READER'S GARDEN
“When we moved into our home in 2020, the south-facing garden was overgrown with no paths, no structure. In January 2021, I began the muddy work of clearing the space, revealing hidden paths and defining areas. As the seasons passed, and I watched buds open and borders fill, my heart was won over.
“Over the years my garden has grown, and so has my confidence. What once was a small vegetable patch is now a full kitchen garden with raised metal beds, a greenhouse for sowing in spring, and tomatoes, cucumbers, and chillies in summer.
“In the past two years, something has clicked. I’ve come to see the garden like a living canvas: height, texture, and colour are my tools. I love that the garden is very forgiving: if a plant doesn’t like its place that season, I move it; if a border needs redesigning, so be it. There is freedom in knowing that ‘mistakes’ are part of the process.
“Gardening can become expensive: pots, tools, compost all add up, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. I have learned the joy of reusing what I already have or finding and sowing seeds. There is nothing quite like raising something from seed: watching it sprout, grow, and bloom, knowing you did it. The cost is small but the pride is great.
“Challenges are part of the journey. Our clay soil is heavy and sticky after rain, it’s frustrating to dig and hard to find the correct plants to survive and I’ve lost many plants. Asking questions at a local garden nursery helped me see that preparation is everything. The rule I follow now is simple: dig twice as wide and twice as deep as you think necessary. Mix in compost and chicken manure. Over time the soil drains better and supports healthier growth. It is slow work, but the difference shows each spring.
“One other thing I need to keep on reminding myself is that in Scotland we are roughly six weeks behind England in my opinion. When reading UK-wide magazines, watching videos, or following gardening blogs, I always adjust the timing. While it can feel like a disadvantage, in truth our longer lingering seasons have their rewards.
“In 2022, I began sharing the garden progress on Instagram - not just to document, but to connect. I discovered inspiring gardeners, advice I could trust, encouragement when things went wrong and unexpectedly, friends.
“They call themselves the Lanarkshire Crew: local gardeners, about thirty minutes apart, united by passion. We first arranged to meet in real life at Scone Palace Garden Fair and since then we exchange tips, seeds, and plants. We meet in local garden centres, sharing excitement at every aisle. What began as shared advice has become shared laughter, coffee, and friendships that have grown strong roots.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this connection, it’s that every garden is different. What thrives in one garden may struggle in another even if they are only five minutes away. My garden does not like echinacea, they sadly never come back, whereas they thrive in my friend’s garden. My garden self-seeds pony tail grass (Stipa tenuissima) everywhere, whereas my other garden friend cannot seem to keep it alive in her garden. The real joy is discovering what works well in your garden and going with it.
“Our garden is two very different spaces, yet deeply connected. One side is Mum’s garden, where I lose myself in sowing, planting, pruning, and creating; the other is for all of us: my husband, our two children, the two dogs. It is a practical area always humming with activity: children on the swings, a goal scored, adults chatting around a barbecue. These two zones grow more than plants, they nurture balance, joy, and family memories.
“Gardening has also strengthened bonds across generations and with my papa, with whom I share this gardening path. He is known for Papa Jack’s marigolds and whenever I see their golden heads dancing in the breeze, I think of him and of knowledge passed down of seeds and stories.
“One of my favourite areas for family time is around the small pond, a project born from an upcycled planter our church was giving away. Around its edges, I planted bare roots that are now filling out, softening the space with foliage and colour. The pond teems with life: frogs have taken up residence, tadpoles wiggle, the children delight in spotting ‘Pip the Frog' or watching creatures hop and splash. What began as a simple project has become a world of discovery for everyone.
“I don’t just treasure the flowers or the harvest, but the way our garden has become a gathering place for everyone.
“If you asked my favourite flower today I would probably give you a different answer tomorrow. My husband might say dahlias or cosmos are my favourites and I do adore them but today, I’d choose roses for their scent and how well they’ve bloomed this year. By next week my heart might settle on asters, brightening autumn with their late blooms.
“Every garden is different. Every gardener grows alongside it. Mine continues to surprise me, teach me, and delight me, and I would have it no other way.
Stacy opened her garden for the first time this year under Scotland’s Garden Scheme, raising money for Glasgow’s Children’s Hospitals and you can keep up with her garden on Instagram and Tik Tok at @transform_no10.
If you would like to see your garden featured in a future edition of Scotland Grows magazine, please do get in touch to mail@scottishgardeningmagazine.com - we would love to hear from you!