Image courtesy of Gina Mellard.
When Gina of @ginas_flower_garden moved to the country with her newborn twins and toddler, gardening quickly became more than just a way to fill time at home. It evolved into a full-fledged love of flowers and a desire to create a fairy-tale sanctuary for myself and my children. If you want to know more, read on…
What made you start gardening?
Image courtesy of Gina Mellard.
I started gardening after moving to the countryside. I had twin babies and a toddler, so I spent a lot of time at home. The first year we started out simply by growing wildflowers and sunflowers. Since then, I have become completely addicted to growing flowers and try to grow them as much as possible. I have always dreamed of creating my own rose garden, similar to those found in stately homes, and it was a dream come true to be able to do so. My garden has always been my sanctuary and I love it.
What inspires you in the garden?
Image courtesy of Gina Mellard.
I want to create the most beautiful garden, like something out of a fairy tale for kids to grow up in, something Disney princesses would go to. I appreciate each flower in every season and always focus on a special flower or plant each month.
I love cherry blossom season the most, but I enjoy different seasons for different reasons. June is the time to enjoy roses, and late summer sees beautiful hydrangeas and dahlias blooming.
I adore being able to walk around my garden and cut bouquets of fresh, eco-friendly flowers. There’s something very soothing about arranging flowers yourself.
What is your favorite gardening style?
Image courtesy of Gina Mellard.
I love cottage gardens, but with a modern twist. My garden is full of classic cottage gardens, but I welcome other beautiful varieties as well. So I have lots of roses, foxgloves, and other traditional cottage garden flowers, but I also love growing plants like lilies and lampreys.
Every year I discover new gardening styles and plants, most recently pond plants. One thing that will never change is that I want as much pink as possible.
What are you most proud of?
Image courtesy of Gina Mellard.
My rose collection is my pride and joy. We currently have over 60 roses in beautiful shades of pink, white and blue. I planted most of them bare root three years ago and watching them grow was so special.
Every year I like to plant more perennials. My peonies are really lush and June is incredible. I remember going up and down the garden in my double stroller, digging up parts of the border and planting new varieties. I am so proud of the fact that I was able to start and grow my own beautiful rose garden while caring for my baby. Without them, I wouldn’t have started it!
What are your future plans?
Image courtesy of Gina Mellard.
Much of the garden still needs work. It takes time to create a garden, but right now I’m looking forward to seeing it mature. The plan is to continue adding more perennials and some nice shrubs. I also have an assignment and this is also a big focus for me right now. I started adding fruits like raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and grapes.
What are some gardening tips for beginners?
Image courtesy of Gina Mellard.
My top tip for new gardeners is to start with one border at a time and try to enjoy the journey. Consider screening and composition first as well. It is important not to put too much pressure on yourself, as plants can always move. Gardens are always changing and I know that my garden will never be complete. Also, remember that there are no “rules.” It’s your garden, so the most important thing is to make sure you like it. Focus on creating a garden that brings you joy and makes your heart happy.
Grow like Gina
Image: Thompson & Morgan rose ‘Mum in a Million’ (hybrid tea rose)
If you’d like to grow the plants and flowers that Gina features on her Instagram page, here are some of her favorites.
Follow Gina at @ginas_flower_garden to see how she continues to grow, inspire, and make the most of every inch of her garden. For even more inspiration, our complete series of featured gardeners includes a wealth of highly knowledgeable growers worth following.
Thompson & Morgan’s horticulture team produces a wealth of content about gardening and food production. Since the first seed catalog was published in 1855, Thompson & Morgan has grown to become one of the UK’s largest mail order seed and plant companies. Through publishing catalogs and operating an award-winning website, Thompson & Morgan is able to provide home gardeners with the highest quality products money can buy.
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