We recently passed through Portland after dropping my son off at a filmmaking camp with his cousin. My daughter and I stopped at our favorite bookstore, Powells, and spent hours browsing. It’s one of those places where you can lose track of time among the shelves.
What did we bring home this time? A tall stack of books about gardening and backyard farming. I couldn’t resist—they drew me in immediately.
I almost bought books about keeping chickens. I’ve been toying with the idea of having one or two myself, especially after seeing them on the front steps of my dream farmhouse. The vision of chickens roaming a porch is hard to shake.
Wendy Posard
What would Jack & Lily think of chickens?
I think they would LOVE them!
We’ve been planning the zones for our backyard and have mostly decided what goes where, so the design is starting to feel real. I definitely want a vegetable garden in one corner, though it may not happen until next year—ambition is high but time is short. I also imagine climbing roses and a couple of fruit trees to add structure and seasonal interest.
For now, we’ve been collecting plants to inspire what my daughters and I are calling our secret garden—mostly for the girls, though Jack currently claims it as his special spot.
Our yard is essentially a layer of soil over rock, so I’ll hire help to dig planting holes. I love buying plants but hate breaking through rock to get them in the ground. Still, seeing the little groupings of plants sitting together in the yard keeps me motivated to buy more. We’re aiming to get everything planted by August.
I still use my potting table and enjoy container gardening immensely. There’s something satisfying about arranging plants in pots—my favorite gardens often include many container plantings, boxwoods, and crushed gravel walkways for a relaxed, cottage-like feel.
Jack and Lily love to run through the yard while I tend to pots. Their favorite activity is digging, which explains Lily’s perpetually messy face. They’re so enthusiastic I sometimes joke they could dig all the holes I need for planting.
Do you have a backyard garden? What are your favorite things to grow?