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Greetings Gardening Friends!

When "Mary Mary, Quite Contrary"  was asked this question in the Nursery Rhyme, she answered, "With Silver Bells and Cockle Shells and Pretty Maids All in a Row". Miss Mary had quite an interesting little garden! Although I don't have any of those items planned for MY garden this season, I am VERY much looking forward to receiving what I DID order already from Cottage Farms and Roberta's Unique Gardens, to add to my gardens and landscaping. When we moved to PA from Los Angeles nearly 9 years ago now, (wow, time flies!), our new home's property was nearly 3 acres of weeds and neglected garden areas. It took me about 3 Spring and Summer Seasons to get it looking the way I wanted it to look. (Hubby helps with mowing the lawn and watering the area, but leaves all the flowers and "detail" work up to me).

The reason I share this time frame with you, is that I wanted you to know that gardening is not always instant gratification, and sometimes to get the results you see in magazines and the photos we show you during our garden shows...even MY OWN garden photos....sometimes to get these results, it does take weeks, months or even years. The payoff, however, is extraordinary...and once your garden takes root and starts to fill in, you can almost hear it whisper, "I've got this....I know what is supposed to grow here....I know what to fill in over there....I understand your gardening vision....Now watch what I'll grow for your THIS summer!"

You'll find, that after a season or two of adding and subtracting, moving things around, pulling things out that didn't quite make it, or that took over too much of the area, that you will starting having more and more time to sit back and enjoy your garden! Now, every beautiful garden requires maintenance, like mulching, fertilizing, watering, and adding annuals each spring, however, with the basics all planted and growing and returning each year on their own, you'll find, like me, that you spend some lovely moments each day, simply surveying the beautiful scene that you put into motion. Take lots of photos, from the very beginning. Each summer, you'll love seeing how that baby tree got bigger and how those Knockout Roses grew another foot or two taller to make that privacy hedge and how those little hydrangeas are THIS season a true hydrangea shrub, filling up the space under your window sills, and how those butterfly bushes somehow are now taller than your fenceline and have FILLED the backyard with butterflies!  Soon there will be no room for weeds!! (Well....that may be a bit of wishful thinking, but I must say as your garden grows, the weeds find fewer and fewer places to pop through!)

Don't be afraid to move your plants around if they don't seem to be doing as well as you had hoped. Your plants will let you know if they are happy, by growing big and full, like gangbusters! If they linger and stay small and look a little tired and are struggling....they probably don't like where you've put them. At least they are telling you to add some good garden soil to the ground they are planted in, and to give them some plant food and micronutrients. Sometimes they may just need a little more or a little less water! The more you garden, the more you learn....and you learn from your mistakes, just like with anything else in life. Soon, that brown thumb of yours will begin to turn green....often before you know it!

Gardening is a joy...it's relaxing....it's satisfying....it's hard work....its a big payoff of beauty! Try it! You'll love it!

Here at the Q, we have many experts to help you, and many wonderful products and ideas! Tune into our gardening shows to find out! Or look on QVC.com for lots of inspiration in our gardening department! You'll find lots of experts on our gardening blog pages too....if you click HERE, you'll see the latest in a series of Gardening Video Blog Tips from my friend and expert, Eric Wallien of Robertas!! 

and I'll continue to have regular garden blog postings, with photos of my OWN gardens throughout the spring and summer, right here, so you can see "How MY Garden Grows" along with your own! I hope you will share your own gardening photos with me and your fellow QVC gardeners on my Facebook page too....Carolyn Gracie QVC.  Don't forget to check out my Garden Party Pinterest Board from time to time.....I'm always adding new photos of ideas I've found or great gardening products that you may like to try! Enjoy today's QVC Patio and Garden Event! Don't forget to tune in from 4-6pm eastern for a big Two Hour Garden Party with Carolyn today as well, for lots of fun and easy ideas... and if you happen to miss the show, don't forget you can always check out my Garden Party page  on QVC.com to see everything available from the most recent shows, as well as products that are my favorites from my "Garden Shed". Enjoy....keep planning.....keep planting.....Your garden will reward you in time with many treasures!!

Love and Happy Gardening,

Carolyn