Van Bourgondien

October 2011 Winner

Natalie Wilson of Dolgeville, NY is our October 2011 Winner!

I have always loved plants. I started out with houseplants, and eventually tried my hand at a small flower garden. It wasn’t long before I was hooked… and hooked in my husband.

Soon I was throwing myself into catalogs, garden books and sites, reading, ordering, and learning as much as I could. Three years later, we have gardens that we’re very proud of, and planning on continuing to expand. Every winter, I’m busily planning my beds and taking count of my seed. My gardens consist of perennials, annuals, biennials, vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees. We have sun beds as well as shade beds tucked into the rural country setting we call home. Flowers are blooming spring, summer and fall, fruits and veggies are ripening each Autumn, while winter brings rest to each of the plants. Birds are welcomed in with a small flower bed of their own with two hanging feeders and a butterfly bush to take shelter in. My gardens are full of life come spring as it is visited by hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, and bees, while fat toads take shelter on the ground. It is a place to go to for peace and relaxation, even when I approach it with a shovel in my hand.