BLOG: Come See my Garden Bloom!

This week's post comes from green team member Elizabeth Buckner, who has a beautiful home garden and many tips to share! Elizabeth welcomes visitors, so please email greenbowieblog@gmail.com if you'd like a tour!

When I was 12 my family moved to a home heated by coal, and the back yard was packed with ashes (not pretty to look at ). I asked my mother if I could grow flowers from seeds. I dug right in and was rewarded with fragrant carnations, salpiglossis and moss roses. I still love to grow plants from seed and cherish the process of gardening. Every place I’ve lived I’ve grown flowers. The one I care for now has enough space to try a wider selection of plants and landscaping. My approach hasn’t always been scientific like the magnolia that shaded the veggie garden.

 In plain view of the family room is the pond my husband and I dug and lined with a sturdy rubber liner, guaranteed to last 20 years and still holding up after 26. I learned to prevent leakages by rearranging the rocks. The waterfall requires cleaning the  pump once a month.The other water spot was created to keep the garage floor dry. This water garden is loved by the anything including grass, butterflies, dragonflies, birds, turtles, and dark purple iris, cardinal flowers and obedience.

 Fertilizer is only used on veggies. Harmful chemicals are never used. Bluetailed skinks thrive in my yard. But  when deer gobbled up many plants and deer ticks arrived, my family helped put up an electric deer fence. Especially be alert for deer ticks in May. Nine huckleberry bushes came with the property. With other fruits and nuts I’ve added, the wildlife are well fed.

 I’m grateful for all the plants contributed by family and friends. The  anemonies spread nicely and bloom a while. The steep hill in front of my house is filled with autumn clematice, winter jasmine, ageratum, and English Ivy, an invasive species I plan to remove. It’s like a stew mixed together to prevent the soil from water runoff.

 There is always something in bloom in my garden. I usually have extra plants to give away. Come check out the variety of compost heaps I keep and the many flowers. You can help me remember some names I forgot.

Do you have a garden teeming with wildlife? Share your tips in the comment section! Also, check out and "like" Bowie Gardens for Wildlife on Facebook, which can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bowie-Gardens-for-Wildlife/243250911768

The Bowie Green Team meets every 3rd Monday at City Hall and are open to the public. The Green Team subcommittees also welcome visitors to their meetings, and welcome those interested in volunteering to assist with their projects. Please email greenbowieblog@gmail.com for more information.