Garden Photo of the Day

Tom’s Garden ABCs

Getting to share gardening with a new generation

By GPOD Contributor
large planting of Rudbeckia flowers in foreground of garden beds

Today’s photos are from Tom.

Hello from Zone 6 near Buffalo, New York! I’ve been growing with my garden for more than two decades, and my garden has been a playground, a canvas, and a classroom.

I’ve learned my ABCs in the garden:

Appreciate the amazing.

Be in the beauty of the moment.

Connect with the creation around you.

I became a grandfather this past year, and like a garden before it’s grown, my hopes and dreams for my grandchild began before he was born. Time moves forward, changes follow, but the ABCs remain grounded in the garden. This year I am experiencing a new gardening season like never before, getting to share it with my new grandson. My wish for my grandson and all of you is that you remember the ABCs the garden can teach you and that you too become grounded in the garden!

large planting of Rudbeckia flowers in foreground of garden bedsClouds of rudbeckia (Rudbeckia fulgida, Zones 3–9) in the foreground, with the garden beyond

large pink hydrangea bloom next to yellow flowers and a coniferA perfect head of hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla, Zones 5–9) shows off against the green of a dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’, Zones 2–8).

small child in the gardenTom’s new grandson is exploring the garden and taking it all in.

dense garden bed full of evergreen trees and shrubsDense plantings of trees and shrubs and perennials grow together into a wild tapestry of green.

garden planting along a fence with orange and purple flowersA planting of marigolds (Tagetes erecta, annual) brings a pop of bright color to the garden.

dense planting of ground cover, shrubs, and flowers with a crane sculptureA statue of a heron hangs out by the water garden. The bold green leaves on the right are pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata, Zones 3–10), a native plant that likes to grow in shallow water.

two frogs on a rock in the gardenA couple of frogs visit the garden.

 

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Comments

  1. User avater
    simplesue 08/25/2022

    I love your philosophy of the "ABC's" great wisdom to live by!
    Oh the photo with the caption "Dense plantings of trees and shrubs and perennials..." looks so inviting to sit in that chair with the garden view.
    I love what you've created, all the Rudbeckia is wonderful...and I enjoyed the photo of your grandchild in awe of the garden around him...I think it's such an important thing to introduce to children at a young age!

  2. User avater
    treasuresmom 08/25/2022

    So very lovely.

  3. lynda_t 08/25/2022

    Looks so inviting! Love the rudbeckia!

  4. cheryl_c 08/25/2022

    Tom, what a great set of photos. The lighting is fabulous and the colors are so joyful. I know your grandson will have many magical moments getting to know and love the plants and animals he finds. Congratulations on both the garden AND the grandson!

  5. celoni 08/25/2022

    I can feel your heart bursting for your new grandson. I love sending my grands pictures of the critters and blooms in my garden. They love exploring it whenever they are here.

  6. btucker9675 08/25/2022

    Your grandson will grow to be a better man for time he has spent in your beautiful garden and learning his "ABCs"! He is blessed to have you as a granddad!

  7. sheila_schultz 08/26/2022

    Tom, the vibrant layers of beauty in your gardens easily portray your love of nature. What a gift to be able to share all of these magical moments with your Grandson!

  8. jos29803 08/26/2022

    What a wonderful way to bond with your grandson while teaching him to appreciate the beauty of nature.

  9. User avater
    vanhatalosuomi 09/12/2022

    enjoyed seeing your garden! Especially loved seeing so many conifers. In my opinion, I think they are sadly underused in many gardens. Glad you have so many :)

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