Rediscovering Love for My Garden

A few years ago, well 8 years to be exact (because I am a detail person), I use to work for a friend of mine who has a landscaping business. One of her "jobs" was to maintain the display gardens of a local wholesale nursery. That was where I came in, I helped her two days a week April through October to maintain this garden. The size of the "garden" was probably 2-3 acres, so not small. The job paid good, it was only two days a week, and I learned so much about flowers and plants from her. So I am no stranger to a flower garden. That being said, mine have suffered greatly in the past 8 years.

You see, near the end of my last season with my friend, and it became my last season for this reason, I started experiencing back pain. Now I am no stranger to back pain, I have had that most of my adult life. This was, down the left side of my leg pain, I can hardly stand on this leg pain, I  have no feeling in my big toe pain (which makes wearing flip-flops a bit difficult). I went to see the doctor, and an MRI later I found out I had a couple of herniated disks in my low back, causing the numbness and pain in my leg. Well off to physical therapy I went, and it did get better...slowly. 

Five years ago I had another flare up. Granted not as bad as the first time, but still bothersome and annoying. Physical Therapy again, and again it got better. The problem was that the seed had been planted with that first experience Gardening=Pain. So my gardens suffered.

This year thanks to my love of photography and personal training, I am rediscovering my gardens. I am starting with this small area to give my full attention to, the other areas have more bark than plants, but it is a start. This is a little side garden that I have fallen in love with. I don't have a before picture of this area but I wish I did, it was sad. What I love about this area is that it is small, and easy to manage. There are three tiers, the middle one has a wheelbarrow base in the middle of it, it adds a fun element and visual interest.

One of my favorites is these poppies, they are called field poppies. The wooden thing that is being used as a fence/support is the wooden handles from the wheelbarrow.

I took a lot of the Iris' out of the top bed to make room for my repurposed and repainted with Annie Sloan chalk paint bench.

This is such a fun area to work and photograph in. These photos are where I like to play with Kim Klassen textures and Lightroom presets.

 I need one more stepping stone for this little path, and I am having a hard time finding something to match/work, but that is part of the thrill of the hunt.

I love to come out here at different times of day and in different lights to photograph.

Oh...and my answer to weeding this wonderful area is to just add another plant, less room for the weeds to grow :)

Joining Kim Klassen today for Friday Finds, as I have "refound" my love for my garden.