My name is Mary Harkacz, and my garden is located in northeastern Ohio. I’ve been gardening for over 30 years, but I’ve worked on this one for over 20! It really is one of my greatest passions.

The patio is our favorite backyard lounge spot. I love trying something new here every year. In the hanging basket are pink bougainvillea (Bougainvillea sp. Zones 9–11 or as an annual) with variegated leaves. Their thorns may have pricked me more times than I care to admit, but I still think they’re beautiful!

Here’s a view of the patio taken a little farther away that shows a bit more of the garden. I love using English ivy (Hedera helix, Zones 5–9) as a ground cover. There are more pink petunias (Petunia hybrid, annual) here, with a yellow begonia (Begonia hybrid, annual) almost out of the frame.

When we built our fence around the yard, we really wanted to include a gate, since we were lucky to have wonderful neighbors. In the pots we have pink geraniums (Pelargonium hybrid, Zones 8–10 or as an annual) and more English ivy. We have some wisteria (Wisteria sinensis, Zones 5–10) vines—and they are considered invasive, but I really enjoy the look they give. The big green leaves on the left of the gate are hosta (Hosta hybrid, Zones 3–9) plants. There are some branches of evergreen, but I’m not sure what kind.

This view of the gate area showcases the angle just before you reach it.

This is what you see from the gate area looking the other direction toward the house.

Here’s a view of our garden at the front of the house. While this area is about a half-acre from the road, I still loved building up a garden here for a little extra privacy and beauty. There are ferns on either side of the bench. On the right are two varieties of boxwood (Buxus spp., Zones 5–9). On the far left and hidden on the right is more English ivy. In the foreground pot, I’ve planted basil, among other plants.

A view of the opposite direction of the front garden—it’s our favorite place for a morning coffee.

I love the idea of looking at my gardens at night and seeing them illuminated. In the front of our house, we have a spot with pink begonias and coleus in front of an arborvitae, among others.

Here’s a shot of our driveway lined with arborvitaes (Thuja occidentalis, Zones 3–8).

And last but not least, we have a little basin tucked away that regularly has some adorable visitors.

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.

If you want to send photos in separate emails to the GPOD email box that is just fine.

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

You don’t have to be a professional garden photographer – check out our garden photography tips!

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Ho-Mi Digger - Korean Triangle Blade

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Versatile Tool: The Easy Digger Korean Triangle Blade Ho Mi Ho-mi is a versatile gardening tool designed for leveling and digging in home and garden settings. Efficient Design: Its unique triangular blade shape allows for easy soil penetration and efficient leveling of garden beds or landscaping areas. Durable Construction: Crafted with sturdy materials, this tool ensures long-lasting performance and reliability. Ergonomic Handle: The comfortable handle provides a secure grip, reducing hand fatigue during extended use. Compact Size: Its compact design makes it easy to maneuver in tight spaces and store when not in use.

Buy at Amazon

Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden, Revised and Updated Second Edition: A Natural Approach to Pest Control

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

This revised and updated edition of Jessica Walliser’s award-winning Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden offers a valuable and science-backed plan for bringing balance back to the garden. With this indispensable gardening reference—now updated with new research, insights, and voices—learn how to create a healthy, balanced, and diverse garden capable of supporting a hard-working crew of beneficial pest-eating insects and eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides.

Buy at Amazon

Bee Watering Station with Vivid Flower Design

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Thoughtful Combo: You will receive a bee feeder and 30 glass marbles. This thoughtful combo can provide clean water for the bees, you just need to put the marbles into the bee watering station, add water (note: the water level should not exceed the height of the marbles) and hang them in the right place. The round, colored marbles can provide a place for the bees to stand and prevent them from falling into the water, effectively keeping the bees safe. Fine Material: This exquisite bee bath is made of high quality iron material, smooth surface, rust and weather resistant, not easy to fade, sturdy and reliable. Bee cups for garden can well meet the drinking water needs of lovely bees, and it can also provide food for bees, such as sugar water, nectar, etc., attracting more bees to your outdoor area and making your garden full of vitality. Perfect Size: The butterfly watering station has an overall height of 13.4 inches, a bowl diameter of 9.4 inches, and a weight of 0.44 pounds. The bee cup serves the needs of the bees well without plunging them into dangerously deep water or taking up unnecessary space in your garden, and this compact and efficient design makes it a practical addition to any outdoor space. Elegant Design: Our bee watering cups are designed in unique flower shapes with vibrant and realistic colours to attract lovely bees to your garden and patio, bee feeders for outside are not only functional but can also be used as a landscaping element, their vibrant floral patterns enhance the beauty of your garden. Multicolored Decoration: Colorful bee water stations look like flowers in a garden, flower bed or pot and attract bees and butterflies. They can drink or bathe in bee feeders, which are highly decorative and practical.

Buy at Amazon