by Christine Costlow

Created on: February 18, 2009   Last Updated: March 01, 2009

It started with a new home and a can of "Mixed Wildflower for Shady areas". The previous owners had a doghouse under the grandest oak tree I'd ever seen. Since my dog occupies all the best spots in my house, we needed to plant something beutiful there to erase the muddy area left by a dog that had been chained. I had never planted anything before, but the sprinkle can of seeds from Lowes seemed simple enough for a novice to handle. The first flowers to sprout were forget me nots. I could tell by the picture of the seedlings on the side of the can. As the spring progressed, I was treated to a blaze of color from sweet williams, dianthus, and baby's breath. I also enjoyed a shock of daisies, black eyed susans, and a few things I couldn't identify! What a great result from a three dollar can of seeds! Now I was hooked.

The next spring, I began to haunt the nurseries and gardening centers. I am not too proud to confess, I also explored the local discount store patio sections of Walmaft, Kmart, and Target. What an education I received! I met the sweetest people, both store employees and fellow shoppers. I bought seeds, seedlings, trellises and flowerpots. My new home had a rock garden, where newly fledged hens and chicks rested. Bleeding hearts filled nearby nooks and crannies. My space was becoming a refuge for garter snakes, toads, and beetles that I couldn't even identify in the field guide to bugs. Everyone was welcome! The sense of pease that you recieved from sitting quietly outside was capativating.

After some online exploration, the catalogs started to arrive. I received the shock all new online gardeners must face: the seedlings that arrive don't look anything like their pictures in the catalog. With some disappointment, I planted the postal bugleweed in a troublesome sandy area. I also placed some double impatients from an expensive gardening center alongside that area next to the house. Imagine my surprise when the bugleweed took glorious root, and filled that formerly barren expanse with the most vivid dark purple leaves imaginable. It felt luxurious to walk on, the plants didn't mind the occasional mowing, and spread quickly to fill the problem area with some of the prettiest color in the garden. The impatients were a stark contrast. They required constant maintainance and watering, and succumbed early to a fall frost, having never achieved the "fabulosity" of the discount bugleweed.

As my gardening experience grew, I learned to read labels, and plant items where they would receive the most optimal condtitons in my yard. I also discovered the joy of sharing plants with others who grew perennials that occasionally needed thinned. Our local Pennysaver newspaper offers a free column where gardeners can share plants. Here, I was introduced to "sea pinks" and found my extra day lilies a good home.

Once we had children, the little cottage in the woods became too small for our family. The garden was in glorious bloom, and I believe that it added several thousand dollars to the sale price of the home. Our new house had some gardens laid out, but not much in the way of plantings. While I was sad to leave the floral work of art I had created, I learned something from my gardening experience. Seed plus time can transform a yard, as well as a person!

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