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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  • These Roots Will Make You Cry
    Many red, white, and yellow onions in a wicker basket
    It may sound strange, but one of my favorite root vegetables is the lowly onion. I can relate to this workhorse of culinary veggies. Onions . . .
  • My Seeds Are For Eating
    Close up of a bowl of toasted pumpkin seeds
    I don’t collect seeds often in the garden, but I do enjoy eating them. As a vegetarian, they are a great source of nutrition, including . . .
  • Off With Her Head!
    The Mad Hatter's hat sits on the grass in front of white and red roses
    I have a love of fantasy novels that has surpassed my girlhood, when presumably, I should have grown out of such things. Give me a . . .
  • My Favorite (Secret) Garden Book
    A flowering garden is visible beyond a rusty iron gate
    Anyone who reads my blogs realizes that I am happiest when rescuing. That means it will be no surprise that my very favorite “literary” garden . . .
  • March Madness Indeed
    Purple crocus flowers blooming in the snow
    I moved from one side of the state to the other about five years ago. This meant a change in USDA plant zones and a . . .
  • Guessing About The Future Of Gardening
    A beautiful green forest seen upside down through a crystal ball
    Have you ever wondered what your future might look like? Most of us have, and some of us have even gone so far as to . . .
  • The Future Of Gardening Is Sustainable
    A roof gutter leads directly into a green rain barrel in a garden
    All industries engage in some type of trend forecasting—often at the end of the year. Gardening is no different. You can find all kinds of . . .
  • I See The Future of Gardening From The Passenger Window
    Wild bluebells blooming on a forest floor, seen from a car window
    I enjoy driving. Yet, sitting in the passenger seat affords me the opportunity to scan the landscaping and gardens of the houses we pass. These . . .
  • Intoxicating Herbs
    Bundles of fresh sage, thyme, and dill on a wooden cutting board
    I have anything but a boring palate. I love herbs and spices and detest bland food. The only thing that has really changed as I . . .
  • Years of Blooms
    A peace lily plant bloomign with several beautiful white flowers
    My ultimate favorite flowering houseplant might be a mythical specimen, something I don’t own and that blooms continuously and beautifully. Since that doesn’t exist, I’ll . . .
  • Sense and Sensibility
    A bird's eye view of a misty forest, wtih the recycling symbol in the center
    I’m not a preacher, so I don’t preach, especially about sustainable living. But in my quiet way, I definitely do my part. This big, blue . . .
  • A Disciple Of Sustainability
    A smiling blonde woman in overalls carries a large bundle of vegetables in a garden full of kale plants
    I believe deeply in the concept of making life choices with sustainability in mind. But the concept means different things to different people and entities, . . .
  • My Indoor Flowering Maple
    Close up of several bright orange flowering maple blooms
    I have always loved oriental poppies — their generous size, papery consistency, and vivid color. However, I’ve never managed to keep one alive as a . . .
  • A Sustainable Garden That Benefits Everyone
    An oppossum stands on top of a wooden fence, looking straight into the camera
    I like for my garden to be as natural and sustainable as possible. This means I don’t use harmful chemicals, I don’t over prune, and . . .
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