We must have been pretty convincing in our pleas for more photos of Barb May’s Massachusetts garden yesterday, because she promptly emailed more! Here they are, and it just keeps getting better.
In case you missed it, here’s what she said yesterday: “I live in western Massachusetts in the Berkshires. I have lived in this house for 30 years. We raise four chickens and grass fed beef on about 7 acres. The gardens have evolved from absolutely nothing besides the prickly brush and sumac on the site when my husband & I built our house in 1981 to a full perennial and shrub garden backed up by a pool, as well as gardens all around my home and a raised-bed vegetable garden.
“I’ve always loved gardening & had a garden design/installation business for 10 years until I needed a knee replacement (I understand this is a typical gardener’s ailment!). I now maintain only my own spot. I’m a member of the Lenox Garden Club, which is a member of the Garden Club of America. I’ve been the club’s Garden & House Tour chair for many years, and I’m always on the lookout for beautiful gardens in the area.”
—GARDENING GURUS!!—
We’re in the midst of assembling gardening tips for our July/August issue. If you have a time-saving tip, clever solution to a gardening problem, ingenious homemade garden gadget, or unique way of getting a garden chore done, write it up and email it to me! Accompanying photos are very much appreciated, but not required. If we publish your tip, we’ll pay you $25, and you might win a free year’s subscription to Fine Gardening on top of that! Email your tips to mgervais@taunton.com.
****Bonus****
I’ll choose randomly from everyone who sends me a tip TODAY (let me know you’re a GPOD follower) to win a copy of this nifty new book I got in the mail yesterday–50 Ways to Kill a Slug (last pic above)! It’s super funny, and you know you want it!
Want us to feature YOUR garden, or a garden you’ve recently visited, in the Garden Photo of the Day? CLICK HERE!Want to see every post ever published? CLICK HERE! Want to search the GPOD by STATE? CLICK HERE!And last but not least, Check out the GPOD Pinterest page, where you can browse all the post in categories…fun! CLICK HERE!
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Comments
I am a GPOD follower with a tip below. Thanks so much for the opportunity to win the book, 50 ways to Kill a Slug!
Tip: Always plant mint in a pot or in a container in the ground...never directly in the ground. My neighbor planted mint in the ground so every year I battle it as it comes under my fence and into my garden in a very invasive manner.
I think that the multi-colored, repeated mounding forms along the front walkway are so beautiful!
Ask and we shall receive...yay for day#2 in Barb's garden. That's a great looking structure by the pool. I think that's where I would be parking my butt in breaks from gardening. Seeing the winter shot of the cattle was a reality check although even that was picturesque.
I got a pang of serious envy at seeing your thriving clumps of what I think is variegated hakonechloa grass "Aureola"....they obviously love your care and growing conditions.
Fabulous! How I would love to have you check out MY gardens and make suggestions! Love your style! Thanks for sharing.
Every picture is absolutely beautiful. Love the colors and plant choices. Great Job!!!! Love the pool.
I am a daily GPOD follower and a past contributor. The book looks like fun and I'd love to receive it.
My tip (after years as a Landscape Designer) is that even a mediocre garden can draw lots of praise and attention if the bed edges are kept neat and clean. Just use the spade a few times during the growing season and your beds will look fantastic.
As a person who has left behind a flower filled garden like Barb's and is working on creating something new and smaller, I love being reminded what flowers can do to our spirit, especially this time of year.
Today's pictures are even better, love your house and pool area. And seeing your cattle in the snow could easily be a scene here in the Catskills.
Oh Barb, thanks for more pictures. :) They are wonderful! I love the walk way and all the beautiful colors and textures. In fact I love it all. Would be wonderful to meander through your garden and just soak in the beauty and smell the nature. From the looks of the winter picture I'm betting you are longing for spring as I am. We're almost to Feb. so it is coming :) I'll be returning to your garden pictures as I wait for the warm weather.
Hey All,
Tip: Spring Yellow: If you've already got a forsythia, check underneath for 'babies'. If there are no babies and you'd like some more yellow to complete your plans, bend some lower branches down to the ground, cover them with soil and place a rock on top to keep them grounded. In a few months, or next year, when roots have formed you can transplant them into your plan. I've got at least 4 transplants and one of them is almost as large as the 'mother' and provides babies which I've given to gardener friends.
I have pictures, but the 'mgervais@taunton.com.' doesn't seem to work from my computer. Any suggestions?
Barb...I'm with everyone else, today's photos are a delight. You've definitely got this 'gardening thing' down!
This is simply beautiful. I love the curving perennial beds with pinks and purples and silvers and, yes, the neat edges.
A perfectly situated bench and bird house. Great job !!!
Barb, all the additional photos are great. I love how the plantings in the front yard pick up the color of your front door. The gardens look so tidy; they show much loving care. thanks for sharing.
I forgot to mention that I was hoping to see pictures of that vegetable garden... I wish more people would submit pictures of their vegetable gardens.
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