We’ve all seen those garden blogs, right? The ones where the flower beds look like they’ve been touched by a team of professionals, and every plant is perfectly placed, bathed in sunlight.
But let’s get real — that’s not how most of us garden!
For me, gardening has always been about more than just keeping everything neat and tidy. It’s about the joy of growing something from nothing, the satisfaction of watching your plants struggle, thrive, and even surprise you.
And living in Manitoba, well, that’s its own unique challenge. The weather here can be wildly unpredictable, making each season feel like a new adventure.
Whether it’s a surprise frost in June or a sudden heatwave in July, it keeps me on my toes — and my plants, too!
In this post, I’m sharing why my garden is far from magazine-perfect — but it’s still mine, messy, unpolished, and full of life!
I’m going to take you through my own gardening journey, what I’ve learned along the way, and why I think that the “perfect” garden is overrated.
So, if you’ve ever felt like your garden just doesn’t measure up to those picture-perfect ones online, you’re in the right place.
Table of Contents
Personal Gardening Journey
Gardening has been my passion for over five decades, though I’m not sure it was always my choice. As the only girl in a family of four kids, I found myself knee-deep in soil and canning jars, even if I’d rather have been doing anything else.
Fast forward to today, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. My garden is no longer about being the best on the block — it’s a space for me to get dirty, mess up, and, most importantly, laugh at the chaos!
From experimenting with Castor beans and Chinese lanterns in my younger days (yes, I was that adventurous) to embracing more low-maintenance perennials, my garden has evolved just as I have.
There are still plenty of mishaps along the way — like the time I almost lost my delphiniums to an insect invasion (thankfully, they bounced back), or the year the cucumbers decided to stage a rebellion and grow faster than I could keep up.
But at the end of the day, I find joy in those quirky moments.
Living in Manitoba has taught me one thing for sure: expect the unexpected! One minute it’s snowing, the next it’s a heatwave. The growing season here can feel like a race against time.
It’s a challenge that has turned me into a gardening MacGyver, making do with what I have and rolling with the punches.
Whether it’s a surprise frost in June or the relentless winds that make even the hardiest plants second-guess their survival, my garden has weathered it all.
The growing season is short, but that doesn’t stop me from finding new ways to make the most of it — even if my garden looks more “lived-in” than those glossy magazine shots.
Gardening the Real Way
Embracing the Mess
Let’s talk about the “real” garden — not the pristine, perfectly manicured version you see in those glossy magazines. My garden is far from that ideal, and I’m proud of it.
It’s messy, full of surprises, and, yes, occasionally overrun with weeds (I’m looking at you, dandelions!). But that’s what makes it mine — and that’s what makes it beautiful!
Letting the Plants Lead
I’ve learned to embrace the imperfections. Take my cucumbers, for example. One year, they decided to grow faster than I could keep up, taking over the entire bed like they were on a mission.
It wasn’t ideal, but it taught me the beauty of letting plants do their thing. I stopped trying to control everything and just started guiding them in the right direction — literally, with twine and stakes.
Sometimes, gardening is about managing chaos, not eliminating it.
Resilience Over Perfection
My delphiniums went through their own battle — insect invasions, dry spells, and a whole lot of frustration. But guess what? They came back. Not perfect, but alive and thriving.
And that’s the magic of gardening in the real world: it’s not about flawless blooms; it’s about resilience. When things go wrong (and they always do), the key is to adjust, not to quit.
Plants That Don’t Follow the Rules
I also have a collection of plants that just don’t fit into any textbook. They’re the ones I took a chance on — like asparagus, raspberries, leeks, mint, Chinese lanterns, and castor beans.
These are the ones that probably wouldn’t be on a “top ten plants to grow” list, but I grew them because I wanted to. Even though they didn’t always follow the rules, they’ve added a unique charm to my garden.
Then there were the others — the ones that fit perfectly into the traditional gardening guide but just didn’t click for me. Brussels sprouts, beans, cabbage, and potatoes made their appearance, but for some reason, they just didn’t match the vibe I was going for.
They’re great plants, sure, but they didn’t quite suit my style!
The Beauty of Imperfection
Not everything grows the way we hope — and that’s okay! I had three calla lily bulbs that ghosted me for six weeks before finally showing up like they owned the place. It’s those little surprises (and delays) that make gardening humbling — and kind of hilarious.
The Truth About Magazine Gardens
The Illusion of Perfection
We’ve all seen those dreamy magazine gardens — the ones where every flower is in perfect bloom, the grass looks like a carpet, and not a weed is in sight. It’s almost like the garden was designed by a team of professionals and edited with filters before the photoshoot.
But let’s be honest: that’s not real life! The truth is, most gardens look a lot messier and more imperfect than those staged magazine shots.
The Reality of Gardening
Here’s the thing — magazine gardens are, more often than not, unattainable for the everyday gardener. They’re carefully curated to look flawless, but they ignore the reality that gardens are living, breathing ecosystems.
They go through ups and downs, face pests, struggle with the weather, and have their share of failures. And you know what? That’s okay. In fact, it’s what makes gardening so rewarding!
Celebrating Imperfection
My garden doesn’t look like the one in any magazine. It’s full of rough edges, uneven growth, and a few too many stray leaves that need to be dealt with.
But it’s real. And when something finally blooms or a plant survives a tough season, it feels so much more meaningful than if it was just part of a picture-perfect display.
The triumphs, the struggles, and everything in between — that’s what gardening is about!
The Real Beauty of Gardening
So, when you see those pristine garden photos, remember they’re often staged. The real beauty of gardening lies in the process, not the end result.
And, let’s face it, the messiness, the surprises, and the little imperfections make it all the more special.
Wrapping It Up
At the end of the day, my garden isn’t about perfection. It’s about connection — to the earth, to my past, and to my own growing journey. Sure, it’s messy. Sure, it doesn’t always look like it belongs in a magazine.
But that’s what makes it mine! I’m proud of it, flaws and all, because every twist and turn along the way has shaped what it is today!
So, if your garden doesn’t look like the ones in the magazines, that’s okay. In fact, it’s probably better.
The beauty of gardening lies in the experience, the learning, and the joy of nurturing something from the ground up — no matter how imperfect it may be.
Your garden is yours to shape however you see fit, and that’s what makes it special!
I’d love to hear about your own gardening experiences! Does your garden have its own quirks and surprises? What lessons have you learned along the way?
Drop a comment below and share your story. Let’s celebrate the messiness of gardening together — because, at the end of the day, it’s the real, lived-in gardens that hold the most beauty.
Thanks for reading my blog and Happy Gardening!
Take Care of Yourself
Barb