Linda’s Flower Gardens in Illinois – Fine Gardening

Hi GPODers!

As the years progress in our gardens, we witness change. Many of these transformations are inevitable due to the changing seasons, condition fluctuations, and life-cycle stages of our plants. As humans, we also experience change alongside our gardens, and sometimes that dictates how our landscapes evolve. Linda in Kinmundy, Illinois (Zone 6), has seen her space transform quite a bit over the past four decades, but it will soon be time for another major transformation. As she considers the more low-maintenance plants that will make her gardens easier for her to enjoy, we get to see some fantastic photos of her flower-filled landscape at its peak.

I have been gardening here for over 40 years. My husband and I built the house (literally—a contractor framed and roofed it, and we did the rest), and then I started making flower beds. My husband isn’t interested in gardening, but he is very good to create hardscaping for me. He has built me a greenhouse, pergola, and tunnel arbor, and installed lovely old iron fencing, among other things. Now I am at the point where I need to think about downsizing, but that doesn’t really mean getting rid of anything—just focusing on shrubs, Japanese maples, flowering trees, and lots of ground cover.

The first bed I made: I’m trying to transition it to shrubs and small trees.

Of course, that first bed was far from the last. Several flower-filled plantings are scattered about Linda’s spacious property.

My hot bed

Linda has achieved what many dream of: a gorgeous meadow garden that is full of blooms and still manages to not look messy. These timeless, wild plantings have tons of appeal but can require a decent amount of maintenance if you want consistent blooming. Incorporating more shrubs, trees, and ground covers into these plantings will make them far easier to maintain.

Linda’s front garden is equally floral. Even after she makes her transition to lower-maintenance plantings, the usual arrangement of foundation shrubs will not be found here.

The view from the front porch

When I was younger, I wanted lots of color, but I am learning the joys of green.

Dahlias are kind of high-maintenance, but I can’t give them up yet.

Lastly, as the flowers fade, the foliage in Linda’s garden gives her one final show of color to round out the year. While the prospect of saying goodbye to her high-maintenance beds must be a daunting one, there is the silver lining of even more fall-color possibilities to look forward to.

Thank you so much for sharing your stunning gardens with us, Linda! The flower beds you have crafted are enviable, but I’m sure the more low-maintenance designs you create will be just as delightful.

What changes are you planning on making in your garden this year? Is it time to downsize like Linda, or is there still room in your landscape for brand-new beds and exciting additions? Let us know in the comments, or consider sharing photos of last year’s garden so we can really enjoy your “after” photos later in the season. Follow the NEW directions below to submit your photos to Garden Photo of the Day!

We want to see YOUR garden!

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, fill out the Garden Photo of the Day Submission Form.

You can also send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Lee Valley Large Gardener’s Wash Basket

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

This basket was designed to be used by gardeners to wash freshly harvested vegetables before taking them inside. You can gather your vegetables and then hose them off right in the same basket. However, you can also use it for fruit or add a cloth liner for serving bread or other baked goods. Measuring 16″ long, 11″ wide and 4″ deep, it is made of chrome-plated steel to resist rust.

Ho-Mi Digger – Korean Triangle Blade

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Versatile Tool: The Easy Digger Korean Triangle Blade Ho Mi Ho-mi is a versatile gardening tool designed for leveling and digging in home and garden settings. Efficient Design: Its unique triangular blade shape allows for easy soil penetration and efficient leveling of garden beds or landscaping areas. Durable Construction: Crafted with sturdy materials, this tool ensures long-lasting performance and reliability.
Ergonomic Handle: The comfortable handle provides a secure grip, reducing hand fatigue during extended use. Compact Size: Its compact design makes it easy to maneuver in tight spaces and store when not in use.

Corona® Multi-Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Longer Service Life: The blade of this round small shovel is made of carbon steel, which can effectively improve the hardness by high temperature quenching, and the surface has anti-rust coating to avoid rusting. In the process of use when encountering hard objects will not bend and deformation.
Sturdy Structure: The small garden shovel with D-handle, ergonomically designed grip can increase the grip of the hand when using, the handle is made of strong fiberglass, will not bend and break under heavy pressure. Quick Digging: Well-made digging shovel has a sharp blade, and the round shovel head is designed to easily penetrate the soil and cut quickly while digging to enhance your work efficiency.