Hello GPODers and Pleased New Yr!
Though we’re within the depth of winter, and the bloom of peak season shade might really feel painfully far-off, New Yr’s Day brings with it the promise of a brand new 12 months of gardening. Final 12 months, I used the ultimate GPOD of the 12 months to share my 2025 backyard resolutions (Pleased New Yr’s Eve GPOD!), which did assist me hold these intentions within the entrance of thoughts (even when I’m nonetheless engaged on entering into a very good routine with houseplant upkeep). Nevertheless, I had a unique mindset this 12 months. Fairly than lament over the entire gardening practices I may very well be doing higher, I’m getting into 2026 with one decision in thoughts: spend extra time embracing the enjoyment of vegetation.
Generally gardening can change into a pursuit of perfection. How do I guarantee the largest blooms or probably the most ample harvests? How can I make this border even higher? This plant is good, however I guess I can discover one thing much more lovely! Out of the blue, the restorative apply of gardening turns into a burden and we neglect why we began digging within the first place—for the love of vegetation. This publish serves as a reminder to step again and benefit from the course of. It doesn’t matter what succeeds or what fails within the backyard this 12 months, bear in mind to benefit from the journey and savor even the smallest moments of plant magic round us. Listed here are a few of my most magical backyard moments of 2025.
I used to be very fortunate at the beginning of the 12 months to attend the Philadelphia Flower Present for the primary time. I had by no means attended a backyard occasion of this magnitude earlier than, and I left with tons of inspiration (in addition to a number of vegetation). A should have taken 100 pictures on the present, lots of which I shared on the weblog: GPOD on the Street: Philadelphia Flower Present Half 1, Half 2, Half 3, and the Flower Present’s Oddest Vegetation.
Late winter and early spring introduced the standard pleasure of latest seedlings. Certainly one of my resolutions final 12 months was to be smarter concerning the selection and variety of seeds I begin, and progress was positively made. Extra modifications ought to make this 12 months probably the most profitable veggie backyard but.
Spring was a flurry of exercise that at all times flies proper by, however a spotlight that I received’t neglect is that this go to to New York Botanical Backyard on a wet, quiet day. Minimal crowds allowed me to essentially take within the new development and spring blooms, and seize some lovely pictures. Take a look at some extra highlights: GPOD on the Street: New York Botanical Backyard in Spring
2024 was a banner 12 months for hydrangeas in New England, however the summer time of 2025 was dominated by the rose. This Oso Straightforward Italian Ice® rose (Rosa x ‘CHEWNICEBELL’, Zones 4–9) in my mom’s entrance backyard was lined in blooms all season lengthy.
Again within the veggie backyard, this cherry tomato volunteer was a hilarious little shock. Escaping from a crack on the surface of one in all my raised beds, this tiny tomato plant miraculously emerged. I didn’t anticipate a lot from it, however left it to develop by the season quite than chopping it out. It gave me one more shock when it grew, thrived, and produced scrumptious fruit all through the summer time and into fall.
Again to my travels, Coastal Maine Botanical Backyard has been on my bucket listing for a few years now and I lastly managed to make the journey this summer time. Whereas there’s something to get pleasure from in these gardens all year-round, I used to be astounded to see this botanical marvel at its peak efficiency. For those who missed the highlights I shared again in July, you’ll want to verify them out: GPOD on the Street: Coastal Maine Botanical Backyard in Early Summer time.
One final backyard spotlight was a lot nearer to dwelling, however simply as magical. On the finish of August I visited Maywood Gardens in Bridgewater, Connecticut for the sooner or later a 12 months that it’s open to the general public. As a part of the Backyard Conservancy Open Days program, this sweeping property turns into accessible for the general public to discover and revel in. However wanting again on it now, I don’t imagine I ever shared highlights from the journey on the weblog… so hold an eye fixed out for these this 12 months!
Lastly, a late fall journey to western Pennsylvania introduced many moments of quiet appreciation for the great world of vegetation throughout us.
Thanks all for an additional fabulous 12 months of Backyard Photograph of the Day, and I look ahead to seeing and sharing extra of your unbelievable gardens this 12 months. Observe the NEW instructions under to submit your pictures to Backyard Photograph of the Day!
We need to see YOUR backyard!
Have pictures to share? We’d like to see your backyard, a selected assortment of vegetation you’re keen on, or a beautiful backyard you had the prospect to go to!
To submit, fill out the Backyard Photograph of the Day Submission Kind.
You may as well ship 5–10 pictures to [email protected] together with some details about the vegetation within the photos and the place you took the pictures. We’d love to listen to the place you’re situated, how lengthy you’ve been gardening, successes you’re happy with, failures you realized from, hopes for the longer term, favourite vegetation, or humorous tales out of your backyard.
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High-quality Gardening Beneficial Merchandise
Planting in a Submit-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
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That includes attractive pictures and recommendation for landscapers, Planting in a Submit-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is devoted to the thought of a brand new nature—a hybrid of each the wild and the cultivated—that may nourish in our cities and suburbs.
Gardener’s Log E book from NYBG
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This weatherproof five-year log e book contains the next options:
· Sturdy waterproof cowl to guard pages from rain and muddy soil
· Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds
· 5 years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when
· Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and illness management, and container gardening
· Helpful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting
· Area for itemizing your favourite sources and suppliers.
