I’m honored to be included in the Grow NOW 2015 blogging event by Beth Billstrom of More Than Oregano. I’m going to take you on a tour of my garden this week and some before pictures from April and May.

First, some background information. I had back surgery in 2010 and neck surgery in 2014. My garden has definitely suffered since that time. More than suffered-it was taken over by weeds. It is amazing how fast a garden can decline with minimal attention. My husband’s family owns a garden center (where he works 6-7 days a week) and he has sent the landscape crew over on occasion to pull weeds and spread mulch. It was helpful, but I was unable to keep it up. I can not lift more than 20lbs ever again and bending too much can be detrimental. You have to admit pulling weeds is easier when you can bend easily. Slowly, I have regained my strength and have been able to do more. I do approach it a different way, though. I sit a lot to pull weeds and use knee pads. I also take it much slower, doing a little at a time instead of spending the whole day working in the garden. I was also able to do much more this year, as I no longer work outside of my home. Previously, I worked at the garden center and was gone all Spring and most of the summer. So now I can spend more time in the garden. The crew did help pull weeds and mulch, but I am keeping it up now. It still needs a lot of work, but it is looking so much better. It is like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I am enjoying my garden again.

My next door neighbor, Kathy, who has a gorgeous garden, helped me with this side of the house. I am very grateful for her help.

Please excuse the dead lawn in the right picture above. The new drop spreader wasn’t as easy to use as it was supposed to be….oops! And the cottonwood leaves are starting to fall. This bed still needs a lot of work, but I added some different coneflower cultivars and a ‘Strawberry Sundae’ Hydrangea. I have some beautiful peonies and phlox in there as well. This was originally planted as a butterfly garden, and I hope to add more plants for the butterflies this fall and next spring. The pictures below are from the South side of the house.

Here are some pictures of my flowers in the lower garden and  on the patio.

And lastly, the North side of the house. This is my favorite side. It is shady and hosta filled, which I love. And, I’ve found that in the shade, the weeds aren’t as prolific. The bed is filled with hostas and perennials, so the weeds don’t have a chance to take over.

 

So, there is life after surgery for my garden and even though I can’t do what I did before, and believe me that was not an easy new life to get used to, I have managed to learn how to do it differently. And, the most important point, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Your garden the way you like it, is perfect for you.