Is there a gardener living who doesn’t dream of what a new garden season can bring? Our long winter months in the American north encourage that dreaming. The sharp changes from warm to frozen and back again inspired me to freeze some hellebore buds in ice to reflect this spring’s crazy weather. 
The seeds I ordered by Christmas were planted indoors under lights and outdoors in wintersown jugs by early February. 
Lists of plants were made and remade, then ordered – they are now arriving almost daily. 
The garden slowly evolved from its late winter glow 
into early spring bloom 
and then into vibrant spring color. 
The weeping cherry in the center of the circle garden bloomed early 
and profusely.
As always, it was alive with hungry pollinators looking for a early meal. 
Gradually it released its petals as the greens of the garden emerged,
followed by fragrant purple sandcherry blossoms perfuming the air near the deck. 
My biggest garden dream this year is to plant several new woodland garden beds with all native plants. For the past three years, I have been systematically removing invasive plants in the woods and plants that are not pollinator friendly in the garden beds. My longterm goal is to have 70% of the garden plants be native (the woods are already 90%). As I increase that percentage each year, more insects and birds take up home here and grace the garden with their presence.
I’ll be tracking my progress this year as part of a collaboration with some YouTube garden friends as we each pursue and document our garden dreams over the year. Here is my first installment of the video series, let me know what you think below in the comments. Happy garden dreams!
Spring drew on…and a greenness grew over those brown beds, which, freshening daily, suggested the thought that Hope traversed them at night, and left each morning brighter traces of her steps. Jane Eyre
composerinthegarden 
I respect and admire your desire to slowly phase out most of the non-natives, but I worry that I’ll miss seeing some favorites. Irises, peonies…. ;-) I’ve never seen that jug method – interesting! As always, the video could not be more professionally done and I appreciate the mix of information and soothing sounds and images. You have fireflies! I heard Eastern birds! And it looks like Pixie has a good friend. You must be so busy right now! And I know you’re enjoying every minute…
Worry not, Lynn – I will always have roses and peonies and irises in the garden, just more space for natives too. Yes, the fireflies are the best show in town during the warm July evenings – they rise up from the garden at dusk and fly into the woods, a magical show! I’ve participated in a citizen science project tracking fireflies for the past 2 summers – it certainly makes me look more closely at both their habitat and habits. The next post will glorify daffodils and tulips, more of my favorite non-natives that I will never remove 🙂
🙂 Good to know, Lynn! It’s also good to hear you’re participating in that project. I’m doing 3 of them currently – monitoring Great blue herons nests twice a week remotely (the trust that owns the land has cameras in the rookery that we operate from home), a Great blue heron foraging study, and a Western redcedar tree health study. Busy times but it’s all good work. 😉
I look forward to the next post – I remember you have some nice representatives of both species. 🙂
I just returned from a few days in Shenandoah NP last Friday, and the video brought me right back to the park. Things were slowly blooming, at different paces of course, at different elevations throughout the property, and I saw many of the same plant (and animal!) species that you featured. Thanks for posting this entry; it was a real feast for the eyes!
That makes a lot of sense, Kerry – we share that eastern forest eco-region along with the same plant species. The interesting thing about this garden journey of focusing more on plants native to my region is that the garden becomes more firmly ensconced in its geographical/botanical place rather than a generic garden that could be anywhere.
This is so beautiful!!
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Thank you Lori!
Have you considered approaching a local television station to see if the programmers would air your excellent video series?
Steve, I haven’t, I’m not sure it is technically broadcast quality but the fact that you think it deserves that exposure truly warms my heart. Thank you for that and I will consider shopping it around. I am planning to submit a similar clip to the British garden show Gardeners World – they accept viewers videos of their gardens for their weekly broadcast so I’m going for it!
Thank you Lynn for always inspiring me with your garden and for your artful ways of sharing it. Your personal narration is an extra special touch. If the climate was predictable what would we solve? Be well and keep growing!
Janet, thank you so much, I’m delighted that you found inspiration from my garden. Building climate resiliency is a growing concern, keeps us gardeners on our toes.
Such a delight to the eye and ear, Lynn. It gets the heart beating and the blood flowing but providing a boost of inspiration and aspiration. This year my goal is to feature Itoh Peonies in the Spring and specialized annual Zinnias for the Summer. Your video is not only a joy to watch, but so professionally created. Thank you!
Thank you so much Lance – wow, what a reaction, I’m so flattered. I love Itoh peonies and keep thinking I’ll get one – do you paint them? Zinnias are another favorite – easy to plant and the pollinators love them. Happy gardening!
Happy spring gardening Lynn! Your series got another view today 🙂 I tuned in to the other ladies to see what they were up to in their gardens when I stumbled upon the series in YouTube a while ago.
Your winter sowing is something I just started myself this winter. I’m trying it out with some poppies. I wish you every success!
So interesting that you found the series, I love that. I hope your winter sowing went well, just this past week most of my seeds broke dormancy and the jugs are full of cute little seedlings. Happy spring gardening!
I love the frozen flowers!!
It was a fun project!
I love the photos of your garden from winter through to summer… beautiful… as is your video! It is such a worthy goal to have as many pollinators in the garden as possible.
We have planted Pineapple Sage near our bedroom window and we get some pretty Honey Eaters… which is an absolute delight. We’re on the way!
Best wishes for your gardening plans.
Thank you Gerrie! I agree, it is a worthy goal – the more I do to support pollinators, the more important it seems to do so. And the results are visible. I love the idea of planting outside of a bedroom window and attracting birds – so much beauty to be had 🙂
I can’t wait to see your plans unfold! I’ll be checking your plant list for sure. I am still cleaning up after last year’s renovations, moving early perennial sprouts here and there, and visualizing daily. For me, building up those visualization muscles are one of the important elements of gardening.
Thanks Bernadette – I’ll be posting new video updates in May, July, September and November, which will be fun to do. Things have already changed a bit, lost a tree but gained a new “edge” to the path and now the things we planted in September are starting to emerge. I agree with you completely about the visualization, and unlike a painting, the garden grows and changes over time – so much fun!
I really enjoyed the video. The plant eating mammals must pose a big challenge for you outside the fence. I admire your ambitions for your garden and even more I admire the success you have had in meeting those ambitions.
So glad you enjoyed the video! Yes, the mammals outside the fence are a challenge but in a way, it is fascinating (and sometimes frustrating) to see what they eat and don’t eat. I have a few strategies but the most important is to have enough variety and mass of plants so that the gardens can handle the browsing.
Just beautiful, as always, Lynn! I marvel at all your work and creativity over the years, but especially at all the sweet beings who visit and benefit from your compassionate and intentional gardening. It must seem a paradise when they come upon it. Thank you for your artistry and goodness in the world!
Thank you for your always kind and perceptive words Kitty! I am finding that the creatures in the garden have become as important to me as the flowers and in many ways are the measure of how well I’m doing my task as a steward of the earth. It feels like a paradise to me, I hope they feel the same!
Your videos (and gardens) are wonderful, Lynn, as are your admirable goals. Best wishes for a happy gardening season!
Best wishes for a happy garden season to you as well, Eliza – I imagine spring has come to your garden too.
Yes, slowly, but surely!