Just lying here imagining your stately yew hedge, bright moss and native primroses is a delight, Melissa! :-)

I'm thinking, Melissa. I love your musings.

It’s funny how much life changes us. I had a very visceral fear of snakes and other reptiles growing up, and it wasn’t really until I started gardening that I began to appreciate them. This spring, I am rather surprised at how much delight I’m taking in the growing populations of lizards and snakes in my garden. Where I might have considered them “creepy” or “gross” in the past, I’m finding myself looking for them as things warm and green up here. The newborn baby lizards are especially endearing to me. They are so animated, actively expressing their wonder at this giant world they’ve just hatched into. And there‘s a black snake that seems to have made a concession for my presence in the garden, and almost seems curious about what I’m up to. I think I’m going to start naming them. Yes, I’m becoming THAT person, and I’m totally okay with it. :-)

Azalea 'Mother's Day' … named for the American version [May] not the British [March]..

Planted by the previous owner who sadly died not long afterwards, she developed the garden before I came along, so we are only here because she passed away... it's the only plant from the original garden I've kept, partly for sentimental reasons out of respect, but I admit I got rid of a whole lot of stuff .. some great plants like 'Teasing Georgia'.. 'Gertrude Jekyll'.. Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt', lots of clematis... I wanted to make my own mark so they went … but I kept this little Azalea, it was all overgrown here when I arrived 10 years ago - empty for 2 years - yet it was thriving and I noticed it as soon as I looked over the garden.... like we all do, to see if it's suitable for roses...

I can't even think of a thing yet because I'm too charmed by Melissa's and Perma's beautifully penned thoughts. How lovely that we are able to read such things here.

Okay, I've wrenched myself away and still can't think of anything in my garden that charms me right now, it's empty and bare and eaten up, and the promising garden help we had counted on has pretty well evaporated. Must keep looking. I would have to say I treasure what gives the garden life, which are the very things that are eating it, Beebee, her Baby and Buddy, her constant companion, the squirrels and the birds. Then the views, which are turning ever more green with the rains. I love the afternoon light in the living room, with the sun filtering through the leaves of the trees and shrubs. I sit there now with my laptop and books, because the flood-damaged parts of the house are still not repaired, the flood damage people are not to be reached by any means, and my husband is trying to find someone to put back the drywall which was ripped out, which will then also have to be painted. I envy the squirrels who dig a hole in the ground, steal some shredded cardboard to raise their babies on and call it good. So much to be said for the simple lives they lead. A garden is so much more than plants, and I know for my husband the living wriggly and bouncy beings in them are his favorite thing.

Marlorena, the azalea is so lovely nestled in among the green plants. I did not know Mother's Day was in March in England. I'm just imagining the early bulb plants and imported ones from Holland that would have been included in the Mother's Day bouquets there.

The above was all so beautifully written. I can see it all and it makes me smile.

Mine will not be so lyrical but it will be true.

My favorite pieces to my garden are the birdbath that came from my grandparents yard, one of their azaleas and a hydrangea. I wish, I wish I had a peony from my childhood but sadly I didn’t know then what I know now.

When my mom died, her best friend gifted me with a honeysuckle. One of the orange colored ones, not one I would have picked and yet every year as it starts to bloom it brings a pang to my heart and a smile to my face.

Lola, I just love your creatures and your beautiful yard and landscape.

What a wonderful post Melissa! Thank you! When I’m feeling down about how behind I am on all my garden chores, or how my budget keeps slapping my hand, I’m so grateful to be nudged towards a positive outlook. Thanks to everyone who posted these beautiful favorites, and helped me remember what really makes gardening so special. :-)

I love the roses and other plants that grow here ... but I think that the thing I love most is the ever-changing view of the Malibu hills, across the valley from us. When I am tired or unhappy, the hills raise me up.

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help." (Psalm 121)

Gorgeous photos Jeri! Worthy of printing on canvas and hanging on the wall! :-)

Our lot is sort of shaped like a piece of pie, with a very long street frontage - I think there is about 130 feet of it, about half the length of the block. That's why we pay attention to the 2 long long beds which are on either side of the sidewalk, one 6 feet deep, and the other one about 10 feet deep.

This has resulted in what has become one of my very favorite things about our garden - there is a LOT of foot traffic along that sidewalk - it is the pedestrian route from a college, an elementary school, and a residential neighborhood towards downtown and the local shopping district, as well as the bus transit center and the train station.

Whenever I am out there working on those beds, or just getting the paper, or whatever, people stop and compliment me on the garden, how happy walking along there makes them, etc. Small children love to pick flowers, and there are plenty, so I am happy they do. Sometimes teenagers or 20/30 somethings look up for a moment from their phones, and use the phones to take pictures of the flowers. Makes me happy.

Jackie

I have alot of favorite things in the garden. A shrub that was planted before I moved here, daffodils, with there spring cheerfulness! My once bloomers, hollyhocks!, my rose seedlings..I really just love Nature, period! Afew dislikes would be wasps, ants and grass. I love everything else. We have some yellow Jasmin blooming, I love that. Atleast I think that's the name of the climbing vine. My Winter Honeysuckle Shrub!

I have lots of Spring bloomers! Hyacinths, I really love those! The species tulips! I could just keep going but I won't!

I feel that way, too, Alana: there's a lot to love. There's a winter-flowering semi-climbing winter jasmine, not fragrant, J. nudiflorum, but there's also native Carolina Jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, which is climbing, fragrant, yellow. Which do you have?

Folks, please keep the comments coming!

These comments are all so great; up-lifting, charming... Jeri's is the one that really resonates with me, though.What I love most about my garden is the surrounding landscape, the view of the hills,the un-interupted , vast expanse of sky that's over my head. The tiny robins that flutter around quietly in different areas of the garden in this season,sometimes not very far from where I happen to be working. The other day, I saw a flock of wild geese flying in their arrow-shaped formation, heading north.Another time, at sunset, a fox presented himself silently,and then disappeared. I love the sky there, on a clear night , "wild with stars", to use Donna Tartt's phrase.Even summer, my least favourite season, offers at least one truly beautiful event on a regular basis: the thousands of fireflies magically lighting up the night landscape. I could go on.Out there, I see so many things that make me just so grateful to be alive.When I think about it, making a garden there is really kind of an excuse to be there! or maybe an attempt to show, in my litle way, my gratitude for Creation.

Bart, that is exactly what I mean when I said I just love Nature period! Being in the beauty of it all. I could live out side! You said it so beautifully. I didn't read Ingrid's comment so must go back and read it.

Melissa my Winter Honeysuckle is Lonicera fragrantissima. It is a very early / late Winter blooming shrub with white flowers and is very fragrant.

Now on the climbing yellow one, I believe, is J. nudiflorum. It looks more like it. Mine is a vine that climbs to the very to of our trees and blooms. It blooms after my Winter Honeysuckle Shrub. It only blooms at the top of the trees. Also I don't recall a fragrance over it.

I'm sorry Melissa, the J. nudiflorum, looks more like the shrub one that we have , we have that one as well, from my DH grandma. I'm not sure which one the climbing vine is that goes to the tops of our trees. I'll have to take a picture for you.

There must be a bunch of different Jasmine. I ordered two offline from ebay dogriiter something, that didn't look like mine, or I thought they were different.

Bart, that is beautifully said: thank you!

Alana, take a look at pictures of Carolina Jessamine and see if it isn't your climbing vine. We had one when I was a child that climbed up into a pine tree (Florida) in our yard, and it also grew wild in the woods. You may have to get up close to it to smell the fragrance.

I have the winter honeysuckle, too, and appreciate it highly. Do you have wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) and Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata'? I think you would appreciate them, and I believe both would grow where you live.

You're right that there are a variety of jasmines. Was one of the ones you got Jasminum officinalis? That's a fine-textured vine, very fragrant, in a sickly kind of way, and tough as nails. After looking for it for a while I found it in our one local big-box store, and it has flourished against a wall in our yard ever since. And then there's Confederate Jasmine, as it's known in Florida at least: Trachelospermum jasminoides, so not a true jasmine, but climbing, evergreen, and very fragrant and beautiful. Oh, so many plants!

I may have to get up close to smell the fragrance. These are what I have.

this is the shrub.these are the climber. I know they are not the best! So sorry!

The ones I ordered are Jasminum officinale, and Jasminum stephanense.

that looks like mine, doesn't it?

What a lovely series of posts! I agree with the heartwarming sentiments above that are about so much more than the actual plants we grow. Jeri's lovely photo reminds me of my favorite thing about Ingrid's garden (aside from of course, Ingrid) - the incredible and mysterious view of the hills from her garden & stretching beyond it.

In my own garden, it sounds hokey but the thing that gives me the greatest joy is being able to share the bounty with others. Neighbors need mulch in their yards? Got it covered. Someone needs cheering up? Bring them flowers or plants. Kids wander into the yard? Send them home with bouquets for their families. Someone else has too many cucumbers? I have too many peppers - please take this home. Neighbors don't have time to prune/deadhead/weed? Happy to quietly pop by and help out. Someone new moves to the area? Invite them to my yard so I can dig them up starts of whatever strikes their fancy. A friend or acquaintance is frustrated with their garden? Share advice or sympathies as I have the wisdom (or wisdom borrowed from all of you). Neighbor brings by baking, or watches the house when we're away or just is a lovely person (i.e. all of my neighbors)? Send them home with bouquets, produce, plants and warm hugs.

The aspect of my yard that gives me the greatest potential for sharing is by far the spring bulbs. With all the planting I do every fall plus the ones that are perennial, I have an explosion of bulbs ready to share every April-May, and they're by far the most impressive thing about my garden - sadly outstripping the roses without question. I actually forget to cut bouquets for myself, but love having as many to cut for others as I want.

Cynthia

Cynthia, I shouldn't like the climate, but I'd love to have you as a neighbour.

Right now, I'm thinking of the spring bulbs. Trout lilies for example. Also our waterlily tank, that my husband wanted, while I was skeptical. Also I like my Iris Paltec, although last year it was spoiled by too much rain. The year before it outlasted all the other irises. I don't know why Henry Mitchell thought it was ugly. No one can be right about everything, I guess. It seems to have gone off the market.

If I said it was the plants in my garden that were my favorite, I'd be lying..

I think its the little visitors that have made my garden their homes or have just visited briefly or even arrived needing help over the years, that are my favorites!

The momma muscovy duck who found the garden and decided to stay and raise her babies.

I would turn on this old hose with a leak that would spray upwards and the babies would play in it every morning..

Many frogs of course...

Night Visitor

Baby chicks are good helpers in weeding and eating bugs around potted roses. They also leave a little fertilzer lol.

Love knows no colors or species...the baby squirrel raised by kitties

Oh My ! Jasmin, you got my full attention. The baby squirrel raise with kittens is so adorable. How did you find a baby squirrel ? I gather it might have fall off a tree or something. That is a my guess :)
Also , the frogs and ducks. Your chickens....gees, I wish I was there to see it all. You amazed me all the time.

jin

I forgot to add that all your pics are great !
jin

Hmm, seems that I lost a whole thread....
so here I go again. Thanks Houzz !!
Jasmin, I love the squirrel raise with kittens look so cute. How did you find it ? My guess is..it must have fallen off somewhere and it is good thing you found it.
Love the ducks and ducklings, they are so cute and adorable.
Love all the pics, great photography.
You amazed me and never know what you are going to show next and I won't be surprised....lol
Okay, I am going to try to post again. I hope it post and not disappears again.
jin

Well this is such a beautiful post , it’s such a testimony to how much more our gardens are to us than just plants .

My favorite part of my garden.. is my swing. When we moved here , Dh bought me the pergola for Christmas. The swing went under. I spent 2 years gardening and praying in the garden on the swing to have a baby. We had been trying for a total of 5 years... finally after a correction surgery our prayer had been answered. We took our baby announcement photos on the swing .. then I got to rock my sweet baby in the shade of the swing ... take photos of her on it .. and sing to her . I even drummed up a simple song to sing to her she likes . “ swing , swing .. swing on my swing

swing on my swing with Lucia Pearl ..

dream dream , dream on my swing ..

dream on my swing with my favorite girl .. “

anyway .. I love my swing.

She was just a few months old here

3years old now ( I was sitting on the swing so it counts ! ) :)

Aww, Lily, your story touch my heart. That is beautiful how it all started in your garden. The swing......
Lucia, is so beautiful and so precious. I can imagine you singing to her on a swing. Betcha, she is singing with you too :)
jin

These stories are so marvelous: thanks, everyone, for writing! Lilyfinch, I had difficulty conceiving, too, and since I married late wasn't sure if I'd be able to have a child...but I did! I was lucky! DD is now twenty, and has been a joy and a delight ever since I found out I was pregnant. I wish you many years of happiness with your girl, and your garden.

Cynthia, that's not one bit hokey. I think that, social animals that we are, we have a need to give and to help, and derive happiness from doing so. One of my (mild) frustrations of my garden is that I have practically no one to share it with.

Sultry, your animals are great! I love the animal life, too--not the numerous destructive ones, though--but birds and bugs, lizards and toads, others, are always welcome. I've been wondering lately where the tits have disappeared to. We've always had them in abundance, but last summer they vanished, and they haven't come back. A grim precursor of climate change?

What a lovely thread, I read & appreciated everyone's post. My favorite thing in my yard is my 2 dogs - we bought a house with a yard specifically for our dogs, and I love watching them wander around, inspecting all of the scents. Hanging out in the yard with the dogs also got me interested in gardening for the first time - I had never done it before, knew nothing about it, and basically stumbled into the bare root display at a great local nursery, which sent me to the internet to Google what all of the different roses were, and here I am. In regards to plants in my yard, anything that I planted & is miraculously doing well makes me happy!

This thread is the BEST. SJN,your photos are so splendid and all these little creatures are adorable,and finishing up with the one of the kittens and squirrel was just over the top. Cynthia,i don't think there's anything at all "hokey" about your generous sharing and sense of community with your neighbours; part of me feels that that is what a garden "ought to be about",though I know this isn't true. But what you are doing with your community is very, very important IMO. Lily, your story is the one that touches me most. We had to try for a long time before we were blessed with the arrival of my own DS. That swing is "mythical", LOL!!!

Thank you. I'm loving everyone's posts and pics!

Lily, that swing is magical as is your beautiful daughter! If you ever move, you better take your swing. It will be a family heirloom.

Jin, years ago, when we first moved to this house, it was spring and I was out in the garden one morning and I kept hearing this weird cry over by one of the large Live Oak trees. I could see there was a baby squirrel in the tall grass. I left it alone because I read the mothers are usually nearby and will come back for the baby if left alone. In late afternoon, the baby was still there, no mama. Again, I tell myself if the mom doesn't come by night I will pick him up.

We have owls, foxes, racoons, eagles, hawks etc. In evening, I checked back and saw the neighbor's cat by it. No mama anywhere. That was it, I picked him up and he was pretty dehydrated. I was going to try and maybe get a supplemental formula or something, then remembered our cat had kittens. This cat will take in any orphaned kitten and is the best momma. I just knew she would accept him. I put him with her and her nursing babies and she immediately started cleaning him.

I watched very carefully over many days to make sure she accepted him.

My dh did check for wildlife rehabbers at the time but they had too many baby animals in the spring, or wanted us to drive a days drive away, which we couldn't do at the time.

So he grew up and played with the kittens and weaned onto squirrel food and eventually went to a woman who had a squirrel for several years that couldn't be released to the wild due to an injury so they were friends. The baby squirrel had no fear of cats so he can't live in the wild but had a good home with another squirrel and knowledgeable person.

Some people said it would be better to have just let nature take it course but I dont think so!

I have some photos on my old computer of him growing up. I will try to find them

Here he is nursing the momma cat. I think she favored him lol.

What a story!

Lily, that is such a precious story to share about your daughter and your swing. To have that swing be a reminder of your past prayers and present joys is so important. I hope you've written down those stories for Lucia to share with her when she gets older. My twins were much prayed about for many years as well, and when they were born 10 weeks early and not sure to survive I stayed up all night and wrote them a long reflection about faith and hope and the meaning they brought to my life whatever the outcome. Thank you for sharing your story with us, and if you do end up moving you'll of course take that swing with you!

SJN, those are the most incredible nature pictures ever! I think that people afraid of spiders should look at your exquisite photo and appreciate the beauty that they truly are in the garden. Your squirrel story is a testament to your love of nature as well as a lot of fun! I'd love some ducks and their chicks to come visit my yard too.

Monarda those are stunning shade and water plant pictures and I agree with you that I can't remotely see why someone would call them unsightly.

Titian - you're very sweet and I share the sentiment. I don't think I could take the heat of Australia but you're welcome over for a cup of tea any time. I'll even introduce you to Baker's Chocolates, one of the few culinary treats native to Nebraska.

Bart, thanks for the encouragement that I wasn't being overly hokey. I think sentiment isn't something we are always comfortable with, but this whole thread is showing how important that sentiment is for the places and creatures and people that we share.

Cynthia

What a great post, the stories are all so touching & humanitarian. Anything I was going to say about my favourite things in my yard would just sound so trivial & shallow in comparison. But I will share anyways.

I do not have a fantastic landscape view, wildlife is limited, I have a subdivision lot to work with. Some of my neighbours think I spend an unhealthy amount of time gardening & that makes me odd? But I have spent the last 7 years with my husband, my son & 4 dogs in 2 different yards & I realize that I'm very grateful & fortunate to have that. We do spend a lot of time in our yard as a family. And slowly each year we add to it; for our enjoyment. Last year my husband spent a number of weekends building me a shed & veggie garden. It turned out great, but it was a lot of work for him after putting in 60 hour work weeks. So I really appreciate his weekend sacrifices to make me happy. And we all enjoy the veggie patch, it's great for little ones to learn about food. Even my husband is getting into gardening. He now wants to watch Monty Don & other gardening shows with me instead of watching a banal sitcom. It has really become something we are bonding over. We are planning on doing some garden tours together this summer. That would not have happened a couple years ago. It is just so nice to share that enthusiasm with someone else. The more he gets into gardening the easier it is to convince him to spend money on plants and the landscaping. So that's a win-win for me! He has also surprised me a few times by picking up potted roses or garden items that he knows I would like. To others that would seem so unromantic, but a handy garden tool or flower is right up my alley. And it proves he is listening to me!

As for actual favourite things in the yard there are a few. We have a glacier boulder in our front yard. That was the reason I got him to go to the open house in the first place. We lived in the area & my husband said he wished we had a big rock on our lawn when we would go for walks and see other landscaped yards. So when this house went on the market, I told him about it and said it has the biggest rock in the whole neighbourhood. We bought it at the open house & it all started because of a big rock. And it's fun for the kids to play on too! I also have a couple plants that were from family. They are not anything fancy, but one is a plantain lily that my grandfather grew, than my mom has a chunk of it & now I have a chunk of the one my mom has. So it's special to me.

I love all these posts. An early one I really liked but didn't comment on is Perma n' Posies writing about learning to appreciate and welcome lizards and snakes in her garden. This is one of the gifts gardening gives us: bringing us closer to the natural world. Over the years DH has also become much more friendly toward our snakes that live in the garden and under the paved terrace.