My name is Lee and I reside in Ilion, New York, which is right in the center of the state in the Mohawk Valley. I have been in my home for 43 years now, having made the move with my family when I was 24.

I have created an escape in my backyard for all to enjoy and decompress. Over the years, many people have found it to do just that for them, relieving them of the daily stresses and worries that we all experience.

A brilliant spire of red lilies (Lilium hybrid, Zones 4–9) brings the drama in summer.

It’s hard to beat daylilies (Hemerocallis hybrids, Zones 4–10) for combining big, bright flowers with an easygoing disposition.

Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta, Zones 3–7) bring a long display of glowing flowers in the summer.

A sculpture lies between black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia fulgida, Zones 3–9) and tall lilies (Lilium hybrids, Zones 4–9).

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

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