My name is Keri Shinault. I live in Northern Kentucky, Zone 6a, and have been gardening for about 12 years. I am an artist and am just as happy painting with flowers as I am with pigments! Photography is also one of my passions, so I shoot the flowers and then use them in my paintings. I work full-time and have three kids, so the gardens are my oasis and stress reliever.

These pictures are of my rear garden, which is planted to hold year-round interest.

The evergreen items are western arborvitae (Thuja plicata, Zones 5–7), laurels, three different types of holly (Ilex sp.), and a weeping Norwegian spruce (Picea abies, Zones 3–7). Deciduous items include a ‘Bloodgood’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’, Zones 5–9), ash trees (Fraxinus sp.), a chocolate mimosa (Albizia julibrissin ‘Summer Chocolate’, Zones 6–10), and a weeping bald cypress (Taxodium distichum, Zones 4–10). The bushes are oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia, Zones 5–9), hibiscus (Hibiscus hybrid, Zones 5–9), and butterfly (Buddleia davidii, Zones 5–9). There are also a lot of different perennial flowers that come up weekly from April through September, so it’s kind of like Christmas every week! Lastly, I’m a huge succulent fan, so I plant them in the rocks in my creek and around the property and then bring them in to overwinter during the cold months.

A view of the garden from above, with oakleaf hydrangeas and a big stand of orange lilies dominating the view.

A little later in the season, the hydrangea flowers have faded to brown and green, but butterfly bush and hardy hibiscus are beginning to take over.

A butterfly bush provides a nectar treat for a hummingbird moth. This little moth really does look like a hummingbird in flight. The caterpillars that grow into this beautiful moth are big, green, and hungry—but be sure to leave them alone so they can grow up into these beautiful adults!

Tender succulents need to come inside for the winter, but they look great growing outside during the warmer months.

A wisteria (Wisteria sp.) just coming into bloom. This looks to be one of the U.S. native species (Wistera macrostachya or Wisteria frutescens), which are better choices than the highly invasive Asian species.

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

Bird Houses for Outside Clearance with Copper Guard, Cedar Bird House Outdoor, Bluebird Finch Swallow Wren Chickadee

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

1-1/2" ENTRANCE HOLE SIZE: SISTERBIRD bluebird houses for outside have a properly-sized entrance hole, through this blue bird houses for outside you can attract desirable species to your bluebird house, such as Bluebird, Wren, Tree Swallow, Chickadees, etc. While this blue bird house excluding predators and unwanted occupants, for example, European starlings. HIGH-QUALITY MATERIALS: SISTERBIRD birdhouse kits for kids and adults use untreated, unpainted cedar. bluebird nesting box has a rough surface, and birdhouses for outdoors can give birds a foothold as they enter and exit the cedar bluebird house. Cedar of birdhouses for outdoors clearance also can keep out weather-related damage. SAFE HOME FOR FLEDGLINGS: SISTERBIRD Bluebird BirdHouse Box with copper predator guard around the entrance hole can help young birds against predators. These birdhouses for outdoors interior grooves, like a small ladder, help young birds leave the cedar bird houses for outside, especially swallows and bluebirds. A great birdhouses for outside clearance for creating a trail. EASY AND FUN TO ASSEMBLE: Just use a screwdriver, you can experience the thrill of working with your family to build blue bird houses, and feel the pride that comes from building a bird nesting box for little birds. You can also DIY, paint it, making blue bird box special and unique, build your own blue bird houses for outdoors. EASY TO CLEAN & REUSABLE: SISTERBIRD wooden bird houses front door opens for easy cleaning after fledglings have left. When the season is over, clean out the blue bird boxes for outside and save bluebird birdhouses for outdoors clearance for next spring.

Buy at Amazon

isYoung Birdlook® Smart Bird Feeder with Camera

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

Upgraded Dual Granary Bird Feeder. G11 Smart Bird Feeder with Camera – The upgraded dual granary design allows for separate food dispensing, giving birds the freedom to choose while preserving the food’s original taste. With a 2L extra-large capacity, it reduces the need for frequent refills. The drainage design ensures the food stays dry and prevents spoilage from rain. Ideal as a camera bird feeder for birdwatching enthusiasts. 2K HD Camera & Close-Up Bird Watching. Experience clear bird watching with the G11 smart bird feeder. This bird feeder with camera features a 170-degree wide-angle lens and a 1296P HD camera, ensuring vibrant images and videos. With AI-powered recognition, it can identify over 16,000 bird species (subscription required, first month free) and provides extensive birding knowledge. Its unique design helps attract more birds to your backyard. App Alerts & Super Night Vision. The smart bird feeder camera detects motion within 0.5 seconds and sends instant notifications through the "VicoHome" app. With a 2.4G Wi-Fi connection, you can view real-time updates on bird activity right from your app. The video bird feeder also features night vision, ensuring vibrant images and videos even in low light conditions. Ideal for wild bird feeders, this advanced functionality enhances your bird-watching experience day and night.

Buy at Amazon

National Wildlife Federation®: Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife, Expanded Second Edition (Creative Homeowner) 17 Projects & Step-by-Step Instructions to Give Back to Nature

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

From the National Wildlife Federation, the largest U.S. nonprofit conservation organization, with 6 million members and 51 state and territorial affiliated organizations. 17 step-by-step projects that everyone can do together make getting your family back to nature easy, educational, and fun. Over 200 color photos of backyard wildlife habitats and the wide variety of creatures they attract, plus step-by-step photos and illustrations for family projects. Learn wildlife-friendly practices for gardening, landscape design, supplemental feeders, birdbaths, nesting places, and more. Learn how to attract backyard pollinators, from bees and butterflies to beetles, bats, and hummingbirds Get your garden certified by the National Wildlife Federation's Garden for Wildlife(TM) program by following the included certification application checklist.

Buy at Amazon