Seeds of Inspiration: One Couple’s Advice on Starting a Blooming Garden

Haleigh DiBetta
Haleigh DiBetta

Staff Writer

Jun 28, 2023

The second you step into Scott and Jeanne Crosby’s backyard, the chaos of everyday life melts away.

Just outside downtown Lexington, Kentucky, the sounds of busy streets are drowned out by the trickling of water in six small ponds spread throughout the property. You’re surrounded by lush, green ferns; sprawling silver maples;  and flowers covering nearly every inch of the Crosbys’  backyard – a true outdoor oasis.

The feeling that you get, the serenity. The feeling is so peaceful,”

Jeanne Crosby

Scott, who’s been a Lowe’s associate for 15 years, and wife Jeanne have spent the last 20 years turning their backyard into their dream garden. What started out as a few plants around the deck turned out to be so much more. Their shared labor of love has totally transformed their space.

It takes “blood, sweat and tears,” said Scott.

One look at the Crosbys’ garden might have you thinking your own backyard could never look like this, but they say it’s very doable. And they’re willing to share how they made it happen:  

  • First, Scott and Jeanne are proponents of starting small. . To achieve the grand garden they have now, they began with 12x12 gardens dotting their back yard. If planting seeds directly into the ground seems too daunting, they suggest getting decorative pots at Lowe’s garden center and adding plants already in bloom. Jeanne calls that an “instant garden.” A word of caution: Potted plants need to be watered more often than those in the ground.  
     
  • Their second piece of advice: Know before you try to grow! Scott said it’s crucial you know what grows best in your area before you invest in your garden. When checking out potential plants and flowers, check the tags to see how much sunlight or shade they may need and see what best fits your environment. You should also keep an eye on how much sunlight the area you’re planting in gets throughout the day, Scott advises. Does it get morning sun? Afternoon soon? Details like that may make a difference.  

Always ask a Lowe’s associate in the garden center for advice based on where you’re planting. They know what will work best in your area"

Scott Crosby, Lowe's Associate

 

  • Third, invest in your garden when you can.  You don’t have to do it all at once. (See Tip No. 1 about starting small.) Try out a few easy-to-care-for plants during your first season of gardening. See how they do, and then decide if you want more of them – or want to try your hand at a larger variety.
     
  • Their fourth tip is about maintenance. You can buy low-maintenance plants, but there’s no such thing as a no-maintenance garden. You don’t want to lose hours of hard work because you didn’t water properly. . Jeanne suggests spreading a good mulch to help keep moisture in the ground.

There’s mulch designed especially for perennials, and Jeanne suggests using it in your perennial garden. “That gives them the best chance to return the next year,” she said.

  • Lastly, make a space for yourself in the garden. Scott and Jeanne say there’s nothing better than sitting back and enjoying the results of their labor. Whether it’s overlooking your blooming plants from a deck or from a shady area with a pair of chairs underneath, you’ll want to be able to relax and take it all in.

“We eat three meals a day out in our garden when the weather is nice,” Jeanne said. “Give yourself a space in or on the edge of your garden to sit and fully enjoy your hard work.”

Scott and Jeanne don’t keep their lush garden to themselves. Part of the joy of tending a garden is sharing it with friends and family.

In June, over 500 people toured their garden as part of the “Open Gates to Bluegrass Living,” bi-annual Lexington Council Garden Tour. The Crosbys’ garden was one of seven featured gardens. Money from ticket sales went back into the community through grants to support education, public outreach, historic preservation and civic beautification throughout Fayette County.

Scott and Jeanne have been working on their outdoor masterpiece for two decades. So, don’t expect a “starter garden” to look like this one right out of the gate. Enjoy the process and how your garden changes over time — as the seasons and the years go by. The Crosbys’ hard work – and patience – have been rewarded every year since they dug holes for their first plants.