species that visits my backyard. I can probably select a few, though, if pressed. . . .
  • Choose Your Weapons
    A gardener in gloves digs dandelions out of a lawn
    There are many things I dislike about gardening. I don’t love to mow, I hate insect pests, and I dislike babying the few roses we . . .
  • Five Flower Bulbs
    Many yellow daffodil flowers growing outdoors
    Spring has long been one of my favorite seasons in the garden. As days grow warmer, I find myself immersed in outdoor activity. Though many . . .
  • When To Plant English Peas
    A hand carefully plants rows of peas in the soil
    It seems like the first crops of the season make the biggest impact on me. Whether it’s lettuce, peas, green onions, or asparagus, these early . . .
  • Overwintering Coleus For Another Year Of Growth
    A large coleus plant growing in a pot on a windowsill
    One of my favorite annuals to grow in containers on the back patio is coleus. This stunning tropical comes in varieties with foliage that range . . .
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