One of my favorite places to visit is Butchart Gardens in Victoria. It’s a place that always lifts my spirits—the colors, the careful plantings and the sense of calm make it unforgettable. Earlier this year my husband and I were in Hawaii and explored a stunning tropical botanical garden. Even in January the warmth and lush plant life were inspiring, and I’m looking forward to sharing more about that trip and the garden soon.
I enjoy gardening as much as I enjoy decorating—perhaps even a little more. There’s something restorative about being outside, tending plants, and soaking up the sunshine. Whether I’m planting, planning, or simply wandering through other people’s gardens, the experience brings me joy.
To be clear, I’m not a gardening expert. What I love is the process: visiting public gardens, driving through neighborhoods to admire landscapes, designing my own outdoor spaces, and spending time in them. I take pleasure in browsing garden centers and learning as I go. You don’t need to be an expert to enjoy plants and create a welcoming yard.
One of the things that drew me to this house was the mature landscape. The property already had beautiful, established spring-flowering trees and shrubs—lilacs, camellias, hydrangeas and a magnolia. Those plants create so much character and seasonal interest. Since moving in we’ve added more hydrangeas, peonies, climbing roses, star jasmine and other flowering plants. Some have thrived and others have taught us lessons, but we keep learning and experimenting.
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Lily’s Garden
We keep a long list of outdoor projects, and spring through fall is our favorite season for getting things done. We plan to expand our vegetable area because we love growing lettuce and other edibles. We’ll continue improving the side and backyard flower beds, and we also want to enhance the front yard for better curb appeal and more attractive landscaping.
Our dogs, Jack and Lily, enjoy the outdoors as much as we do. They spend their days chasing butterflies, exploring, and collapsing into sunny naps. It’s hard to resist the lure of a garden—plenty of people and pets alike prefer being outside when the weather allows.
I hope you enjoy this collection of photographs from our gardens over the years. I’ll be sharing more gardening inspiration, practical ideas and updates as we continue to work on our outdoor spaces.
Click here to Take My Backyard Garden Tour from My Previous House!
More on The Inspired Room:
A Look Back at Our Home Improvements
My House Tour
Sources from My House and My Fave Decor
Spring Decor Shop