As most of you native to Minnesota know, the days of summer are short and sweet. This seems especially true this year. I can count the days of sunshine and low humidity on one hand. Still, as soon as the grass is green and the flowers are budding you'll be scarce to find me anywhere but my garden. I've been doing a lot of re-design this summer and last.

Those of you who know my husband and I well, you know we are project and remodel junkies. I do not believe in the last 30 years we have owned our home we have once been projectless. Over these past few years we've made some major changes to our yard - adding a few rock retaining walls and leveling out some of the hills that surround the gardens closest to the house. Now what better excuse to switch up these gardens?!


My peonies in full bloom

 Besides the obvious factor that my love of gardening stems (no pun intended) from my love of flowers, 

it is the experience as a whole that keeps me coming back summer after summer. There is something cathartic about being in the sunshine with the grass inbetween your toes. And the simplistic joy that comes from watching my cat Olive mesmerized by the little red ladybug walking down a flower petal or the mother bird teaching her babies to fly in the nest nearby. If you don't have a garden, or haven't visited yours in a while, I suggest you do. There is nothing better than getting your hands dirty and experiencing a little of what nature has given us.