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.

 

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.

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

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

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

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

MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.
Buy at Amazon

Pruning Simplified: A Step-by-Step Guide to 50 Popular Trees and Shrubs

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

Pruning Simplified shows you exactly how to do it. This must-have guide offers expert advice on the best tools for the job, specific details on when to prune, and clear instructions on how to prune. Profiles of the 50 most popular trees and shrubs—including azaleas, camellias, clematis, hydrangeas, and more—include illustrated, easy-to-follow instructions that will ensure you make the right cut the first time.
Buy at Amazon

The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees

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

The Nature of Oaks reveals what is going on in oak trees month by month, highlighting the seasonal cycles of life, death, and renewal. From woodpeckers who collect and store hundreds of acorns for sustenance to the beauty of jewel caterpillars, Doug Tallamy illuminates and celebrates the wonders that occur right in our own backyards. He also shares practical advice about how to plant and care for an oak, along with information about the best oak species for your area.
Buy at Amazon
X
View Comments

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 :)

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Related Articles

The Latest

Design
Episode 172: Focal Points with Susan Morrison

Susan Morrison, owner and principal designer at Creative Exteriors Landscape Design, has created hundreds of gardens in California’s East Bay area. Her designs incorporate comfortable outdoor rooms into landscapes of all…
Design
Join Us for a Tour of Gorgeous Gardens in Somerset County, UK!

Join us for an enchanting tour through the rolling hills surrounding southwest England, where you'll experience some of the finest private gardens and innovative landscapes at the heart of this…
Design
Finding Common Ground with Fido | Letter from the Editor

Do you remember the Pandemic Puppy phenomena of 2020? A large swath of the country was under lockdown thanks to COVID-19, and folks took in dogs left and right. In…

Video

View All Videos
Design

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping—not because you’re likely to trip on something, but because you might be dive-bombed by a pair…
Design

4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder's Garden
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 171: Deer-Resistant Plants  
Design

Garden Tour of a Sustainable Native Plant Oasis Bursting with Fall Color
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 170: High-Impact Native Plants with Uli Lorimer