I’m thrilled to finally share about one of my most commonly asked questions- Everything about our garden! If you’ve been following along with my Instagram stories, you know how busy Troy and I are with landscaping and our garden. Evenings spent planting (before the mosquitoes come out!) has been a relaxing way to spend time outside together. It’s really confirmed my belief in the importance of gardening and sharing my love of it with the kids. Lilly in particular has surprised me with how much of a green thumb she has, and I can’t wait for more sweet segments of ‘Gardening with Lilly!’ Taking care of the garden (and evening!) is now part of our morning routine together and it’s quickly becoming a favourite part of my day.

In our garden beds this spring I planted a mix of both seeds and starter plants, and I found this so helpful for making sure my first year of gardening in our new home was successful. Your local gardening centre will have a good selection of both, and I definitely recommend getting a few starter plants if you’re new to planting. I had a lot of fun diving deeper into my gardening knowledge. From watching plenty of random gardening videos about what I was planting to flipping through gardening magazines and books. There is so much to learn! 

I’ve had lots of questions about what I’m growing this season, both in my veggie gardens and flower beds. I have to tell you, I was so excited to grow flowers from seed and David Austin roses this year.   It’s been an absolute mood brightener to bring in fresh flowers from the garden into our home. everyday! Truly the best way to start a sunny summer morning, coffee in the garden snipping flowers to arrange into effortless bouquets.

I also planted David Austin climbing roses in big terracotta Bergs Potter pots on either side of our garage doors. I cannot wait to watch them grow tall enough to flank the doors. But goodness, I have so much to learn about roses. I look up questions I have online almost every single day. Ex: Trim or snip roses just about the branch with five leaves, for abundant growth. Yellow leaves means too much water. Fertilize (lass is more) twice a year. It’s making my head spin a bit, but I’m loving the reward of gorgeous full blooms. 

We have lots of veggies too, everything from lettuce, fresh cucumbers, carrots, celery, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, snap peas, beans, kale and more. One of my proud moments was how well my French radishes turned out—they’re incredible in a salad. I’m also excited for my tomatoes to be ready (any day now), and cannot wait to make my absolute favourite summer tomato pasta fro my book, one of the most delicious summer meals that we love as a family.

 We also planted pumpkins in one of the garden bed for the kids but they grew so quickly we may have to relocate them to the back field. I didn’t realized how many pumpkins grow from one vine, and one seed! I’m excited to plant a whole lot more next year. I was also told by someone that I might have planted them a tat too early, I might just try to plant some more in a different location in the coming weeks. 

Below you can see a legend of the layout of our garden beds. I little info about our garden beds. We built six cedar boxes 14′ x 4′ out of cedar planks. They are a relatively simple design, with a border ledge- to stand or sit on. I like the height and depth of them for comfortable gardening. 

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, I want to inspire you to spend a little time with your hands in the dirt and plant something. A great place to find resources on both planting tips and buying locally is the PlantSomethingBC.ca website by the BC Landscape and Nursery Association. Plant Something BC is highlighting not only how good gardening is for the environment, but how good it is for each of us and our families. You don’t need a lot of outdoor space to start planting either. Planter boxes are a fun way to enjoy some green space on your balcony, and community gardens are perfect if you need more growing space. I also love incorporating gardening indoors, from hardy houseplants to hanging a basket of strawberries in a sunny spot.

 

Gardening is a year-round love for me. The cyclical nature of experiencing stunning summer growth, then harvesting, and planting and preparing for the next season brings a beautiful rhythm to our lives. Every afternoon as I spend time in my garden and bring in clippings to eat and enjoy, I can’t help but look forward to the squash and garlic harvest this fall, planting winter greens, and freshening up my patio planters with new colours. For embarking on your own planting adventure, find incredible resources, programs, and tips for gardeners of all levels with Plant Something BC!

This project is supported by the BC Government’s Buy BC Partnership Program; delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC with funding from the Government of British Columbia.

The Government of British Columbia is committed to working with industry partners. Opinions expressed in this document are those of Monik Hibbs and not necessarily those of the Government of British Columbia or the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.