I can often be found in my garden, tending to the earth, and watching birds and other animals enjoy the little paradise I’ve created for us. The butterflies flitting from flower to flower, sharing the fragrant air with bees of all shapes and sizes, and swooping hummingbirds that put on a show of the season. As I listen to birds chirp happily, I am graced with a bouquet of aroma as each scent takes its turn being carried on the breeze.

When choosing flowers for my garden, I select for fragrance first, then color. Some, like lovely Gardenia, bloom and stay fragrant all year in our warm climate. As if to make up for their lack of color, the creamy white petals and crisp green foliage of Gardenia set the stage for showier plants and keep the air smelling sweet. Cascading honeysuckle pulls you in with its deep coral blooms that keeps our pollinators fed. Bursts of vibrant yellow roses contrast splendidly with the deep purple hues of climbing Morning Glory as it eagerly swallows anything within reach. Swaths of violet and orange Pansies seem to glow against their stark white Gardenia backdrop, a perfect balance of color.

In most of life’s endeavors, a solid foundation is the key to success, and gardening is no different. The garden didn’t just appear out of a dream, I had to build the dream myself. the earth is my foundation; I nurture the soil, taking care to ensure it is healthy, strong, and capable of supporting life. I form a plan, detailing everything I want my garden to be, employing every learned strategy and using experience to predict potential problems. I plant my garden with care, placing each inhabitant in such a way that my hand is almost undetectable, giving nature all the credit for its loveliness. There is work involved, of course; even once the plants have established themselves, the garden needs to be maintained, problems solved. Dying blooms need to be plucked, leaves raked, and garden pests to be managed. Experience guides me, tells me when to act and when to step back, watch, listen, and wait.