Finding Joy in the Garden
Have you seen the “Granny Summer” trend that’s been making its way around Instagram lately?
Women are reposting it and adding their own versions, and every time I see one, it makes me smile. The original goes something like this:
“Forget about ‘hot girl summer.’ Allow me to introduce Granny Summer. We’ve got embroidery, sourdough, porch swings, flower gardens blooming, and sweet tea.”
I laughed out loud the first time I read it because, honestly, I’ve never been interested in “hot girl summer” anyway.
At this stage of life, give me the simple things.
Give me flowers blooming in the garden.
Give me a fresh loaf of sourdough cooling on the counter.
Give me iced lattes, long walks with friends, and evenings on the deck with a fire in the Solo Stove.
If that’s what Granny Summer looks like, then count me in.
How about you? What would your “Forget about ‘hot girl ‘ summer be?
At the top of that list for me are flower gardens.
As I sit on my deck writing this, I’m surrounded by the sights and sounds of a perfect summer day. The temperatures are in the 70s, a gentle breeze is blowing, and the birds are singing from every direction. There is even hummingbird buzzing around my Lantana tree that’s making me smile.
Moments like these remind me why I’ve fallen in love with gardening. What began as a few flower beds has grown into a labor of love that brings me joy every single day.
Let’s Talk About the Impact of Flowers
Flowers are a love I’ve discovered over the past six years. Ironically, there was a time when I didn’t appreciate them nearly as much as I do now. Back when we were young, and money was tight, my husband would occasionally surprise me with flowers, and instead of being delighted, I’d wonder why he spent money on something that would only last a week or two.
Looking back, I wish I knew then what I know now—that flowers are about so much more than the blooms themselves.
They’re a thoughtful gesture, a reminder to slow down and enjoy beauty, and a gift that can brighten even the most ordinary day.
Our Yard Currently
In our yard, the hydrangeas are beginning to come into their own. Right now, the Annabelle hydrangeas are stealing the show, covered in large white blooms that seem to glow against the summer greenery. They are absolutely breathtaking.
As the yellow daisies in front of them begin to open, the entire flower bed is starting to look just as I imagined it would when I first planted it. Seeing that vision finally come to life after years of planning and patience is one of the sweetest rewards of gardening.
The flower beds at the front of my house are bursting with color this year. Knockout roses, purple salvia, and yellow daylilies are in full bloom. We added bright red geraniums and red Mandevilla to pots on our stoop and added geraniums in the ground that flank the beds.
I’ve also got four hydrangeas strategically placed in the front beds, but those are not quite blooming yet.
Before I move away from hydrangeas, I have 23 hydrangeas on our property, which is only 1/4 of an acre…LOL. There are six different varieties, and I love them all!!
If I had to choose a favorite, it would be the Limelight hydrangea. I currently have three, and if I can find room, I’d gladly add more to the garden. While they don’t begin blooming until mid-summer, they’re well worth the wait. Their beautiful greenish-white blooms last well into the fall, gradually transforming into a stunning dusty rose that adds the perfect touch of autumn color to the landscape.
Raised Beds & Flowers
Even in the smallest of yards, you can add raised beds. We currently have five, two of which we added this year.
Over the years, they’ve been home to both vegetables and flowers. While I enjoyed growing fresh produce, I realized we weren’t eating nearly as many vegetables as I had anticipated.
So last year, we decided to make a change. This was hubby’s idea, and I was inclined to agree.
We said goodbye to the vegetable garden and went ALL IN on flowers—and I haven’t looked back or regretted that decision. This year, those raised beds will be filled with beautiful blooms that bring color, joy, and fresh bouquets for the summer.
The five raised beds are now filled with hollyhock, lupine, snapdragon, cosmos, zinnia, poppy, sunballs, celosia, strawflower, yarrow, scabiosa, ranunculus, anemone, and mixed wildflower seed packets.
The ranunculus and anemone are the only ones flowering currently. They went in the ground in March because they don’t mind the cool temps.
I have one area in my backyard that still isn’t quite where I want it, but I will continue to work on it and find joy in the process.
It Doesn’t Happen Overnight
What you see today didn’t happen overnight. It’s been a labor of love that began 11 years ago when we moved into our home. In those early years, progress was slow. We still had children at home, busy sports schedules, and weekends spent traveling to games and activities.
Gardening took a back seat to family life for a season. But about six years ago, I started investing more time and energy into the flower beds, and little by little, the vision began to take shape.
People often tell me I’m a gardening expert, and that always makes me chuckle. The truth is, I’m still learning. What I am is passionate, persistent, and willing to learn.
Most of what I’ve learned has come through years of trial and error—trying new things, making mistakes, and figuring out what works along the way.
Some plants in my yard have been moved multiple times before finding their perfect spot. This may or may not have been a point of contention for hubby and me 🫣 I am going to bet that some of you know what I’m talking about 😘
When we moved into our home, the yard looked very different from what it does now, and I felt overwhelmed by how long it would take to get it where I wanted it. Time flies, my friends, and here we are six years later, and our yard is almost where I envisioned it. It feels like it was yesterday.
Little by little, season by season, we added plants, moved things around, learned what worked, and sometimes learned what didn’t. Some flowers flourished, and some flowers failed.
For example, I have always loved petunias, but after the third year of planting them in the ground only to be eaten by the bunnies, I gave up on petunias. Cone flowers are another fave, but they don’t grow well on our property either. Again, I think the critters have something to do with that 🐿️
I tucked my beloved petunias into pots, and for the most part, they’ve been left alone. Last summer, however, they became a favorite snack sometime around mid-season. 🤨
I planted dianthus this spring, and within a week, they were eaten to the ground 🙄. I’ve had to accept that I can’t grow those flowers and move on.
And then there was the year we returned home after a week away to discover the squirrels had apparently hosted a digging party in my deck window box. Soil was everywhere, plants were uprooted, and it looked as though they had been working overtime while we were gone.
Let’s just say my reaction was not exactly, “Oh, how cute!”
Motherhood Comparison
Flowers are a little like motherhood, aren’t they? I mean, I feel like I have to make a motherhood comparison, given that it is one of my other passions 😘
Growth takes time. Beauty isn’t created in a day. The most meaningful things are often built slowly and intentionally. For more on the topic of intentionality, head over to my blog post, Preparing Today for the Relationship You Want Tomorrow.
Beauty Matters
Today, my gardens are a mixture of perennials and annuals (with the majority of annuals in pots). I love the dependable return of perennials that faithfully emerge each spring, reminding me that God has woven rhythms and seasons into His creation. I also enjoy adding annuals each year for fresh color and variety.
One of the things I’ve learned in this season of life is that beauty matters.
Not because our homes or gardens need to be perfect, but because beauty nourishes our souls and points us to God.
God could have created a world that simply functioned.
Instead, He created sunsets.
Wildflowers.
Hummingbirds.
Ocean waves.
Mountain views.
And gardens filled with blooms of every color imaginable.
Creation reflects the heart of the Creator.
As I walk through the garden, I’m reminded of these words from Scripture:
“See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come.” (Song of Solomon 2:11-12)
I love that picture. After the cold and quiet of winter, flowers emerge, and the earth comes alive again. It’s a reminder that God is a God of seasons. Just as He faithfully brings beauty to the garden each spring, He is faithfully at work in every season of our lives.
Seasons
In this season, one of His sweetest gifts to me has been the joy of watching these flowers bloom and being reminded daily of His creativity, goodness, and care.
When I peruse my yard in the early morning, while sitting on my deck, or after dinner in the evening, I am reminded of His goodness. I notice the details He designed and the beauty He provides so freely. It slows me down and helps me appreciate the blessings that surround me every day.
As an empty-nest mama and now a Gigi, this season of life looks different than the years when little feet were running through the house and running through the yard. There is more margin. More quiet. More opportunities to enjoy simple things.
One of those simple joys is tending a garden.
And right now, in this season, God is teaching me to slow down, notice His handiwork, and find joy in the beauty growing right outside my window.
What brings you joy in your season of life?
I’d love to hear.
From my heart to yours!
Lots of love,
Kim ❤️
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