A Simple Garden…Tips & Ideas!

A simple garden is just about all I can handle!  I do love gardening but I am far from master-gardener status…in fact, I’m really not very knowledgeable at all.  But I have gained a little experience over the years tending our flower beds and little veggie garden.  We began growing vegetables several years ago when the boys were little…hoping to get them to eat what they grew.  And do you know it actually worked!  Each year we all chose our favorites as well as something new to plant.  And that trial and error not only helped the kids learn to experience new foods but also helped me determine what I could actually grow in the space I had.  So now I have it down to a simple science that serves us well!  If you feel like you don’t know anything about gardening, don’t have the space, or think it’s too much work…I’m happy to share some of my simple tips and ideas that might inspire you to give it a go!  I’m still not completely confident with my gardening skills or have grand spaces for growing, but I’m really glad I didn’t let that stop me.  Come along with me on a tiny tour of a simple garden in my backyard…

a simple garden provides plenty of simple joys!

my veggie garden is simple and rustic. we built the frame to keep out deer & bunnies…but stakes and netting will work too!

i created this welcoming sign for the gate from a plank of wood, craft letters, artificial flowers and gorilla glue!  it still makes me smile when i enter!

inside is the simplest design…4 recycled wood, raised beds in each corner with rubber “mulch” pathways between!  i’m in love with artificial mulch…it stays clean and is more comfortable to kneel on!

a couple peppers planted around the lettuce will fill the empty space when the salad greens are gone…and then peas will have more room to spread out too!

flower pots always look lovely in any size garden…this spring mix lettuce can eventually be replaced with some annual blooms!

containers are also great for herbs that spread, like chives…

or mint…

this year i used a tall planter for my nasturtium too.  it cascades so beautifully…

and did you know you can eat the blooms?  they’re great in salads and they can dress up a veggie platter beautifully!

and speaking of edible flowers…i always add a couple rows of marigolds.  each planting will explode with multiple blooms soon, giving me plenty to use on charcuterie boards or desserts all summer AND fall!

and when the red leaf lettuce is gobbled up, i’ll plant some cutting flowers like zinias in the empty space.  a garden is always growing & evolving!

lots of herbs come in handy for cooking…and favorite garden ornaments look sweet tucked among them.

one of the ears is missing on my old bunny…but i just turn him so you can’t see it!

perfectly imperfect!

fairies in the garden…

my “fairy” garden is actually home to a gnome…

no matter what’s in it, mini gardens are the most fun and easiest to enjoy!

they’ve been a trend for some time now so it’s really easy to find fun trinkets and supplies to design one!

lots of garden centers have mini plants AND decorations.  i love this whimsical, handmade chimney i found at a local shop…

no big space required to garden like this…it’s reminiscent of playing in a doll house!

it might be faded & worn, but it’s still enchanting to me!  give one a try this summer…kids love them too!

decor in the flower beds…

my perennial gardens also get some rustic decorations…these old electrical insulators look like mushrooms to me!  a fun way to recycle!

and behind another cluster of shiny toadstools sits a log…the easiest AND least expensive pedestal of all!  i use them to hold pots of flowers or just an iron ornament!

near my patio sits an old cart that doubles as a spot to serve treats OR a place to hold a pot filled with more edible flowers!

and my favorite garden decoration is this old, rusty bike with a basket full of faux blooms!  they stay colorful all season…and no watering required!

if you’re new at the garden game…keep it simple, get creative, and just…

let your garden grow!

pin for later~

resources~

garden and fairy garden plants & supplies:  Ben Sells Greenhouse, Nature’s Corner,

faux flowers in bike basket:  Amazon

supplies for DIY garden sign: Michaels

vintage electrical insulators: Etsy