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Home Blog The {Farmer} & The Florist Interview: Milli Proust
June 19th 2022

The {Farmer} & The Florist Interview: Milli Proust

Written by
Floret

I first connected with Milli Proust on Instagram years ago and we’ve stayed in touch ever since. I always look forward to her beautifully written posts and especially her weekly ‘Windowsill Wednesday’ series where she highlights a seasonal arrangement featuring flowers from her darling cutting garden. 

Milli’s first book, From Seed to Bloom: A Year of Growing and Designing with Seasonal Flowers will be released here in the States on June 21. I was so excited when she sent me an advanced copy to review! I invited Milli to share more about her book, her approach to seasonal floral design, and what she’s up to next. 

Milli Proust carrying a bucket in the garden

Congratulations on your gorgeous book From Seed to Bloom: A Year of Growing and Designing with Seasonal Flowers! It’s such a celebration of the joy you’ve found in growing something from seed. The easy way you break down design techniques and the seasonal floral arrangements you share are so inspiring. This is the first book you’ve written and it’s packed full of practical information—what called you to bring it into the world?

Thank you, Erin! I’ve loved every minute of working on it. It came from a place of becoming increasingly fascinated by the relationship between the land and the grower—there’s something incredibly intimate about that relationship, and a lot of the books I have voraciously read and loved on cut flowers, floristry, and growing were missing some of that intimacy. Every bit of land is so different, from the soil type, the climate, where the wind comes from, and where the sun touches it, that there’s never going to be a perfect textbook to follow when it comes to gardening. This journey of learning the land has felt much more personal than anything else I’ve done, and much more nuanced too—much like getting to know and understand a new friendship. 

I’ve not been growing flowers for very long (this is only my sixth year growing commercially) and embracing that I wanted to write in a way that made the practical elements as accessible and easy to understand as possible. I wanted to bring a book into existence that not only was practical, useful, and encouraging if you’re just starting out growing flowers, but celebratory of the personal too—a book that motivates the forming and strengthening of a relationship between a garden and a gardener.

Milli Proust writing seed labelsMill Proust garden and greenhouse

In the book, you encourage people to ask themselves a simple question at the start of each season: “why am I growing flowers?” Can you speak a little more about why you’ve found that important to think about when planning your garden for the year?

This is one of the best (of many) pieces of wisdom I’ve been given by you. In your workshop, part of the first module really tucks into the why question, and I’ve found it’s been a useful and grounding question that I return to again and again. When it comes to growing, there are so many different combinations of flowers to try, so many colours to choose from, and the timings of a whole season to think about. It can easily become overwhelming before you’ve even begun. If you’re growing for pleasure, the things you choose, how and when you sow, will differ greatly from if you’re growing for market. And again, growing for market might require different ingredients than if you’re growing for weddings and events. If you have a strong sense of why you’re growing flowers and what for, the planning stages of gardening suddenly become a much easier and more simplified place to navigate.

Milli Proust harvesting tulips with her dogsFrom Seed to Bloom includes such a wealth of information on growing on a scale between what you call “big gardening and small farming.” When you lived in London, I know you used to grow solely in window boxes and containers on balconies. Do you have any advice for those that don’t have a traditional garden space but still want to grow their own cut flowers?

Grow something that you completely love would be the first thing I think of for advice. Growing in containers is much more difficult in many ways than growing in the ground. The containers require much more of your care to keep them hydrated and fed, so tending to a plant you feel real affection for or affinity with will help make the process feel less like a chore and more like a joy. But having said that, if you want to use the flowers in your floral design work, it’s worth growing things that are generous, like cosmos or sweet peas, or are hard to source at market. 

Violas and pansies are container classics, very easy to grow, and there are some varieties, proved by your trial in 2019, that work brilliantly as cut flowers. If you don’t have access to a traditional garden space, try planting a layered succession of spring bulbs in a big pot with violas or pansies planted at the top. Keep picking the pansies and violas to encourage more flowers, and once the bulbs start getting underway, they’ll force the stem lengths on the violas and pansies up. By the time the last bulbs are in flowers, your pansies and violas will have beautifully long, workable stems, the likes of which are impossible to purchase at the market.

Roses growing in Milli Proust's gardenPeony patch in Milli Proust's gardenA central theme throughout the book is slowing down to notice the subtle changes in the natural world around us. With a floral design business, a seed shop, a new book, and your job as an actor, how do you prioritize that way of thinking, and how does growing and arranging with seasonal flowers play into that philosophy?

Slowing down isn’t necessarily about doing less, I think it’s more about noticing and savouring more. I’m sure we’ve all experienced those moments when time feels fast or slow—and sometimes it’s hard to put a finger on why. I find when I pause for a moment and intentionally make note of the shifts and changes that time brings, it’s easier for me to comprehend what and how long time is. If I’ve not marked time in any way, I think back to the last big occasion and all the blurred, busy, in-between time can feel like it went in a flash. By noticing, celebrating, and giving occasion to the small things—the changes in the light, the lengthening and shortening of the days, the new shoots pushing up, the first warmth in the air, the fruit setting, or the first leaf falling—when I look back on my time, it’s full of these little, savoured moments that can help it to feel more expansive. 

Milli Proust sill arrangementFrom Seed to Bloom includes so many stunning seasonal arrangements. I especially enjoy your sill projects. You use a lot of unusual and foraged material for the supporting, textural, and filler elements. Can you share a few of your favorite unexpected floral ingredients to work with?

It feels lucky to be living in such a seasonal climate where the landscape offers up new, interesting things throughout the year. Growing up and living in a city, a lot of my connection to the natural world was through cracks in the pavements, local parks, or along railway lines, and I still get a kick out of the plants that are heedless and grow where and how they like across the seasons. Over the years, I’ve ended up inviting many of them to grow in my garden (it’s wise to check it’s not an invasive species before doing this), from the campions and cow parsley that come to the ditches in spring, to the abundance of wild grasses in summer, the fruit and hips in autumn, to the catkins of winter, there’s always something beautiful that might not necessarily be overtly showy, but instead will have an interesting form or texture that’s firmly rooted in our landscapes to take inspiration from. 

Milli Proust bridal arrangement

I love your note on creativity when discussing floral elements and style in the book. You say, “There is no right or wrong way to be creative, and each and every one of us is capable of creativity.” What advice would you offer to someone who’s just starting to create arrangements with the flowers they’ve grown and might be feeling overwhelmed? 

Simplifying is always a good idea. If I’m feeling the overwhelm that can often face us when starting a creative project, I find it freeing to set myself limitations. For example, I might limit the colour palette, using only one colour in different hues and tones, or I might limit myself to just three ingredients. By setting limitations you’re also limiting the number of creative decisions to be made. When there are too many problems for us to solve creatively, the overwhelm can come in really quickly. 

Another way to simplify when working just for practice or play and without a brief, is to use your time to explore just one thing. I might give myself one problem to solve, which might be, “How can I work with the form of these branches to make them the most dynamic?” or “How do I make these little, blue muscari the stars of an arrangement?” It’s another form of limitation but can allow lots of fun, free curiosity and creativity to happen.

Milli Proust working in the fieldMilli Proust gardenWe both had grandmothers that fostered our own love of flowers. Can you tell us a little bit more about how the time you spent with her ultimately led you to the path you’re on now?

My grandmother GJ taught me so much about plants, not in any formal way, but in the way in which she loved and respected them. When she named the plants we passed in the garden and on walks in the wild, she would introduce them as if they were old friends. She loved all the gardens she tended throughout her life, and my memories of her at her happiest are when she was in them. The palpable joy that she felt when she was among the plants she cared for, showed me the power flowers can have to enhance a life. I count myself lucky to have witnessed that from an early age. I think we have all borne witness, at one point or another, to the ability flowers have to make a moment better, or soften the blow of life’s hardest times. 

Working with the land never seemed like a job prospect or an option when I was growing up in the city, but with GJ still tending her garden at the grand age of 92, and having watched her over the years, her back bent and working, she had made growing plants seem like a do-able, knowable thing. So when the time came and I moved out of the city with no education in horticulture, it didn’t feel like such a far-fetched change to become a grower. GJ came to live with me during the first lockdown of Covid and she was the one who encouraged me to send out the flowers in the field, the ones that had been destined for weddings and events, to whoever wanted them or needed them. She knew that people needed hope at that time, and she knew hope can be found in flowers. She saved my business in that moment and I’ll be forever grateful to her for it. We lost her last year. I miss her every day, but I know I’m drawing on so much of the wisdom and love she passed down—and for that, I’m hopelessly lucky to have had her as my grandmother.

Milli Proust windowsill arrangementMilli Proust Windowsill Wednesday arrangementYour ‘Windowsill Wednesday’ series on Instagram gained some notoriety last year and is such a fun and beautiful way to document and showcase your seasonal arrangements. What led you to start that and why do you think people have connected with it? 

Yes, the series made it into a magazine last year! I still can’t believe that! It’s a project I’ve been doing every week for five years now, and I was surprised even early on when people seemed to enjoy it and connect with it. When I started growing flowers, I wasn’t confident in designing with them at all. I had been going to the flower market in London for years and had interned at a florist shop, but had always held a feeling of being a bit of a floral intruder wherever I went. My skills were just simple bud vases when I started ‘Windowsill Wednesday’—low-key pairings and combinations of a few stems. The flowers I grew behaved so differently from the imported market flowers I was used to. They had so much more life in them and you could feel the magic left in the stems from being touched by the weather—some with gorgeous curves where they had longed for more sun, or beautiful, mottled petals from being out in the rain. I just wanted to learn and understand them as an ingredient better and I knew that to do that I would need to practise. So I set myself on this project and vowed to show up to practise it at least once a week. 

Closeup of 'Earl Grey' larkspurEach week bought so many beautiful new flushes of flowers to work with that I was itching to create with it all and the project was easy to commit to. Here’s a little bit of life coming round in a circle—the very first ‘Windowsill Wednesday’ I did was with ‘Earl Grey’ larkspur I grew from Floret seeds! That is the flower that sparked the project—so thank you for being a part of it! By the end of the first summer season of ‘Windowsill Wednesday’, I’d been entrusted to do my very first wedding by a friend because of the series, and buoyed on by that vote of confidence, I carried on with the project through winter. I had initially thought I wouldn’t be able to manage to find ingredients every week in winter, but that limitation asked me to look more closely at what was on the plot, and that in turn has totally influenced the way I look for ingredients and plan my season to this day. 

Milli Proust Windowsill Wednesday arrangementThe other part of ‘Windowsill Wednesday’ is the words. I started putting words with the flowers early on, little observations about the weather, and the changes in the landscape. I love words—I had been writing plays and short stories all the way through drama school, but when I left I had written and put on a not very good play. And after it was done I hit a long writer’s block, I was so nervous about picking up a pen again, and didn’t trust anything I put to paper. Once I started making the windowsills, the words joyfully started coming back, and it felt like a huge relief. It still surprises me that people connect with the project, but it makes me so happy! Perhaps the connection is something to do with what we talked about earlier, in the marking of time and savouring of the little moments. It’s sort of like a weekly news bulletin about the subtle seasonal shifts, an antidote to the more difficult and challenging news we are usually bombarded with.

Milli Proust's cottage and comsosMilli Proust working on an arrangement in the studioWhat else are you working on this year? Do you have any new projects coming up that you’d like to share?

The formidable Sarah Raven has invited me to do the flowers at her press days this year, which for me, is a dream job. I’m so excited to work with the ingredients grown at Perch Hill—a garden I have long admired and taken inspiration from. There’s also something big in the pipeline—I’m about to become a mother. I feel very, very lucky. It’s something I’ve wanted for a long time. I don’t know yet how it will change the course of what I do and how I do it, but I’m already having to function on a different level that I’ve found challenging. I’ve downsized the number of weddings and events I’ve said yes to this year, I have a brilliant team of freelancers who will be at the ready to help with the ones I will be doing, and I’m stocking up my little online shop with the most useful tools and design mechanics, things that I love that won’t perish in the same way as the flowers, which helps me feel like I’m able to slow down a little. It feels a little nerve-wracking to be downsizing and pivoting again as an already small business, especially when it’s still in its infancy, but I want to be able to honour this time of change and turn my focus back to growth when it feels right. I’m sure I’ll grow and gain a lot from this experience too, and as I’ve said before—I find the best creative solutions come out of limitations, so I’m excited to see where this next bit of the journey takes me.

Thank you so much, Milli, for taking the time to share about your new book (and your exciting news!) with Floret readers. I can’t wait for the release of your book here in the states and it will be so fun to see this next chapter of your life unfold. 

From Seed to Bloom book on windowsillTo celebrate the release of Milli’s new book, From Seed to Bloom: A Year of Growing and Designing with Seasonal Flowers, we’re giving away five copies. In the book, Milli encourages us to slow down to notice the subtle changes in the natural world. For a chance to win, simply post a comment below telling us about a beautiful thing you’ve noticed recently. Winners will be announced on June 28.

UPDATE: A big congratulations to our winners: Robin Lamb, Marila, Annie, Erin J. and Jenny Negrey

Learn more and connect with Milli:

Book

Website 

Newsletter

Instagram 

 

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1,158 Comments

  1. Josh Laddin on

    How wonderful it must be to wake up each day, to the beauty of nature.
    We take the beauty of nature and the sentiment of others, and incorporate them into designs we create.

    Reply
  2. mpho on

    gorgeous flowers, they look amazing

    Reply
  3. Brittney H. on

    I started working for a wonderful woman who takes care of her friends gardens, maybe 7 “customers” in total, and what I’ve learned from working with her, beyond simply weeding/planting is to remember to stand back and take in how we have transformed the space. Almost every time we finish a bed she stands back or passes it by and is just so proud that we were able to create something so beautiful and it’s a constant reminder to me to always stop and take it all in.

    Reply
  4. Angela on

    I’ve spent a lot of time watching the sky. Noticing the sun shining through the clouds, the clouds pushing through the sky.

    Reply
  5. Marcille on

    Beautiful, amazing, lovely, …..

    Reply
  6. Judy Tallant on

    I just adore a small private corner of my yard, where fragrant mock orange has jutted out, completely ungroomed and out of control. I can’t ever bear to prune it. Just in front of it is a deep fuscia wild rose, equally unbridled, while an Elderberry is just beyond them, “photobombing” my view. I can no longer stay on the sidewalk, walking in this corner. But it is the dearest, sweetest, juxtaposition of color, untamed, freedom, fragrance, and beauty. I slow down every single time I come through, to soak it in.

    Reply
  7. Darlene MacDonald on

    Thank you for sharing your love 💕 of flowers & to remind us to stop & experience their beauty! Nature’s beauty heals wounds! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  8. Pamela Cass on

    Wow… so inspirational and gorgeous! Currently, my husband and I are on an epic road trip traveling across the US from California, up to Canada, and back home all the way across Canada. We have seen so many beautiful places! Nature is awesome… the feel, the smell, the sight, the sound! There are so many incredible places in this world to see… and one spot might just be in your very own backyard!

    Reply
  9. Nancy Savage on

    This looks like an amazing book.
    It would be a perfect addition to anyones garden library. ❤️🌺💐🌼🌹🌾🍃🪴

    Reply
  10. Emlynn Tortona on

    Thank you for sharing all the unique colors , gorgeous flowers and floral arrangements photos. I live in Central Texas right now and it is scorching hot. It is an inspiration and a challenge to even consider growing beautiful flowers like you do. I know I will have to figure out what can I grow best here in order to achieve the best results even just for my own selfish enjoyment.

    Reply
  11. Patricia Phillips on

    The book is going to be a great addition to flower lovers. I love growing flowers, veggies, shrubs and trees. Working in my garden has deepened my connection to the land and what it offers and teaches me daily. Nothing lifts my spirits as seeing flowers in bloom. The garden is a magical place.

    Reply
  12. Bonnie Berner on

    How beautiful nature is. I watched two little birds playing in some long untrimmed grass. It made me think of how nature always gives beauty refined and unrefined.

    Reply
  13. Elizabeth Cryderman on

    My favorite thing is watching the hummingbirds in the summer. We have one that sits in the same branch on the same tree and guards the 2 feeders from other hummingbirds. They are so amazing.

    Reply
  14. Patricia E on

    Such a beautiful book with lots of care and love put into it. 😍

    Reply
  15. Cynthia Thompson on

    I spend most of my gardening time in my backyard and there are several mockingbirds I enjoy watching when I take a break while I sit in a lawn chair. Recently, I had gone over to my (elderly) neighbor’s side of the fence to weed and clean the fence line. I happen to notice one of the mockingbirds sitting on the fence looking at me with his head cocked to one side. He made several moves, each time eying me, until he had come full circle. I feel like perhaps he had noticed that I was out of place. Usually, when I watch the birds I feel like I am invisible to them. The thought that perhaps the birds are watching me too is eye opening. Nature is never singular, it is always symbiotic, and THAT is beautiful.

    Reply
  16. Callie Stoker-Graham on

    This morning I noticed all the sweet peas in my garden–including Floret’s Restormel–that bloomed while we were on a weekend getaway to celebrate our 24-year wedding anniversary. They are ethereally beautiful.

    Reply
  17. Leida A on

    After battling depression for a couple of years, I’m finally in a better state of mind after getting professional help. This is the first summer in 3 years I’m finally doing gardening again. Seeing the beauty of my plants and flowers blooming and growing just shows me that no matter how low and “under” we may be, we can always bloom and grow beautifully with a little TLC.

    Reply
  18. Stephanie Leftwich on

    I was watching all the bees on my cucumber plants, moving from bloom to bloom! So amazing to watch and contemplate how important each and every pollinator is to our gardens.

    Reply
  19. Caron Hardy on

    I’ve noticed more butterflies in my garden this year that I’ve packed with plants!

    Reply
  20. Rebecca on

    I’ve seen the most beautiful winter sunsets lately and the colours that are painted across the sky each night make me appreciate each day we have.

    Reply
  21. Judy on

    I love the way bumble bees seem to cozily sleep inside a hollyhock flower and slowly wake up as the sun comes up

    Reply
  22. Abigail on

    A bouquet of peonies…one of my favorite spring time flowers… these bloomed a little later then normal for Nebraska but a friend of mine shared a bouquet of white, pink and burgundy colors. Just beautiful

    Reply
  23. Tara on

    Beautiful evening light over a pine forest on a recent trail run :)

    Reply
  24. Simone on

    Sunrise over the lake while fishing with my husband. Blue, clear sky and all the green trees surrounding the lake.

    Reply
  25. Sarah Day on

    I recently traveled to my hometown in the PNW for a family member’s funeral. Driving up the south side of Mt. Hood at dusk with the soft pink light on the trees and mountain was a moment of such pure beauty in the midst of grief. I’ll never forget it.

    Reply
  26. Jess Anne Knutson on

    The beautiful shades of GREEN we’ve enjoyed this year brought by the wonderful moisture we received this spring. That moisture has brought us out of years of severe drought, and we are so grateful!

    Reply
  27. Marcia Willems on

    My garden is my safe and happy place.. I am nurturing my garden, and the garden is nurturing me, when I feel lonely or sad.. there is always a gift to be found in my garden.. a little red or pink poppy flower that just bloomed.. a bumble bee flying by.. any way, a lot to discover in your own little garden :)

    Marcia

    Reply
  28. Rachel on

    I recently took an alternate route to our new home and discovered a small creek that runs near our house. I now take that alternate route everyday just so I can see the little creek. 😊

    Reply
  29. Maria on

    I’ve loved discovering all the volunteer starts this year. Some cosmos have even popped up on the other side of my house, nowhere near where they were the year before! My daughter and I also came across the coolest flower with velvet like leaves and we stopped and pet it on our walk. It was so cool!

    Maria

    Reply
  30. Becca on

    I’m in the PNW and this year we have had extra rain and cooler temperatures. It makes me so grateful as we were in a drought and last year at this time the smoke from wildfires was terrible. I love seeing all the gardens growing.

    Reply
  31. Jennifer Waite on

    I’ve had the chance to notice the subtle changes in our new puppy. Sometimes it’s the little things, like his paws getting bigger, him being able to finally jump up on the couch and learning new tricks. It’s so much fun and our family is loving every second of it!

    Reply
  32. Somer on

    I stood in a field in the mountains band the grass was waving in the most beautiful way, back and forth like a dance that only it knew.

    Reply
  33. Yvonne on

    Seeing my little dinky transplants really establish themselves in the ground and start to grow. It has been slow but a beautiful and challenging process!! This is my first year growing flowers.

    Reply
  34. Elizabeth Singh on

    I love watching this one hummingbird that keeps visiting my snapdragons and nicotiana. And then the other day, I saw a hummingbird moth on my catmint. I think I enjoy watching the visitors to my garden almost as much as the garden itself!

    Reply
  35. Sandy on

    This book looks so inspiring and beautiful! I would love. A copy

    Reply
  36. Mary Milstead on

    We have had very little rain for almost two months now so everyday I am enjoying the beautiful blue sky! And of course the birds. I always notice the birds! And this year I am trying dahlias for the first time so I am watching those babies and cheering them on!!

    Reply
  37. Shirla lopez on

    Resently I had COVID and lost my taste and smell…. I am using flowers to refresh and retrain my senses, I notice a little more smell everyday. I follow Milli on Instagram and adore her still photography. I would be thrilled to have her book. thank you :)

    Reply
  38. Andréa on

    Each seed sprouting with it’s little seed cap!

    Reply
  39. Gretchen Moscon on

    I recently spent a week in Vermont with my husband and two little girls. The gardens of the home where we stayed were not only intentionally planned with native perennials, but also breathtakingly beautiful and lovingly maintained. Watching my girls flit around the gardens in the sunshine and gathering blooms for vases was truly beautiful and a balm for any sadness.

    Reply
  40. Alexis on

    I’ve noticed the amazing natural world around us coming alive the past few weeks as the snow melt kicked off, and the sun started blasting our area.

    Reply
  41. Libby on

    We have daisies growing everywhere in our yard. My roommates say they’re weeds but I think they’re beautiful.

    Reply
  42. Christine on

    I’m practicing creative waiting when I’m in situations where it would seem that I’m losing time, or waisting it.

    Reply
  43. Grace on

    I’ve noticed how life feels when I’m kinder to myself

    Reply
  44. Sarah on

    It was golden hour, and I was nearly finished with my weekly hour long commute from Boston to NH. I was zoned out at a stop light listening to the radio, and my eyes slowly started to focus on a trio of sprinklers watering the perfectly clipped lawn of a strip mall. Light and water spray and my weary brain fog all danced together for a moment, and I felt my bones and muscles rest again.

    Reply
  45. Anastasia on

    I started growing Dahlias and snapdragons this summer and can’t wait to see how they turn out. I hope my results are as good as everyone else’s and I get many, many bouquets this summer.

    Reply
  46. Jenny on

    Here in Charleston, South Carolina, every morning with my coffee I sit by my morning sun filled window watching the bluebirds fly in and out of their house feeding their babies amongst my new zinnias blooming beautiful colors and my blue purple delphinium which I think I will do more of next year. It’s peaceful amd adds beauty to my busy life watching my flowers and planning more beauty and varieties for next growing season. Life slows down in the garden.

    Reply
  47. Lucinda on

    I’ve seen some beautiful human relationships. I love relationship with people, but it can also be one of the hardest things. Beautiful relationships is something I care about a lot.

    Reply
  48. Karen on

    My neighbor has great fun teasing me about growing flowers. He feels that unless plants provide sustenance it’s not worthy. I smile at his teasing and remind him that flowers provide visual sustenance to my heart, fill the space with amazing smells and bring a smile to the many people who walk by when they stop for a moment and enjoy the splendor.

    Reply
  49. Laurie Stoker on

    I live in Atlanta, GA where summers can get hot. I have David Austin roses planted by celosia. I love the beauty of the roses being protected from afternoon sun and also rabbits by the celosia, yet they peek out and bloom through the stalks. I believe they are friends.

    Reply
  50. Carla on

    We have let our back flower bed get overgrown with milkweed to encourage monarchs. One with a wing issue has been back there for over a week- watching her has brought me so much joy. She flits around the flowers like a little dizzy fairy, bumping into bumble bees and sunning.

    Reply
  51. Christine Grata on

    That every time I view your instagram im inspired to tear up my backyard and plant as many seeds as I can get. Wondering if my lawn guys can cut in between rows and rows of flowers. Thank you for the inspiration!

    Reply
  52. Amy McDaniel on

    Flowers, I’m convinced are Gods way of showing us how much He loves us. They make me so happy..

    Reply
  53. Kelly G. on

    Observing and appreciating the full life cycle of a cut tulip. The subtle color changes from vibrant hues to more muted yet utterly beautiful quiet tones. The way they shape shift, tight lipped and closed only to explode in full star form revealing its center. The way the stems eventually stretch and arch towards the table like a dancer.

    Reply
  54. Mylène on

    The birds wandering between the rows of snaps and bells.
    The quietude of early mornings.
    :)

    Reply
  55. Kim Puckett on

    Enjoying a beautiful vase of cut zinnias from my flower garden.

    Reply
  56. Leah Hansen on

    I marvel at the delicate beauty of a single rose flower and how perfected in beauty it is by design. And I am thankful to God for giving us flowers!

    Reply
  57. Lindsay steffner on

    The snapdragon that I planted a few weeks ago has the most vibrant colors. I walked by it daily and enjoyed them from a distance but recently I just stare at it while drinking a cup of tea. The colors were amazing and something worth slowing down to admire.

    Reply
  58. Katrina on

    The beauty and wonders of nature. First year garden here and stepping out to my small cut flower garden everyday brings me so much joy. 🌸

    Reply
  59. Jennifer on

    The beautiful morning sunrise with the little wren singing in the plum tree. Love the beginning of the day.

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  60. Tiffany on

    The little chipmunks talking to each other in my garden…I am fascinated by their social relationship to each other… it’s beautiful to watch these creatures go about their daily lives, oblivious to our world issues.

    Reply
  61. Lydia on

    Floating down my little river in a kayak with no sound but the birds and animals around you is so beautiful. Seeing that river become a clean area is so nice too

    Reply
  62. Ellen Delano on

    Stepping aside to let someone else go ahead of you, no matter what the situation might be or how small, could be the best thing that could happen to them.

    Reply
  63. Melanie Frigault on

    My kids have turned from babies to little people. Especially my daughter, she is just 3 and a half, and she is turning into the sweetest, kindest, softest little person. She thinks everything including slugs are cute, flowers are beautiful, the river is “strong”. She is observant in the most beautiful way. I want to be more like her when I grow up.

    Reply
  64. Vanessa Vernham on

    A beautiful thing, I noticed that my 16 year old son reached out to his sister to lift her up when she was loaded with self doubt and anxiety.

    Reply
  65. Madison on

    I have reflected on what I have found to be beautiful lately. Offering a smile has been a gift to give. Often it procures a smile back, gesture, or even a conversation. I think this enables other people to slow down too. Today I went to a coffee shop to grab a tea. I offered the gentleman behind the counter a big genuine smile as I headed to line. He came over to the lady behind the cash register and complimented the hat I was wearing. I like to think this sort of positive chain reaction was not a coincidence but rather a result of a beautiful, flighty pause: a brief smile. & with that, I hope whoever may see this comment, it encourages them to offer a moment of pause for a smile-it is a beautiful thing!

    Reply
  66. Jordan Trew on

    I have noticed that when I tenderly inspect a plant to choose what to cut and what to leave, that I am overwhelmed with affection for both- the ones that stay to be tickled by bee’s wings and little girls’ exploring fingers, and the ones that are brought in to be worked into a bouquet. The joy in these cuts are palpable and my girls and my husband all pop in through the day to see what new-yet-old-as-earth gathering we can create.

    Reply
  67. Kim Keegstra on

    Two days ago I paused and watched bees ducking in and out of the coral lupins in my yard. They land perfectly and know exactly how to open the sweet little petals. It was one of those “stop, notice Me” moments.

    Reply
  68. Emma O’Farrell on

    After living 20 years overseas & returning home I have surrounded myself with nature. The wildflowers beds that are growing by the train arches & car park giving so much joy against an urban background. The bees taking in the nectar, the vibrant red poppies, blue corns, long grasses, vibrant yellows are so very joyful & I make a point of walking by them everyday as I know they lift my soul.

    Reply
  69. Stacy Rumba on

    Today I noticed the first stem coming up off my Craspedia. It’s my first time growing it from seed and it had a hard start. So happy to see some new life in the garden have a long wet and cold spring!

    Reply
  70. Alida Milne on

    I have noticed this last week that even a very tiny arrangement of 2 alstroemerias, 1 astrantia and a few clippings of heather, can brighten a conversation around a supper table

    Reply
  71. Paula Brooks on

    It’s Winter here in SA, and obviously a quiet period for flower farmers, – but I still get up at the crack of dawn to see all the frost covered tips of the Lace that form tiny little snowflakes on each little flower. I always thought it would be too cold for the bees to be out at that hour, but this morning there was one bee that was perched on the leaf of a rose bush having a drink of cold water from the dew or frost tips.

    Reply
  72. Jessica K on

    I’ve noticed the skies and the clouds in the past month…. We’ve had cooler and rainier weather and the clouds have been gorgeous! And my roses are finally blooming. That too. :)

    Reply
  73. Julie G on

    This year, my foxgloves have been VERY prolific, almost a forest🤣 and it has made people stop and really look at the beauty these free seeding beauties were offering up. Flowers are amazing🌸💠💐🌺

    Reply
  74. Jessalyn chiu on

    Was backpacking the Olympic coast this weekend and saw a bald eagle and heard lots of owl hoots! Was expecting the beauty in the scenery but the bonus wildlife was amazing!

    Reply
  75. Allison on

    The beauty of first flowers in the garden!

    Reply
  76. Diane on

    It has been an unusually (but gloriously) cool and wet spring here, and the plant and animal life around us feels like it couldn’t be happier. Food is plentiful for the momma bird feeding her babies in the old spruce in the front yard. The wild grasses are lush and tall enough for a momma deer to safely stow away her fawn in the back field. It is just so good to see nature healing and the life around us thrive and recover from the heat and fires of last summer.

    Reply
  77. Courtney Waters on

    The beauty of a young child wandering around the garden learning new things about the nature around them is something beautiful I’ve recently thought about as my kids explore grandma’s garden.

    Reply
  78. Catherine Stewart on

    My sister, Francina, passed away in January. Ever since then, I’ve been having beautiful encounters with hummingbirds in my garden. They fly within a few inches of me, right in front of my face and just hover there, looking at me. It’s such an amazing experience. I feel as if my sister is visiting me and bringing me so much joy.

    Reply
  79. Kim Goddard on

    Waking with my daughter in the evenings I can’t help
    But notice the beautiful colors in the sky as the sun starts to set. Reminds me of watercolors washing the dirt of the day away with a promise of a fresh canvas in the morning.

    Reply
  80. Jenny Stein on

    I emerged from an underground parking garage to the middle of the concourse at Golden Gate Park. There to meet a friend, go o s museum . The first truly social thing I’ve done in more than 2 years. The angle the sun, the breeze, the cool mist of the nearby fountains, the dappled shade of the pollarded trees. The air was so intense and fresh and beyond expectation or description that I stopped dead in my tracks, spread my arms wide, and breathed. I was breathing beauty and the moment. It was exquisite.

    Reply
  81. Carly Williams on

    The bees 🐝 are humming so happily and there are more insects then ever in the garden. It’s not a large space but I’ve been working on sowing and planting nectar-rich flowers, whilst encouraging birds 🐦 and ladybirds🐞 to tackle the slugs and aphids – we even have a hedgehog 🦔 visiting! I couldn’t be happier in my little slice of heaven.

    Reply
  82. Abbie on

    I was on Lopez island, WA a couple weeks ago, and spent some time on what is called Agate Beach. Spending time looking for agates is a favorite pastime, but doing so here made me really look at all the other rocks on the beach and I noticed the diversity of color – I wish I could post a picture! Blue, green, red, purple, pink, it was all there. Such beauty right under my feet!

    Reply
  83. Ginger Defriese on

    The beauty of the land I grew up on, I don’t ever want to forget how it feels.

    Reply
  84. Apriyl Taggart on

    Today my first ever sunflower bloomed and boy was it so exciting seeing all my hardwork come to life. Watching each phase from seed, to seeding, to a 3″ plant all the way now to 4ft and observing how the buds formed and opened was amazing!! I also started zinnias and dahlias and am having so much fun. My husband has a veggie garden and I have the flowers 😊 I also have been growning hydrangeas I bought from Costco in pots and they are thriving! I commend all the farmers out there for their hard work and dedication. I may only have a handful of plant babies but am quickly learning how much time and effort goes into a garden. This is my first year so I expect I will learn a lot through trial and error. I appreciate all the farmers and gardeners out there who share their tips and tricks with the public!
    Thank you so much!!
    ~Apriyl Taggart

    Reply
  85. Leah on

    This is my favorite time of year living in Arizona. The raining season is upon us and my garden has come alive. It is if nature is rejoicing in the delight of the gift of rain after many hot days wilting in the sun. Which I feel like mirrors life 😌 you just need to hold on the tough trying times don’t last. Soon we will be rejoicing like the flower and bees our rejuvenating rain will come too.

    Reply
  86. Kelly B on

    My life is wildly hectic at the moment. My garden is reflecting that. But it is doing a commendable job sharing beauty despite the neglect its received. Tonight, while I nursed a baby and fed tacos to a toddler, I noticed how pretty the worn out and wilted penstemon on our kitchen table were. It grows naturally around the edges of my veggie garden. And since my other flower babies are small or half dead or half eaten by chipmunks, penstemon and daisies are what made it on to my kitchen table. The penstemon stems have been bent over and wilted for at least a few days but today in the midst of dinner insanity, the buds had turned bright white at the base and against the blue, it was beautiful. And the little humans around my table were also beautiful. And even wilty old things can make us pause a moment.

    Reply
  87. Jannah on

    We have several perennials we were worried didn’t make it through the winter. Each one that starts to push new growth this spring is an exciting and beautiful sight@

    Reply
  88. Michelle lopez on

    I’ve loved watching my flowers evolve from seed, to bloom, to my table in vases. Flowers always remind me of someone past and present in a nostalgic way. My grandmother cut just the blooms and put them in floating bowls, my mother taught me to arrange flowers. Flowers make people happy 😃

    Reply
  89. Whitney Wilker on

    I planted some glads in the years past and they have yet to return, I was a bit disappointed and did a little research to see that they actually may not overwinter here in my zone. Fast forward to today, while I was out in my garden trying to contain the weedy mess I discovered multiple blooming gladiolus. Let me tell you, I was filled with so much joy and so much beauty! I have to remember to slow down and enjoy the beautiful and precious things around me 🌷🌞💓

    Reply
  90. Libby on

    How all of my hydrangeas fade differently: white to green, pink to mauve, and blue to white with almost teal between.

    Reply
  91. Jessica Zheng on

    The longer daylight hours and all the lush greenery around me. I love summer because it means everything comes alive and there’s more sunlight here in the PNW which I crave so much! I also love seeing the summer blooms :)

    Reply
  92. Chelsey Kasten on

    When the hay field grows to its full potential and seeds before the first cut. I love watching it sway in the wind.

    Reply
  93. Sue Waiter on

    The larkspur that I planted last year and that did not do too well, came back big time this spring without any help from me! The small field of blues and white is so beautiful – makes me smile.

    Reply
  94. Abigail on

    I planted these deep pink roses four years ago, just underneath my kitchen window with the hope that someday I’d be able to see the blooms. This was right after I had my first child and it was the first thing I put into my garden. It was the beginning of a passion for me; my garden is sprawling now. And now, finally, I get to see the blossoms skirting the edge of my kitchen window. My son and I deadhead the roses, remove the petals, and throw them in the air like confetti– jumping up like high school musical.

    Reply
  95. Brandy on

    I love Saturday mornings because it’s the one day that is slower and there is time to go in the garden. I can walk through the garden and see what is blooming while my dogs follow me. It’s so therapeutic to have that quiet time in the garden.

    Reply
  96. Christa on

    A friend of mine once said to me “If you need more time, take more time”. This simple, yet paradoxical statement is not only profound, but profoundly true. It speaks to the fact that when we take time to notice, savor and take the time we need, we are given a gift. A gift of being in the moment, and in making time for the moment, we see and celebrate the magic that is around us always, that is available for us, our souls and spirits, when we allow. That is something beautiful I have noticed each and every time I have taken the time to take more time.

    Reply
  97. Sandra Klein on

    My college age boys hanging out with their 12 year old sister and making her laugh.

    Reply
  98. Christelle Snyder on

    Every morning I walk outside to enjoy the birds and earth waking up. First thing I come home to do from work is the same walk. My gardens are my sanctuary. Even though I’m new to it all, it’s heaven. So thankful for these books and all the guidance that’s shared!

    Reply
  99. Iris on

    A catalpa tree near where I work. It’s a super rare street tree where I am :) It’s big floppy leaves and lime green colour in real life blew me away!

    Reply
  100. Ruth on

    The beauty of a densely wooded area, with the evening sun peeking through the trees.

    Reply
  101. Heather on

    I recently noticed a flower in my garden I hadn’t planted. I’m assume the seed was carried over by a bird. It was such and unexpected surprise to find a beautiful pink flower one morning. I’ve saved the seed so I can grow more of it next year.

    Reply
  102. Lanette Lubwama on

    I’ve recently discovered the joy of cooking and eating fresh herbs and vegetables out of the family garden. So pure and so heart warming to my soul.

    Reply
  103. Angelica butler on

    Recently have fallen in love with creeping fig. It’s so beautiful and works with modern, old, mid century and more. Learning to be more adventurous with modern landscapes and gardening that blurs the lines and keeps beautiful traditions.

    Reply
  104. Andréa M on

    Watching bees nap in our cosmos with my kiddos 🐝

    Reply
  105. Amanda on

    Watching the damselflies take shelter from the wind in my mandevilla vine on a breezy summer afternoon.

    Reply
  106. Holly Ann Shaw on

    One of the small things that brings me joy is the family of rabbits that live near my back yard. Each evening I look out the window to see at them lounging under my arborvitae or nibbling the sweet clover.

    Reply
  107. Kari Winter on

    I’ve just been kayaking in Desolation Sound for 5 days & noticing the hardy flowers & mosses that get no help from humans yet thrive naturally. It makes me think that Nature has it’s own agenda & I shouldn’t try to control that too much.

    Reply
  108. Andreea on

    I feel like a spectator of a garden doing its own thing at its own pace. Releasing blooms and fragrance when it wants to. The sweet peas kicked in, and they dance in the breeze. The bee balm has three little mountains of purple I’ve never met before (it’s my first year growing flowers, more than calendula and to dahlias, I should say). Some of the dahlias are ready to be pinched, some are not. I’m learning to let the good and the bad come in, it’s all teaching me lessons. The cosmos have decaying stems, which means there’s some bacteria at play. There are aphids and ants in harmony. Some may say it’s not all “good” but I still think it’s beautiful because there’s a design to it. There’s so much intelligence, if we just stop and look and listen. And to think that a seed created all of this. And will return to a seed. The sunflowers are not here one second, and another second they’re exploding. The echinacea are just starting to come in, in whites and crimson. And the catbird follow me as I garden, since she knows I overturn some soil which means goodies for her. I’m in awe, every single day. For all of it. And I’m grateful that I just get to witness it all. I’m the guest and they’re throwing the party for everyone to see. It’s a good life.

    Reply
  109. Juli Hamilton on

    Seeing all my flowers finally blooming in the memorial garden I made for the best kitty I ever had who passed away from lymphoma. It’s beautiful + perfect for him.

    Reply
  110. Anne on

    I’ve seen so much beauty the last couple days. A bald eagle in a tree yesterday and a huge box turtle in my yard. My garden is growing and seedlings are popping up. The month old kittens are getting so big and fluffy. All four gorgeous like their mom. My 12 chicks are starting to get in their adult feathers and 3 more fluffy balls of cuteness were born today with 1 more on the way. Tonight was a gorgeous fiery red and orange sunset. So blessed to live where I live and can enjoy summer so fully.

    Reply
  111. Colleen on

    Watching the new fawns dance across our lawn and garden; while sharing our peach tree with their Mama!

    Reply
  112. Gwen Boulter on

    A beautiful thing I noticed… I tried to start delphinium from seed this year.. and failed. I was pretty disappointed. I thought I did everything right. I started the seed at the right time, followed all the directions. But they didnt grow. Last year I threw wild flower mix out in one of my garden beds and forgot about it… the delphinium are blooming from the mix and they are absolutely beautiful. It made stop and breathe and laugh at myself for thinking it was my failure. When I let natre take over and do its thing, just throw the seed on ground nature took care of the rest.

    Reply
  113. Suzanne Raley on

    There is so much beauty to behold daily, but today one of the most beautiful things I saw was my Maltipoo, Louie, playing with a frog 🐸 in my dahlia garden. It was so precious because it was as if Louie had just found a new friend and the frog seemed to enjoy playing with Louie. It is true that if we really slow down and truly LOOK around us, we can see beauty in so many things that sadly we can be taken for granted. I treasure flowers and each one has it’s own beauty that I can not get enough of! I’m just so thankful that God gifted us with flowers and that I get to partake of growing and designing beautiful arrangements that bring immeasurable joy!

    Reply
  114. Kerri Santsaver on

    As a third year gardener, I have really been enjoying watching my seeds (watermelon, butternut squash, lettuce) become little plants. I can tell they are a plant, and not a weed. It’s a sweet bit of confidence that makes your day.
    And I have baby sweet peas from your farm that are coming out!

    Reply
  115. Kathy Lowther on

    In addition to growing specialty cut flowers, I also propagate native Alberta wildflowers from seed – my favourite being Harebell. (Campanula alaskana) They are both dainty and tough as nails. Seeing my plot of harebells swaying in the breeze is a sight to behold and tucking them into market bouquets is one of my favourite ‘surprise’ addition everyone loves. It’s a real connection to nature.

    Reply
  116. Miryan Garcia on

    I was so inspired by growing floret that I decided to try and grow my own in my tiny yard. I started noticing bugs eating my flowers and my kale, which thanks to you I felt brave enough to grow. I purchased some lady bugs to release and help me with the hungry bugs killing my flowers and kale. I almost forgot to let them loose in my garden. I was just admiring them crawl in my hands, watching them and mesmerized by their beauty. Seeing how they decided on what path they wanted to take. Nature is so beautiful, even though I did want them to eat the annoying Aphids.

    Reply
  117. Klaudia on

    This blog and book are so inspirational! I love that Floret flowers shares other wonderful resources. We have an amazing flower grower that does a pop up and sells her flowers at my coffee shop. Her website is the Gold Fern Farm; check her out!

    Reply
  118. Erin on

    I recently bought a house and have been transforming the neglected landscaping, love seeing it come to life. So much has been inspired by you and your gardens, thank you!

    Reply
  119. Darcey on

    My favorite change is how the fragrances of the seasons ease into one another. It started with wet moss on cold soil, then slid into fresh creek water and daffodils. Then, the native woodland phlox misted the air with a light aroma that teased us with what was to come. Lilacs opened their perfume to remind us of when they were here last year, and the year before, and all the years before that. Honeysuckle, honey locust trees, and tilia blossoms make the most perfect country breezes. And when the farmers mow the hay fields…I want to wear it from a bottle.

    Reply
  120. DGen on

    My small backyard has pops of color from flowering plants I pot and scatter around the space. Can’t commit to growing from seed, I’d be so disappointed if they failed to thrive. Maybe this book will convince me to get my hands dirty!

    Reply
  121. Tonya frakes on

    A beautiful thing I have seen recently; the love my older children have for me and each other ❤️ And of course my Hollyhock !!!

    Reply
  122. Carrie Webster on

    I live in a condo, so I don’t have a garden area per say, but that has not stopped me from creating one in containers. I am currently sitting on my deck enjoying the beauty of my small garden of flowers and herbs. The hummingbirds are enjoying it too!

    Reply
  123. Preethy on

    Love the arrangements shown.

    Reply
  124. Lisa on

    The pot of sunflowers brightened mine and my daughter’s day this past weekend. We’d only ever seen tall, single sunflowers and this pot of them was just bursting with sunshine.

    Reply
  125. Jessica Watkins on

    This is my first year growing cut flowers, and when my first zinnias just bloomed, I was so excited to see their beauty. I have been taking care of all my seedlings so much, and its so rewarding to see them grow and flourish.

    Reply
  126. Holly on

    Today was my first official day of summer break. I was able to wake up with sun and stroll the garden, coffee in hand. I treasure these slow, peaceful mornings, chat with my mom and set myself up for the day ahead. It’s a beautiful life.

    Reply
  127. Anna on

    My plum sunflower is about to burst into bloom today!

    Reply
  128. Tiffany on

    Not flower related… taking a much needed break from work, I was at the pool in my apartment complex. As I sat there, I just relaxed in the calm breeze while looking at the gorgeous turquoise blue water. It was so pleasant.

    Reply
  129. Malgorzata de Kubber on

    The smile of an elderly person is a beauty. My story with flowers began when my husband’s grandmother moved and she had nowhere to grow flowers. In her family women loved flowers and cultivate them from generation to generation, then I came up with the idea to grow flowers for her.Now that Grandma is no longer with us, flowers are still a big part of my life and I enjoy seeing ex-gardeners smile when they get fresh flowers. When working and caring for the elderly, there is nothing better and more valuable than their smile – this is symple beauty for me.

    Reply
  130. C on

    the evening light lingering past 9pm is a soft reminder of the beauty of the long summer days

    Reply
  131. Judy on

    A hummingbird on my salvia 😍

    Reply
  132. Courtney Leigh on

    On a walk in the south with my kids, I noticed beautiful wildflowers randomly in a bank of weeds. It was a simple reminder to bloom where you are planted, wherever that may be.

    Reply
  133. Rene’ on

    Lightening bugs this evening.

    Reply
  134. Marianne Poteet on

    Foxtail lilies (eremurus) peeking out of the ground in my first flower bed at our new house. I thought I planted them too late and was thrilled to see them growing. I admire Millie and am following her on Instagram now.

    Reply
  135. Christine Schumacher on

    The first vibrantly colored tight bud on the first climbing rose I’ve ever grown (at age 57) that will become a pale apricot bloom.

    Reply
  136. Chantal on

    The dragonflies roaming the garden.

    Reply
  137. Michelle on

    The tips of my daffodil blubs starting to emerge amongest the pansys plants, after I 3.5mth wait (thought they had rotted).

    Reply
  138. Cherrie on

    The beauty & aroma of earths morning dew, dirt & flowers blooming as bees 🐝 buzzing , sunshine illuminating the simple beauty of each waking morning in this beautiful garden of life🌸

    Reply
  139. Vanessa Richmond on

    The way my 4 year old’s little girl’s face lights up when she sees our seeds for our flowers have grown a little bit bigger. It fills her little wild heart with so much joy x

    Reply
  140. Tonya Mannes on

    The sweet little nest of birds that just hatched in the bird house I have hanging in my trees. It’s been there for a couple of years now and so excited it’s finally being used. I’ve been able to watch them grow. So fun!!

    Reply
  141. Jessica on

    Raindrops sparkling on Queen Ann’s Lace after a storm.

    Reply
  142. Emily Boehler on

    Today while walking the dogs I noticed what I think is possibly a type of verbascum growing at the weedy edge of our gravel driveway 💕

    Reply
  143. Kelly on

    Daisy’s popping up all over my property

    Reply
  144. Meghan on

    Something beautiful I have noticed is the way the sun hits my blackberry bushes first thing in the morning. Amazed that I can grow my own food!!

    Reply
  145. Laurie on

    Golden hour making my garden sparkle in the evenings

    Reply
  146. Laurie on

    Bees enjoying my zinnias 🤍

    Reply
  147. Kayla Schliesman on

    Lately I’ve been finding myself noticing and trying to appreciate the beauty in the unkept edges. The thought of weeds aside, how readily the earth covers herself in modesty and how often those weeds bloom beautifully and fruitfully.

    Reply
  148. Jackie on

    My daughter’s first vegetable garden beside me growing some wild flowers. She is loving it!

    Reply
  149. Jennifer Alexander on

    My daughter is raising tadpoles that are turning into frogs. The joy she has when checking them everyday and seeing if they’ve grown!

    Reply
  150. Erin M on

    My first year growing flowers from your seeds. The majority survived and are now thriving! Gotta say I’m
    proud of my patience ;) gives you a lot of respect for farming and a sense of pride that my baby seedlings made it!

    Reply
  151. Connie on

    While weeding and watering my recent plantings, I heard the songs of hungry baby swallows in the bird house above my head. I moved on quickly much to momma bird’s relief.

    Reply
  152. Tyler on

    My husband and I just bought a 7 acre farm from an expert gardener who called the farm home for over 55 years. Watching our yard explode with the blooms and fruits of her careful hands has been amazing. We inherited an apple orchard, asparagus, an established vegetable garden; and rows and rows of peonies, hydrangeas, and vining wisteria. We are so thankful for Mrs. G’s 55 years of devotion to her homestead. To pick just one beautiful thing is impossible, but together, Mrs. G has gifted us an ecosystem more beautiful and full of life than anything we could have ever imagined possible.

    Reply
  153. Tracy Marino on

    Noticing the small creatures that inhabit my garden, trying to notice which insects like each plant, paying attention to their beautiful colors, and shapes this year. Even the pesky one!

    Reply
  154. Kristen Brassard on

    There’s simply too many to list but I’ve notice how beautiful it is when I see my 4 year old daughter beam when she talks about flowers. Just like her mommy. ♥️

    Reply
  155. Amanda on

    The smell of Bells of Ireland!

    Reply
  156. Keressa Schwartz on

    The garden coming to life. Starting to harvest vegetables and the flower garden starting to bloom. Every year the beauty amazes me!!

    Reply
  157. Phyllis Freeman on

    Our local 4H clubs hatched out Monarchs in their homes to make a display at the fair. I was able to do it as a volunteer in my home. They displayed them in a walk through display for all air goers to see. It was a beautiful, learning experience for kids and adults.

    Reply
  158. Gweneth Kirman on

    Discovering the ‘how’ to plant from seed and grow beautiful flowers seems possible seems possible by reading Milli Proust’s book.

    Reply
  159. Barb on

    Our spring was very long with cooler and wetter than normal weather. This past weekend and today we finally have summer and will not complain of the hot weather. What I noticed in just three days how so many flowers, plants and vegs have grown and bloomed before my eyes. Finally and makes me so happy.

    Reply
  160. Nikki on

    I’ve been noticing the tiny moments of beauty, from purposefully slowing down and looking around my world. Some of those tiny moments include: a monarch butterfly following me up the driveway after collecting the mail from the box, the way my oldest daughter quietly whispers sweet poems to her pet cat Salem, the smell of fresh picked strawberries still warm from the sun.

    Reply
  161. Kristi S on

    I like to sit and watch the hummingbirds flitting around my penstemon plants. They love them and I love watching them!

    Reply
  162. Taylor on

    Tomorrow is my 27th birthday and for the first time I don’t feel anxious about getting older. Creating my own garden has taught me so many life lessons about patience, consistency, and most importantly it’s taught me to not be so hard on myself. My garden has pulled me away from depression and into a better place. Today I saw a monarch caterpillar munching away on the milkweed I planted this Spring and it was the most beautiful thing to see the caterpillar found the food I planted just for them. Life is beautiful.

    Reply
  163. Jacky on

    I’ve been noticing lots of pollinators in my cutting garden!

    Reply
  164. Ballard on

    The breeze right before it rains! Love that feeling!

    Reply
  165. Judy Larson on

    Flowers take me to my happy place. Sweet peas are my favorite as my late father grew them in Alaska. He was from Missouri and of English decent.

    Reply
  166. Diane Lundblade on

    I have noticed how beautiful it is to have a dream of a new garden shed/greenhouse with an English style garden almost become a reality this week! The landscape install has begun and by the end of the week I will be using it and enjoying more of God’s beautiful creation. I am so happy to learn more about gardening 💕 “Anyone who thinks gardening begins in the spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year; for gardening begins in January with the dream”. Josephine Nuese

    Reply
  167. Kathy on

    Slowing down and noticing changes in nature around us is such amazing advice. I was so excited to notice a little humming bird nest in my orange tree! The baby humming bird just was born! It’s so sweet to see it’s little beak poke out of the nest. I love watching its mother feed the baby💕.
    Milli your book looks amazing Congrats! Happy new baby to u too!!!!
    Thanks for telling us about it Erin. I love everything Floret! U r so talented and inspiring.

    Reply
  168. Diana on

    My daughter’s laugh. She was sad for a long, long time and now for the first time in a long time, she’s laughing again.

    Reply
  169. Kim Childs on

    I went for a walk with my daughter in our rainforest creek and we stopped and watched the dancing reflection of the sunlight on fallen logs and palms and marvelled at the intricate details of moss and mushrooms.

    Reply
  170. Jocelyn on

    Oh! The joy of flowers! All the details, as well as the larger vantage point- it’s all so incredibly beautiful.
    I am overwhelmingly thankful to God for His amazing creativity!

    Reply
  171. Diane on

    Slowing down to notice the world around us, is a topic my husband and I discuss frequently. Along with taking note of the good times! The photographs are so pretty…I can’t wait to read this beauty!

    Reply
  172. Sheri Nidositko on

    I have not grown morning glories since I was a kid, many years ago. Picked up a seedling at a local nursery. It’s stunning dark purple with a violet venter. It glows.

    Reply
  173. Nicole Schoor on

    Seeing my golden celebration David Austin rose wake up again!!! How I’ve missed her

    Reply
  174. Lark on

    My totally tangerine dahlia, first of my tubers to bloom this year and first time I’ve grown it. I’m tickled by how unique and fun it is.

    Reply
  175. K on

    Oh my goodness there is so much to see this spring/early summer, but tonight I spotted a butterfly despite the spent blooms and that was so so sweet

    Reply
  176. Susan Riddell on

    The first spring in my new house and the peonies were spectacular! One variety were so large and bright pink, they looked like something from the Wizard of Oz.

    Reply
  177. Megan on

    My realtor had a garden party this weekend and I spent most of my time there walking around a touching all the flowers! She had a wide variety and a beautiful campanula that does not have it’s saucer yet. I recently bought my own house and can’t wait to get flowers growing!

    Reply
  178. Jamye Nightengale on

    The blend of purple basil and the peachy orange of zinnias in a bouquet. I am having so much fun working with flowers this year.

    Reply
  179. Jamie L on

    Lately I’ve been starting to pay more attention to the beauty of life. It’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters to you. So I’ve been focusing more on spending time with my husband, our animal children and making time to regularly contact family and friends that live far away. I’ve also recently been really interested in learning about homesteading. I can’t wait to create a beautiful garden full of both edible goodies along with some gorgeous flowers to feed our very important pollinators friends! Sending peace and love to all!

    Reply
  180. Shalon on

    I did not have time this year to get the garden started as soon as I should have, plus we have had a bunch of moisture, but amongst the tall weeds there were self seeded flowers and veges. I have bells of Ireland, ranunculus, larkspur, peas, spinach, and some strawberries. It was beautiful to see these growing.

    Reply
  181. Laurie Garman on

    I love growing flowers. I have fond memories of my grandmother having a green thumb and growing flowers. I feel a connection with her when I work in my flower beds. I have some of her plants that she grew and I transplanted them to my house when she passed away. Being outside barefooted, cutting flowers with a pair of old scissors and bringing them indoors to brightened a room is one of my favorite things to do in the summer. I hope to pass on a love for outdoors, gardening and flowers to my granddaughter someday.

    Reply
  182. Laura Turner on

    This spring I splurged on a David Austin rose- the most beautiful shade of butter yellow, with a hint of peach.

    Reply
  183. Kristy Mackin on

    I check on my dahlias everyday and would LOVE to learn so much more from the book!!

    Reply
  184. Lauren on

    I had some peonies in a vase last week, and I loved seeing what they looked like every morning and watching them throughout the day. They became fuller and more texturized and pale pink by the hour it seemed. It was mesmerizing to watch.
    I also just moved to South Carolina, and there are some purple flowers in the front lawn that only bloom during the night, and they are gone by mid afternoon. They are fascinating and really petite and beautiful in the morning.

    Reply
  185. Elizabeth Kelly on

    Im growing more flowers this year than I ever have and I just want to grow more and more.

    Reply
  186. Caitlin Richardson on

    Our first dahlia bloomed today and my 2 year old son begged me to smell it as I placed in the vase with his favorite “wheat peas” as he calls them. Not only do I get to connect with son and teach him simple things such as shapes and colors. I now have a deeper appreciation for flowers and the ability it has to bring people together. I was gifted this dahlia from a neighbor I had never met before. Her generosity goes beyond sharing a few dahlias. We became friends simply because we shared a true passion for growing flowers and for that I am forever grateful (Thank you Andrea).

    Reply
  187. Sue on

    Nothing more enjoyable than growing beautiful flowers & sharing with family & friends!

    Reply
  188. Rachael Sammartino on

    Last week when I was pinching my dahlias I was going slowly to examine them and noticed a tiny baby praying mantis – if I had been moving quickly I would have missed her, its so beautiful to see beneficials choosing my garden as it has developed over the first few years ♡

    Reply
  189. Debbie Robins on

    Life is to short and being surrounded by beautiful flowers and giving flowers to people and seeing there facial expression is such an amazing feeling. Flowers just create happiness in so many ways

    Reply
  190. Diana Jones on

    Slowing down and taking a moment to watch my kids while they read. I love that I can see in their expression how they are feeling about the story they’re submerged in. It’s beautiful to watch a child escape to another world through literature.

    Reply
  191. Nicole on

    We were leaving the house last week and my toddler asked to bring his binoculars; I asked why he wanted them, he said “in case we see a bird”. I love that he’s watching and learning from me just from being outside and going about our days

    Reply
  192. Kathy Hill on

    This morning I watched a great blue heron fly high above my house just as the sun was rising. What a beautiful way to begin a summer day!

    Reply
  193. Kay on

    The bright yellow canola fields blooming next to the gray green wheat fields are unbelievably beautiful in eastern WA state right now.

    Reply
  194. Angela on

    The beauty of saying no

    Reply
  195. Allison on

    The delicate leaves on my cosmos blooms brought me a lot of joy this morning, as did having my community come around me in support after a really tough week.

    Reply
  196. Sheryl Eggleston on

    My peonies are finally blooming after dividing and replanting 3 years ago! They are beautiful

    Reply
  197. Katie S on

    Always love watching the bees work. But more recently love seeing the look on my daughters face when creating a bouquet from the garden. You can almost see what she is thinking. So thoughtful with each flowers and so happy with her work!

    Reply
  198. Regina on

    Bumble bee butts in the foxglove. It is our first non-bulb perennial to share its beauty in the garden and I love to hear the native bumbles buzzing about in the florets. It is also our early indicator of the arrival of summer and the abundance about to spring forth. I also had a grandmother with a beautiful flower garden, whom I think would be so pleased to see what I am doing now. The foxgloves remind me of her and miss her dearly. Thank you for the windows you share with us!! Cheers!

    Reply
  199. Marsha Neher on

    The tiniest bouquet of miniature daisies was left on my parents brand new grave by my granddaughter. We buried their ashes yesterday.

    Reply
  200. Denise on

    Today I saw a yarrow that looks like baby’s breath. So beautiful!

    Reply
  201. Julia Putman on

    Today I noticed that my very first dahlia bud of the year is about to open!! It doesn’t get much more beautiful than that!

    Reply
  202. Julie on

    Seeing our children watch for the first blooms of spring, the first ripe strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and honeyberries to the thrill of trimming mums in summer to dip in rooting hormones to double our fall blooms.

    Reply
  203. Karen mccumpsey on

    I love following your blog and site!
    You have influenced my move toward flower growing this year and I sale my first batch in July!

    Reply
  204. Patty Forster on

    Watching my daughter and her two year old son walk the garden gathering their own seeded flowers. A wonderful trait to learn is experiencing gardening by walking through the beautiful gardens of plants with our grandmothers and/or mothers. It’s wonderful and beautiful trait to hand down; the gift of gardening!

    Reply
  205. Kristel on

    Baby #2’s movements in my belly are becoming more pronounced (it’s just so beautiful feeling her & wondering what she’s doing) AND the seedlings i started last march are finally blooming —every new flower is beautiful! Especially the first ones from what you’ve worked hard on and waited for!

    Reply
  206. Iliana Jones on

    I recently heard an interesting truth, no two sunsets and no two sunrises are ever the same. When you stop and think of the unique and momentary experiences of beauty like that, gratitude follows. The pink sherbet clouds in a baby blue sky as the sun goes down is what I will share as the beauty I’ve recently seen and felt strengthen my gratitude and as a result, joy.

    Reply
  207. Cheri Falk on

    The sweet smell of the summer garden flowers in the early morning hours. Just stand and smell, breath in the heady scent of roses, peonies, honeysuckle and listen to the birdsong heralding another day. Priceless.

    Reply
  208. Ana on

    The most beautiful thing I noticed is when the sun comes through the trees in the morning, it’s so peaceful

    Reply
  209. Cassandre on

    Very strange June here in Québec. Much cooler then last year. My garden is so behind, curious to see how it will evolve in a few months time…

    Reply
  210. Sarah Killough on

    My toddler has discovered flowers this summer. He picks just about everything that blooms as soon as he sees color but I don’t mind because it’s so sweet when he comes in holding a flower he picked for me.

    Reply
  211. Erin on

    As I was weeding the rows last week, I noticed the cutest little baby jackrabbit asleep while waiting for it’s momma to come back, and was safely snuggled under my peonies. Such a lovely moment in the peony patch!

    Reply
  212. Béline on

    Yesterday, I saw my first dalhia’s flower in the gardent 😍

    Reply
  213. Gayle Barton on

    I planted zinnias this year for the first time. I had no idea how beautiful these amazing flowers are! I particularly love the green queen lime flowers. Never would I have guessed how beautiful green flowers are. As they get older they get even more beautiful! There will always be a place in my garden for zinnias, and I can’t wait to try all the different varieties.

    Reply
  214. Maya on

    Our spring has been abnormally wet here in the Pacific Northwest, but mixed in has been moments of sun. I am a gardener by trade and spend most of my time outside in the elements and have noticed how green it is this year. The flowers seem brighter and ready to pop, the trees are lush and the birds! So happy! The variety of birds on our property has tripled it seems. The lush growth from our wet spring has provided an abundance of delicious bugs for the birds.

    Reply
  215. Melody Richards on

    How beautiful weeds can be. I’m always weeding, but it’s been only recently that I’ve noticed how intricate and beautiful some weeds are.

    Reply
  216. Meagan Walker on

    My 3 year daughter in the garden picking her own arrangements and talking to the plants when she thinks I’m not looking. I even watched her tear off the leaves and clear the stems which means she’s watching and learning as I do it ❤️

    Reply
  217. Hydie on

    Love walking the path weaving through our garden and seeing the bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and any other critters a place to rest and replenish.

    Reply
  218. Sarah G on

    Something beautiful…We discovered baby watermelons in the garden this morning!

    Reply
  219. Sonya on

    All the tiny creatures moving in and around the garden! It’s a wonderful thing to slow down and take notice of the simply beauties of the moment.

    Reply
  220. Roz on

    As an artist, I am drawn to colour, shapes,and textures. Flowers, trees, fruits, nature are a feast for the eyes. It is like a live painting coming to life.
    My delphiniums stand majestically and are in bloom with beautiful hues of pastels and deep blue.
    The roses, smell beautiful and the pansies are nodding their cute colorful heads.
    It’s hard to mention one beautiful thing as there are so many beautiful plants and flowers that surround me , wild and cultivated.
    Nature never ceases to surprise and captivate.

    Reply
  221. Devi Mays on

    The milkweed in my garden is blooming, and yesterday a father on a walk with his young son saw a monarch feeding on it. They stopped for a while, and the father explained butterflies to his son, and his son was entranced. The wonder in his face was delightful.

    Reply
  222. Keli Horne on

    I’ve noticed that when I spend time in nature and away from television, social media, and large groups of people, I feel more peace in my soul.

    Reply
  223. VJ on

    Sounds like a lovely book.

    Reply
  224. Bobbi Wilson on

    Looking out my windows where we have our flowers growing I see the miracles of nature in the bursts of flower color and the butterflies, dragonflies and bees that hover the blossoms

    Reply
  225. Cheryl Weststeyn on

    Watching the hummingbirds feed from the tall purple agapanthus outside my office window.

    Reply
  226. Sandra on

    The flowers that I started growing this year are the beautiful things that surround me every day and make me so happy!

    Reply
  227. julie on

    i’m growing strawberries in my landscaping with other flowers. the plants are beautiful, they flower and i get to pick strawberries in the morning when i walk by!

    Reply
  228. Rebecca B. on

    I was looking at an aphid infestation on my plum tree with disgust and then noticed a chickadee happily munching away…and then a ladybug larvae…and then a wasp…and it made me realize that even horrible things can serve a purpose.

    Reply
  229. Bev on

    I’ve noticed that my chickens love to be with me in the garden. They are enjoying the fruits of the earth along side of me.

    Reply
  230. Naomi Bradshaw on

    Picking our own strawberries has been very sweet this year, both literally and figuratively 🍓

    Reply
  231. Rachel Klausen on

    Perennial lupins, nigella and feverfew make the sweetest bouquet that blooms at the same time each year in Vancouver, BC

    Reply
  232. Joan on

    My beautiful yellow rose bush is in bloom. Yellow roses remind me of my mother – it was her favorite flower.

    Reply
  233. Jaci Dixon on

    My maiden name is Sweet and my heritage is Dutch. On a recent trip to Holland we visited Keukenhof Gardens for their spectacular tulip/bulb display. In the garden was a beautiful bright yellow narcissus called Sweetness. My family uses that name in a family Facebook page. What a beautiful coincidence that I happened upon that narcissus in the land of my mother’s family.

    Reply
  234. Betsy Block on

    Seeing fields of blooming lupine in shades of blue, pink & purple in coastal Maine says “Welcome summer!!” to me.

    Reply
  235. Iida on

    My daughter with icecream all over her face ❤️

    Reply
  236. Veronika Vogel on

    I’ve noticed aka found a small Fuchsia nursery with a very passionate owner. Paid them a visit last week and learned about winterhardy Fuchsias – best time in a long in yet another covid Summer.

    Reply
  237. Lisa Klose on

    The fireflies are so bountiful this year. At night it’s as if all my backyard trees are dressed with thousands od Christmas lights. Ethereal, otherworldly and truly magical.

    Reply
  238. Andreea Beldean on

    The other day I notice a beautiful rainbow that really taught me to slow down and be aware of what surrounds me. Nature is my place of escape from this hectic world.
    God is the greatest artist!

    Reply
  239. Jackie W on

    The puffy clouds we have this time of year make for stunning sunsets!

    Reply
  240. Lori miller on

    One of the most beautiful things I witnessed this year has been a bumble bee sleeping on a gladioli bloom during golden hour

    Reply
  241. Martha Ellington on

    The beauty of the changing landscape as the fog rolls in on a sunny day at the Oregon coast.

    Reply
  242. Christie on

    My dad passed away last fall. What a nice surprise when the pretty pink daylilies bloomed on Fathers Day this year. They will always remind me of the special moments we shared.

    Reply
  243. Amy Jouwsma on

    My father-in-laws uncle smuggled a beautiful hydrangea here from Holland a million years ago. I received some of the plant last year and am loving watching it grow!!!!

    Reply
  244. Alexandra on

    I noticed the beauty of the sunset last night. I love this time of year because the sun sets so much later and the colors seem to be more vibrant. Summer evenings are the best!

    Reply
  245. Alesa Meschberger on

    The beauty of a rainy day creates a gratefulness unsurpassed in western Kansas farmers. The fragrance, the gentle sound of raindrops and the reality of true God-granted moisture makes everyone smile.

    Reply
  246. Pam Dale on

    I live in Reno NV (zone 7), my flowers are blooming. Not only beautiful to the eyes but joy to my soul

    Reply
  247. DeAnne on

    A beautiful thing I noticed today was the bloom of a geranium. Something so familiar yet beautiful as it reminds me of my childhood.

    Reply
  248. Abigail Coll on

    The beauty of weeds! Both how they push up from anywhere and everywhere, defying common sense. And then the beauty of pulling one up, root and all, a satisfying feat.

    Reply
  249. Jennifer Wingard Hershey on

    Yesterday we enjoyed watching a lighting storm from our porch. The dark rolling clouds and the streaks of light were magnificent. As was the much needed rain and nitrogen for the soil. You have to love that beautiful flush of green after a storm.

    Reply
  250. Amy on

    I’m growing cosmos again this year and finally feel like I know what to do with it in a bouquet.

    Reply
  251. Tanya Cross on

    I am learning that gardening is bloody hard work but the rewards out way the pain 🌻

    Reply
  252. Kate Beer on

    Bare branches here in New Zealand, always bring beautiful contrast with the grey skies in winter. Oh and the first few hellebores, daffodils and grape hyacinths bringing beauty to the garden.

    Reply
  253. Eliza Taylor on

    I have noticed the abundance of wild food growing everywhere in my area. What I prevously only saw as weeds I am now learning forraging techniques and utilising these natural resources.

    Reply
  254. Nic on

    How beautiful winter can be .

    Reply
  255. April B on

    I have noticed how beautiful nature really is.

    Reply
  256. Claudia labrecque on

    I juste start a new departement in our small farm with my daughter: cut flower.
    We have a lot to learn!

    Reply
  257. Kathryn Hickling on

    My Sweet Peas – they are suddenly filling the garden with their beautiful scent, it is so uplifting, I am thrilled with them!

    Reply
  258. Kathy Waterhouse on

    Flowers go with everything…teapots, rock fireplaces, that ruffled sleeve in some of your photo, we need them in our lives!! I too, love a foraged bouquet.

    Reply
  259. Shaina on

    In a season of transition (moving for my husband to start medical school) I’ve noticed how my kids have grown in their emotional vocabulary and awareness. They have even provided comfort and love to me in this time of grief. It’s beautiful how our family is coming together and leaning on each other in this really difficult season of saying goodbye.

    Reply
  260. Dorian B. on

    I have noticed this year how much nature surprises me from year to year. Just when I think I have something figured out, I am reminded that I am not in control!

    Reply
  261. Petra Matthew on

    I have noticed that my digitalis is almost in bloom. Last year I did the sowing inside first and eventually had only one bloom outside. I read on rhe seedpackage all the complicated things you had to do to get the seed germinating. Like putting them in the fridge. Really? Pfff…. so this year I just put the seeds in the ground right away and thought, this is your last chance you little thingies! And now the bed is full of digitalis and they are almost ready to bloom. Yes!

    Reply
  262. Larochelle Dayondon on

    I have noticed to appreciate nature more and the subtle things now that I have reconnected to gardening. I have appreciated the sounds of the birds more, the sways of the trees, the beauty of the sky as it changes and the slow progress of flowers from seed to bloom. I forgot it all with everything so readily available in the supermarket and the busy schedule of motherhood and a working mom.

    Reply
  263. Alyssa M. on

    I’ve started foraging flowers & filler more lately, and realized how beautiful some plants are that I potentially ignored or otherwise found “weedy.” ❤️

    Reply
  264. Alex on

    My daughter, who is two years old, is starting to look at flowers with the most wondrous eyes. It’s so exciting watching her marvel at shape/color/smell. She puts her hands together and always whispers “So pretty!”

    Reply
  265. Carissa on

    Seeing a cute little thirsty bee drink from tiny puddles created by our little splash pool yesterday during this heatwave :)
    Brought joy to my soul.

    Reply
  266. Nicky on

    I’ve always been my own biggest setback and I decided to go for it this year and planted a ton of cut flowers. Watching them grow has been a beautiful and motivating experience. I love how helpful the flower community is and the joy I get from meeting fellow house plant and flower lovers. This is what I was missing in my life.

    Reply
  267. Debbie Alenius on

    Having recently retired, I’m transitioning to growing a cut flower garden. Last night following several weeks of very hot weather, we had an unexpected thunderstorm last night with very high winds that took down large limbs on mature trees. As I watched through the windows as my new crop of dahlias faced the impact of the string winds and small hail, I dreaded my morning to check on damage. They were so resilient and survived the storm to my pleasant surprise; only one suffered a broken side stem. So often we face strong storms in our lives, but the morning brings a new day and the ability to keep living our lives and stay strong. These dahlias reminded me of this and life is good!

    Reply
  268. Lauren Clark on

    That being truly happy and content is about the small things. The smell of cut grass, my verbena enjoying the breeze, picking garden flowers for friends, that first cup of tea in the morning, the way my baby daughter greets me every morning with the biggest smile. They really are the big things 💛

    Reply
  269. Shihan on

    I was in the garden yesterday and this blackbird was hoping around me. It was amazing and I felt like Dr Dolittle.

    Reply
  270. Morgan on

    My first sunflower bloomed today. It’s grey and cloudy out and the world seems so heavy, but there is a little ray of light in garden.

    Reply
  271. Joanne s on

    Even though times may be difficult, when I bring flowers from the garden in or share them, it’s a beautiful thing that all of their smells and colors remind me there is great joy too.
    The gardens are beautiful.

    Reply
  272. Pamela compton on

    This year I have noticed that to slow down and be in the moment exposes you to all of the feels, all of the smells and allows you to dream all of the dreams!

    Reply
  273. Nicoline on

    If you look absolutely everywhere there are flowers. I love driving down country roads and looking for flowering anything. This beauty astounds me bc I never paid attention before to this.

    Reply
  274. Heidi on

    I have noticed smells. The burning of a campfire. The soil when I dig into the ground. Fresh cut grass the smells so sweet. I find myself smelling more than looking toward things nowadays. Losing smell during Covid was terrible. And I feel such a gift has been returned.

    Reply
  275. Marichka on

    Nature has a great power to take you away from all terrible things which are going on around the world and make you calm and happy.

    Reply
  276. Shari on

    I was recently diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 62 . I’ve noticed that there are a lot of kind people in this world who are genuinely concerned about me! I’d love to win a copy of her book.

    Reply
  277. Holly on

    The warm weather and heavy rain in Edinburgh has caused everything to grow in such a beautiful profusion. I love to see flowers bursting from cracks in the pavement, out of walls, escaping from the edges of gardens. Poppies, Mexican Fleabane, foxgloves. They’re so abundant and full of life.

    Reply
  278. Christine Dearing on

    I noticed an abundance of wild flowers poking out of the hedgerows along the country roads as we travelled in Cornwall, a riot of yellow, pink, purple and blue, as if a bunch of birthday balloons had been playing hide and seek among the greenery.

    Reply
  279. Ruby on

    The sound of laughter and excitement from our neighbours children when the weather finally warms up and they get to swim in their pool.

    Reply
  280. Kate Barry on

    It’s a struggle to find beauty in the garden at this time of year in New Zealand but I love the way random blooms are still hanging on.
    You’ll have a rose bush completely naked of leaves and there at the top will be a beautiful clear bloom it’s very pretty and is to me like a symbol of strength and defiance in this crazy world.

    Reply
  281. Deborah Brown on

    A Tui has taken up residence in my garden and it singing in the garden is lovely to listen to while pulling weeds in my New Zealand Garden

    Reply
  282. Kendra on

    The hydrangea blooms by my back porch. They are especially beautiful as they transition from newly opening buds to mature flowers, with their lovely chartreuse centers and violet petals edged with blue.

    Reply
  283. Hannah Lampe on

    Oh so much about hearing from Milli was such a sweet reminder. For nearly three years we’ve lived in a 5th wheel as we develop and build on our property. I have dreams of growing flowers, and spared some time this year, our busiest year as we build our home, to plant some dahlia tubers I was given. A few mornings ago I was walking with my children and noticed some flowers I hadn’t seen before poking their bright heads above the dirt. I remembered last year how I haphazardly threw some wild flower seeds down, with truly no thought that any might spring from such a careless effort. And yet, there they were. They they are. Here we are. All growing. Perhaps slower than I’d like, and in a way that doesn’t look exactly as I thought. But we are growing, and learning, and changing.

    Reply
  284. Julia Hall on

    I just noticed some new little freckles on my daughter’s cheeks and think they are so beautiful

    Reply
  285. linda Wong Garl on

    Every single morning, I begin my day with a visit to my garden to see what Mother Nature has magically
    done overnight under those twinkling stars! And every single day, I find something to “oooohhhh” about!
    This year I planted more bulbs, more flower seeds and lots of flowering perennials. And much to my JOY
    it’s paid off with a great deal of surprise and wonderment! I love it! Just ordered more bulbs for Fall planting!!!!

    Reply
  286. Ashley Peterson on

    My beautiful discovery was the chamomile that bloomed wild on my garden path long before my other planted buds opened. It was a gentle reminder that everything grows in its own time and I can’t do much but be patient.

    Reply
  287. Bess on

    I noticed the lady bugs dancing around on my dara in the evening light :)

    Reply
  288. Beth on

    I have been enjoying taking a break on the weekends and going to the mountains to photograph wild roses here in Colorado. They may not be as fluffy or ruffled as my treasured garden roses but they are incredible in their own right- such a sweet moment of beauty ✨

    Reply
  289. Kristy Bussiere on

    I walk around my gardens every morning and take in the beauty but makes me happiest is when someone comes to my home and my garden brings a smile to their face. Also, when everything is in full bloom and I pick a small bouquet to share with my family and friends.

    Reply
  290. Juli on

    Just this morning I planted several new hydrangeas that I found on sale. They are gorgeous!

    Reply
  291. Mcalah on

    Lately I’ve been enjoying the beauty of a slow morning. The way the sun just begins to shine through the leaves but all around you is still dusky. The fresh smell of dewy grass competing with the smell of my coffee. The quietness. The peace that comes with a moment in nature. It’s just beautiful!

    Reply
  292. Jamie Burnett on

    The morning sun rising as I walk through watering my flowers…the birds..insects and butterflies…it’s my favorite time of day…I guess that’s not one thing of beauty but the entire experience takes me briefly away from the world and the craziness and that great time of enjoying all of natures’ beauty.

    Reply
  293. Ashley on

    A beautiful thing I’ve noticed recently is the soft scent of my new rose bush. We just planted it last month and we’re hoping it’d survive and bloom. And while it’s beautiful, a fun surprise has been the sweet scent is gives that is a lovely addition to a relaxed evening on the patio.

    Reply
  294. Estelle on

    The beautiful thing I like to witness is the smile I receive when I deliver a bouquet of flower when the person is not expecting it.

    Reply
  295. Kora on

    We have been growing a larger garden this year and my young children have taken such an interest in helping me tend to it. They have their own little watering cans and always stop to smell the flowers. Seeing their awe in it all, is beautiful and warming to my soul.

    Reply
  296. Emiley on

    Verbena. I planted them in my pots this year and am astounded by how many blooms they produce – and that they will eventually trail?! I am obsessed and already thinking of how/where/what palettes I can use them in in the future. I love finding a new flower to love.

    Reply
  297. Allison G on

    The peace I feel when I’m in my garden is such a relief from the mayhem outside of my garden. There is something new to see everyday, even if sometimes it’s a weed, it’s still a happy surprise.

    Reply
  298. Teresa on

    I just started growing flowers last year for the first time, on a very small scale. What I love about it is, watching my granddaughter eyes light up and sparkle when she see the butterflies all over the flowers. She runs around saying flower and butterfly.Her giggling laughter brings me such joy. There is nothing more beautiful than the laughter of a child.

    Reply
  299. Lynn Tungseth on

    I absolutely love the explosion of Spring and early Summer flowers in the PNW. I always say this early garden is my gift from God because I haven’t had to labor over it…yet! I love perennial flowers.

    Reply
  300. Theresa on

    It’s been a very wet spring in western WA, and many hay fields are late for their first mowing. The chest-high grass and daisies have formed a lush carpet that softens the entire landscape.

    Reply
  301. Kristy on

    A beautiful thing I noticed today is how the plants and flowers here almost chatter amongst each other. I know it sounds a little crazy but as we add to our garden I just feel a sense of communication throughout the garden. It really is beautiful 🌼💕

    Reply
  302. Mandi Goodman on

    Seeing my kids begin to take notice of flowers and the beauty around them is so enjoyable to watch!

    Reply
  303. Valerie Flores on

    The beautiful thing I get to witness everyday is my one year old loving nature as much as I do. She loves to water all the plants and makes sure to stop and smell the roses. It’s as if she herself were a little hummingbird, going from flower to flower and every deep breath she takes of the flower she releases a big ahhhhh like she really enjoyed that smell. It’s the finest thing!

    Reply
  304. Sydney Mcintosh on

    Pinching flowers as the grow and prepare to bloom. The pain of pinching for the reward of more and stronger blooms is worth it.

    Reply
  305. Lisa on

    The many birds, that visit the Service Berry, that grows outside my window at work. I’ve seen robins, cedar waxwings, grey vereos and today, house finches.

    Reply
  306. Lynne Sapp on

    Having recently moved to the Blue Ridge Mountain area I am so inspired by your knowledge and advice for a totally new way of gardening!

    Reply
  307. Laura Bourque-Kliethermes on

    My Sansevieria ‘Moonshine” has a bloom stalk. My excitement when I saw it was, I defiantly have some bragging rights!

    Reply
  308. melissa on

    Here it is mid winter, pretty cold and wet. One thing that is flowering is the dandelion. such a sunny bright colour that any bees around love. I saw the perfect large flower on a walk one day and returned for the seed. It flowers continuously and needs very little care.

    Reply
  309. Kailey Ference on

    I have been loving watching my 2 year old be inspired by the flowers this year! It is beautiful and she loves learning and helping!

    Reply
  310. Jule on

    Every year the new beginning and growing in nature. It seems that the earth is death and then in spring it all starts to begin growing. Every year it fascinate me and every year it is so different.

    Reply
  311. Lori L on

    My first adventure growing giant opium poppies. I winter sowed them in bulk and was blessed with a hunk of seedlings! They are now growing in my South garden. I’m so glad to see them looking so beautiful 💗 What a treasure

    Reply
  312. Rhonda Luse on

    I’ve noticed so many amazingly beautiful photographs of flowers! There are so many ways to bring the beauty of flowers into our lives! This book looks amazing and would be a blessing in any gardener’s shelf!

    Reply
  313. Kara on

    The beautiful thing I have noticed lately is actually the overall sense of calm and freshness I feel within myself as I wander and potter around my garden. So grounding 😊

    Reply
  314. Pamela Burnside (Utah) on

    I am blessed to have 3 peonies that are over 50 yrs old , planted by my husbands Grandma. Last week one of them had two of the most beautiful blooms I have ever seen .

    Reply
  315. Rebekah on

    I like to sit on the grass with my 10 month old baby girl. I arching her interact with nature – pulling grass, squishing flowers. Her little toes experiencing all these new sensations. When she is upset I take her out to the garden. She watches and notices the birds as they fly overhead. The shadows the trees cast on the paving as the wind moves them.

    Reply
  316. Naomi on

    Love Millie’s interview! Sounds like she’s a wonderful person, and she must have written a wonderful book. I love growing flowers – I think everyone needs to grow flowers. 😊

    Reply
  317. Shu-Jean on

    The surprise of something coming into bloom in the garden. Last week it was poppies I noticed. Now the rubeckia and larkspur are starting. Everyday is something different. Something fading, something blooming. Joyful.

    Reply
  318. Philly on

    Yesterday I went strawberry picking and it was beautiful to see humans old and young with the sparkle of joy in their eyes find such a bountiful crop, sneaking the delicious red treasure into their mouths as often as the fruit made it into their baskets!

    Reply
  319. Stacy Waller on

    I enjoy the beautiful cotton candy colored sky during the sunsets.

    Reply
  320. Jennifer Stiffler on

    I have 2 boys, 4 years and 1 year. I was lucky enough to have enough sense the other day to just WATCH them look around the yard. The way they do that little kid squat to see a bug crawling through the grass, the way they jump and try to catch floating dandelion seeds, the way they look up at the sky with their head tilted all the way back to watch a bird’s flight. I was reminded to take the time to really look and watch and give it my all to see something – not just be so busy that I glance at something. I love the way little kids can teach you to enjoy the simple things.

    Reply
  321. Bressa Medrano on

    My newfound appreciation and love for flowers only a few weeks ago I came across a video on YouTube on cut flowers and now I’m hooked ! Watching videos and books with this new dream of mine to grow flowers growing every day !!

    Reply
  322. Theresa on

    Other people being generous with their time!

    Reply
  323. Ally on

    Everything is finally beautiful and green and in full bloom after a terribly long and cold winter!

    Reply
  324. Jeanne Hohmann on

    This is the second year of raised bed gardening for me. It is a way for me to be in nature and keep me busy as I deal with my husband of 62years passing. Flowers are such a beautiful vision and the veggies are fun to watch develop. Just wish there was more rain. Hand watering is difficult. But I manage to keep things alive. A beautiful book would be a wonderful thing. My grandmother grew dahlias in her garden, dinner plate size. . I haven’t tried them yet. Next season perhaps.

    Reply
  325. Sharon Gornik on

    Love how the dappled light gives my climbing hydrangeas a extra add coloring.

    Reply
  326. Dusty Luthy on

    I’ve loved watching the pollinators increase as more of my flowers go into bloom. I used to be so scared of bees, but my flowers are helping me appreciate their role and presence.

    Reply
  327. Eva on

    My friends smiles and laughters during midsummer nights eve here in Sweden. With our wreaths slowly falling into pieces around our heads made from wild flowers picked earlier in the day. The warmest and brightest night during this year, it was pure magic and I will cherish the memory during the winter.

    Reply
  328. Janet on

    I love it when the dragonflies start showing up in the garden. For some weird reason I find them very peaceful to watch.

    Reply
  329. Erica on

    I was just lucky enough to witness a dragonfly land on my leg, as I was sitting with my feet in the lukewarm lake, enjoying the last rays of sunshine over the treetops. 🥰

    Reply
  330. Susan on

    I love the structure of the large allium that continue to stand beautifully in the garden, long after the purple petals have fallen.

    Reply
  331. Kristie Peterson on

    I love the joy a bucket of fresh cut Zinnias bring to my disabled sister. Magical!

    Reply
  332. Rachel Gonnoud on

    I’ve recently slowed down enough to catch all the beautiful colors nature provides, an endless spectrum of beauty.

    Reply
  333. Izzy on

    The rambling roses at work are stunning!

    Reply
  334. Elizabeth Fry on

    I have just recently moved from Indianapolis to South Carolina out in the country. I am in awe of nature and it’s beauty be it birds, owls, squirrels etc. I brought some flowers from Indy to plant on the property and will enjoy expanding the flowers of many sizes and species to add color and bring more bees, hummingbirds and dragonflies to sit and feed from. I have learned a great deal from you Erin.

    Reply
  335. Andrea on

    The sparkle of fireflies in the dark woods on a summer night!

    Reply
  336. Sharon James on

    Love seeing the plants and flowers finally coming along after this slow and unpredictable season.

    Reply
  337. Chelsea on

    Fireflies on a summer evening. Their beautiful glow is pure magic.

    Reply
  338. Katie on

    We’re finally getting a good soaking rain, and you can almost feel the sigh of relief from all the plants. The rain on my garden is beautiful!

    Reply
  339. Cari A on

    This year, I have noticed how many birds we draw into our yard by leaving the sunflowers in place after they have finished blooming. So many finches!

    Reply
  340. Tori Carver on

    How long twilight lasts this time of year.

    Reply
  341. Alex on

    All the insects and life that swarm and feast on the wild areas of our property! There’s so much activity if you don’t take a second to notice !

    Reply
  342. Olivia Berner on

    Every spring I love to stop and notice the new life in all the trees and plants. The tiny lime green leaves appearing on the trees and then you start to just see a green haze everywhere. It is very beautiful especially after a long, cold, brown winter.

    Reply
  343. Mindy W on

    The more I nurture my soul and the more diversity I grow in my garden the more I see of living creatures all around. So beautiful to see all the life, not just my family, enjoying my yard. Love seeing this collaboration because in absolute honesty you are 2 of my most inspiring humans to watch and listen to.

    Reply
  344. Carolyn Ritter on

    The tiny sprouts of a dahlia coming up that an animal ate to the ground just a week ago!

    Reply
  345. Laura on

    Excited to read a new book! The beautiful thing that I’ve cherished lately is all the peaceful sounds of being in the garden in the morning. Starts my day off right.

    Reply
  346. Marzena on

    I was growing up with nature. Back then unaware of how beautiful, important and taken for granted it is for many. I would spend summer holidays with my grandparents either in lake district or looking after strawberry fields for my other grandma. Now grown up i appreciate everything around, call myself lucky living in countryside, taking my Ayah to all beautiful places near and far so she can appreciate nature too. I also loooooove gardening.
    I am a photographer and it was amazing recently watching Ayah strolling through field of barley in golden hour and then catching last sun rays in her hair while sun was setting. The photos came out beautifully.

    Reply
  347. Romane on

    A pink rose with white stripes I found in the garden yesterday!

    Reply
  348. Tina Ridgely on

    This summer my clementis has already completely covered the arch to the entrance of my garden. It makes me so happy to stand beneath it!

    Reply
  349. Davida St. Yves on

    I recently lost 2 friends to cancer. Every day since has been a reminder not to take things for granted and to stop and enjoy the moments that may be small. In doing so I’ve payed attention to nature, listening to the vibration of a hummingbird drinking from the feeder or the buzz of a bumble bee on a flower. Life is beautiful!

    Reply
  350. Linda Howd on

    A few months ago a close friend of mine sent me a cutting from her beautiful Plumeria. It seemed to be in shock (or something) since it hasn’t shown any growth whatsoever. I finally placed it outside a few weeks ago, and now I see some growth beginning! Anyway, it’s beautiful to see that small amount of growth and will be even more beautiful if I get a flower. Fingers crossed!

    Reply
  351. Charity on

    Motherhood & thornless blackberries

    Reply
  352. Katy on

    My two daughters feasting on the strawberries they have so patiently waited to grow, not forgetting to leave the last one for the squirrel who frequents the garden

    Reply
  353. Brandie on

    Baby bunnies with their mothers in the field by where I walk daily.

    Reply
  354. Jenn on

    The sky! Here in northern Canada we have had some amazing sunsets these past few weeks!

    Reply
  355. Keri Alexander on

    I am so grateful to see the 100 dahlia tubers that I planted a few weeks ago peek through the soil. They are growing and watching them grow is a mirror of seeing my own personal growth as I’m embarking into the cut flower business. Thank you for inspiring me with your own story, Erin.

    Reply
  356. Teanne on

    How the grass dances on my drive to work through the backroads early in the morning, the sun as a backdrop.

    Reply
  357. Bethany on

    Tiny baby pears in the orchard

    Reply
  358. Taree Downs on

    I love learning about growing flowers and watching them bloom in my garden. There is such a relaxing feel to gardening and the beauty amazes me

    Reply
  359. Amy on

    I’ll be 49 later this year. As a mama of five and grandmother of seven I’ve been feeling worn down and a bit unsure of what path to take next.
    My kids are grown, no longer needing my guidance or nurturing.
    I realized my garden fills the void I’d been feeling.
    My perennials are more than a decade old. The annuals that reseed every year are crowded and bigger than usual thanks to the copious amounts of rain we’ve had. There are flowers, vines, berries…you name it… everywhere. I tried to walk through it but it felt like I was lost in a jungle of wisteria and clematis. Daisies, echinacea, strawberries and others wrapping themselves around my ankles. Weeds too. Wild blackberries with sharp thorns daring me to take another step. I have wounds to prove I ventured into the thick of it.
    It’s a mess with no direction, yet the roots grow deep, the stems are thick, branches strong, leaves huge….it’s beautiful to me. It’s calming. It’s a mature wild mess. Exactly how I feel lol

    Reply
  360. Wari on

    When you realized that those beautiful butterflies fluttering around your garden were the ones eating a small part of your garden, but you’re ok with it now since they bring another form of beauty into your life.

    Reply
  361. Emily Frantz on

    Right now I’m enjoying beauty in my new garden space after removing so. much. ivy. Sitting down to admire my husband & I’s work is so rewarding.

    Reply
  362. Gretchen on

    That women are not only activating on ways to support one another in these incredibly gut-wrenching times, but we are also wise and share ways to use creativity (gardening, cooking, painting, etc.) to fuel ALL our efforts. We understand that inner/outer sanctuaries are essential for the work ahead. ♥️♥️♥️

    Reply
  363. Grace on

    The pure abundance of things in the garden at the moment, early morning cups of tea with the sun shining down and the clover flower crown a friend made my daughter.

    Reply
  364. Eileen on

    Watching flowers from seed to bloom amazes me so much and I love the beauty in flowers!

    Reply
  365. Dayle Halverson on

    I love how seasoned flower farmers are mentoring and encouraging those of us who are new to growing flowers and food. I am inspired, supported and encouraged to keep experimenting, growing and finding my place in the world of gardens.

    Reply
  366. Denny on

    I love how gardens around my area are becoming more wild and natural in that plants formerly thought of as weeds or undesirable are now valued as the pollinators that they are – milkweed, joe pye weed, fleabane, wild strawberry – the list goes on and it’s exactly what my yard is full of!

    Reply
  367. Michelle on

    I’ve taken on my first allotment this year and I am loving watching the bees enjoy my flowers. There is nothing better than visiting as dawn breaks to hear the birds singing away or watching the sunset over my happy place :)

    Reply
  368. Monika Mager on

    The Flowers are very calming to me. I’m learning that I don’t have to do all at once. I’m learning while I’m doing and there’s everytime something beautiful. The first year of my flower growing experience I do it only for me. No pressure, just experimenting.

    Reply
  369. Carol Bazzett on

    Just admiring the intricate details and colors on all the flowers as they slowly emerge into blooming beauties!

    Reply
  370. hope kirby on

    the way my daughters are growing; the way their voices sound, the way their bodies are stretching towards the sun, the way they are soaking up new things and putting words to them for the first time or in new ways, their tenderness, their goodness

    Reply
  371. Tracy on

    I love the beauty and peace of my garden early in the morning. Just sitting outside in the yard with my partner and are cats…It’s pure purrfection to me.

    Reply
  372. Deborah on

    Years ago, I planted brown eyes susans from seed. They are a wonderful memory from childhood and as a child I remember how much my mother loved them. (She really just loved flowers! But these stood out)
    This year, I noticed when they came back in spring from new self-seeded plants and older plants cut back, (I live in zone 9a) that I now have a variety of flowers! Some are still just yellow and some now have rays of color from the center of the flowers. A few I planted in a remote area just to put them somewhere! are much larger, with two different types of flowers. I am amazed and it is not through my knowledge of what I’m doing but a totally blessed surprise!! Flowers are such a miraculous adventure!!!

    Reply
  373. Joyce Doenges on

    What a beautiful book and a wonderful opportunity to win a copy. Recently I have been delighting in the zinnias I have blooming in a small cutting garden I planted in my yard. I purchased the seeds from Floret and the colors of the blooms represent all that is wonderful about summer. Thank you for the opportunity to win!

    Reply
  374. Laura K. on

    This year I’ve especially noticed how beautiful the wildflowers are! I live in Western Oregon and the abundantly wet spring has created the perfect environment for these wild beauties!

    Reply
  375. Tina Woodward on

    Just put together a bouquet of all my blue and yellow flowers to remind me to think of and pray for the Ukrainians and how they are suffering and struggling

    Reply
  376. Emma Richardson on

    When going to plant some seedling out, noticing how many self seeded last year and are doing better than the sown 💕

    Reply
  377. Ingjerd Tranvåg on

    I love growing food, I’ve been slightly utilitarian when it comes to gardening. But this year was special and I felt drawn to growing lots and lots of flowers. I recently became a mom and somehow these two things felt connected. And today I noticed the very first sweetpea blooms appearing in our new garden that we are growing this year. Our very first garden, actually. And I realized I’ve never actually smelled sweetpeas before because they aren’t that common here! So I had to grow them myself to experience what I could only imagine from photos that I’ve seen ~ and from this day on I can no longer imagine life without sweetpeas.

    Reply
  378. Catherine Hoernlein on

    Last year we had a 4 day heat wave that baked of number of things.. so no bloom. This year it seems the hydrangeas have put on bloom buds on every branch… so looking forward to seeing them showing off this mass of color this year!

    Reply
  379. Samantha Hopkins on

    When in the field checking on my flowers, every week noticing how much they change. Seeing it go from a small seed to a small plant to a flower ready to bloom. The steps of a flowers life cycle just amaze me with their beauty

    Reply
  380. roberta nicholas on

    Pulling out massive weeds and finding “good stuff” still surviving underneath!

    Reply
  381. Victoria von Berg on

    The heart stopping moment when I see the first jasmine bloom of the season and knowing that for the next few months every time I step outside my life is going to be filled with the glorious fragrance of bliss

    Reply
  382. Kelsey Mahoney on

    The ruby throated hummingbirds that visit the feeder outside the living room window. Their beaks are so delicate and the colors so brilliant that I can’t look away!

    Reply
  383. Claire on

    A beautiful thing I’ve noticed recently is some great big zucchini growing in my garden! I overlooked them last week and now they are bigger than i’ve ever seen!

    Reply
  384. Ann on

    Beautiful book! My shade garden with hostas, ferns, astbles has brought me a lot of beauty this week🌺.

    Reply
  385. Katie Breen on

    The circle of life ! Have witnessed lots of mammal life cycles over the years but learning so much of plant life of late. The first tiny bit of green or purple stem popping thru the
    soil. The stretch of first leaves towards the sun. The tiny bouquets made by tiny hands of pinched gomphrena. Breathing + enjoying every triumph as i learn/kill a lot of things. Attempting to exhibit how to take failures in stride on my way to a hopeful ‘green thumb’. Currently battling mealy bugs AND spider mites, but loving so much of my favorite color that I have cultivated… green.

    Reply
  386. Jo Evans on

    How the evening sun back-lit the Honesty fresh seed pods showing the promise of more beauty to come next year 💜

    Reply
  387. Teresa on

    I’ve noticed the beautiful sunset on Green Lake.

    Reply
  388. Amanda Irwin on

    Lately, I’ve noticed the beauty in simplicity. Putting away what I don’t just adore, leaving out what makes me smile, and watching my 7 year old son wander through our garden checking on our plants’ progress and waiting waiting waiting for our first blooms :)

    Reply
  389. Deion Green on

    So happy to have another resource from the flower family. Each person brings their own unique viewpoint and depending where you are in your own flower journey, these words and images provide inspiration, confirmation and general “ good to know” stuff. Well done!

    Reply
  390. Cate Armstrong on

    I’ve noticed my beautiful merlot lettuce! Also can’t wait to see my beautiful zinnias, which are just sprouts right now ❤️❤️❤️.

    Reply
  391. Hanneke Burgers on

    Just saw Milli’s post with her new baby boy Rex, new life and growing up in such a beautiful environment is a blessing 😇

    Reply
  392. Megan Lyn Payment on

    I recently have loved watching the birds at the new bird bath I’ve put in my yard. It’s so peaceful and relaxing to sit and watch and listen to all of the birds in the yard.

    Reply
  393. Kaite Scott on

    A beautiful thing I’ve noticed lately are the volunteers blooming in my garden — I’ve let them grow and now I can identify what they are. They’re delightful little surprise blooms in sweet unexpected places.

    Reply
  394. Trish Wilger on

    Just today we saw the first Monarch butterfly of the season! A reminder of the beautiful cycles of life.

    Reply
  395. Anita Solberg on

    I have noticed the beautiful sound of the Cuckoo in the forest. It has been gone and away the last few summers. And I have missed it. But this year it is finally back at my home island. It is beautiful to finally hear its beautiful song again.

    Reply
  396. Marcia on

    I’ve been noticing recently how the different colours and textures of my garden blend together. This morning I was especially drawn to the salvia and snow in Summer. They are strikingly beautiful together!! Especially with the snow in Summer blooming right now. I stood there excited like a little child 😊

    Reply
  397. Kayleigh Forshaw on

    The change in seasons is one of my favourite things in the world. As we’ve just gone from spring to summer you slowly see all the little changes in the trees, the flowers, the animals, the birdsong, the sunsets, the sunrises, the smell of the rain…..I could go on.
    I’ve noticed these things a lot more deeply this year…. whether that has something to do with the pandemic I don’t know but it’s a wonderful feeling to see and appreciate nature in a new/better/deeper way 🌱🌸🌦🌤☀️

    Reply
  398. Amber Jordan on

    Something beautiful I’ve noticed is how my children (7 and 4) are wanting to help me care for my garden and often reminding me to do my garden chores. :)

    Reply
  399. Felva Leamy on

    Witnessing the bountiful wildlife on the military base where I live. Fox, eagles, moose and black bear enjoying the long summer days. Seeing a beautiful field of purple shimmering Alaskan lupine with the fireweed just starting to bloom giving us a timetable for the end of our summer in the land of the midnight sun.

    Reply
  400. Emily thomas on

    I noticed my six year old entranced by a vivid green baby praying mantis and lovingly moving it from a harvested stem back to its home in the garden.

    Reply
  401. Jaime on

    I get up early before everyone else just to be able to get out in the garden and sometimes I catch myself just sitting there listening…

    Reply
  402. Janine on

    A beautiful thing….the sun after the longest, wettest spring.

    Reply
  403. Natalie on

    A beautiful thing I’ve noticed recently- I came home from vacation and my bee balm, daisies and zinnias all started blooming 😍

    Reply
  404. Niki on

    Something beautiful I’ve noticed recently is how lovely my technically “overgrown” lawn looks covered in lush blooming clover. What a beautiful looking book! 🌼

    Reply
  405. Natalie Lairamore on

    I planted Procut White Lite sunflowers for the first time this year and they were exquisite… I’m surprised by how much I’m loving them.

    Reply
  406. Katie on

    I’ve noticed recently that beautiful flowers in your surroundings and home help foster relationships that transcend language, culture and age. A human connection can be made through the beauty that needs no words.

    Reply
  407. Kat on

    I absolutely adore flowers but I have been especially enjoying watching the process of starting something from seed. The love and the care you pour into it and then to see a small sprout and then a plant is such a beautiful and rewarding process. I’ve also especially enjoyed my roses and hydrangeas this year. They are about to bloom any day now! Our lilacs just finished their bloom and I was so excited to see such large and full blooms on them. I pruned them back pretty harsh two years ago and the reward was well worth it. I’m still working on pruning them this year. It’s mostly just clean up but at 31 weeks pregnant it’s taking me longer than usual. It’s a rewarding process and I do truly enjoy every minute of it. We were gifted some begonias from a neighbor and they are new to me. I found myself so drawn to how beautiful they are. Another neighbor gifted us some climbing roses and while I thought they possibly were not going to make it they survived and are producing great new growth and buds! Everywhere I look there is beauty to be found. Spring-summer are my favorite times of year because of all the plants coming back to life and showing off their beauty.

    Reply
  408. Cindy on

    With how busy and unsure the world is in its current affairs I’ve spent time reflecting recently on this. I’ve noticed the beauty of great big beautiful blooms and greenery while a soft rain falls and showers away pollen with the soft rumbling of thunder in the distance. Blue jays and mourning doves pop in from time to time to have a bird seed snack while house finches sing a little sing songy tune. And in all of this- all is well for a while.

    Reply
  409. Ellen Smyth on

    I am so looking forward to reading your book! I love flowers and creating beauty every day!

    Reply
  410. Radha Schwaller on

    I love flowers. I am growing a bunch from seed this summer for the first time in many years. And my morning glories just got their tendrils to climb up the strings we hung for them! So delicate and so beautiful.

    Reply
  411. Stephanie Johnson on

    Recently I’ve been taking time to appreciate the beauty of sunlight at different points through out the day. Also, noticed a tiny beautiful sprout popping up with the seed still split on its top!

    Reply
  412. Emily on

    Such a beautiful book and interview – thanks for sharing! I love the advice to simplify in order to allow creativity to flow. Our family has recently been trying to notice and take joy the small and simple things.

    Reply
  413. Kelly on

    I’m sitting on the front porch watching & listening to the many many bees busy in with the copious amount of tiny flowers on our Winterberry. Every year I make a point of sitting here when the shrub blooms not only because it’s such a beautiful sight and sound but also because I know tons of red berries will be following!

    Reply
  414. Carol Sostok on

    My Earl Grey larkspur seeds from Floret just bloomed! Stunning! Now I am inspired to create an arrangement using them. They also press beautifully for pressed flowers crafts.

    Reply
  415. Juliana Gasselsdorfer on

    All of the beautiful wildflowers that are all over the roadside anytime I go anywhere. The foxgloves are gorgeous

    Reply
  416. Sue kilgour on

    The new life in each flower that gives hope and promise to each and every day. And watching the way the plants evolve throughout the season 😀

    Reply
  417. Karen on

    I live in the Central Valley of California so it is very hot during summer months. I’ve mostly grown vegetables during the summer in our raised beds but after following Floret Flowers and other flower growers on social media, I’m researching growing flowers during the summer to bring more beauty to my garden. I grew up with a paternal Grandmother and Father that always had a garden. My father mostly vegetables – but he was very knowledgeable about flowers, something I believe he learned from his Mother. When I trim my roses and work in my garden, I feel very close to them and at peace with my life. There is nothing more beautiful than something you’ve grown. Thank you for bringing such beauty to my day through social media and your website, sharing your friends and acquaintances with me and for inspiring me to bring beauty to my life through flowers.

    Reply
  418. Debbie Guy on

    I was recently in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan hiking to the most beautiful waterfalls. One of the things that struck me as the most beautiful was the light in the way it played through the branches of the forest and reflected and danced off the water.

    Reply
  419. Kaylee Hubert on

    Seeing our kids run around on the farm and take in everything so natural and beautiful. Probably my favorite thing about life ❤️

    Reply
  420. Katie on

    I’ve become to notice how in LOVE I am with my homestead. We have several gardens and there is so much magic in each of them. There really is no place like home.🥰

    Reply
  421. Karen on

    I witnessed having my daughter (28), granddaughter (8), son (8) and new puppy (1) all in my bed watching a movie, playing video games, enjoying a favorite chew toy, for the first time in 2 years, on my birthday. It was the best most beautiful thing I’ve ever known.

    Reply
  422. Kim on

    My husband built raised beds for me this year, first try at vegetables! Also ordered beautiful zinnia seeds from Floret this spring and seeing them grow at double the rate of other zinnias I planted at the same time is wonderful. Telling my daughters all the tips I have learned from your show and mini courses.

    Reply
  423. Andrea on

    I’ve noticed how much my daughter(she’s 11) notices about the ever changing & growing garden at our house. It’s fantastic and I hope tje love of gardens stays with her ❤

    Reply
  424. Nicola Partridge on

    I find sometimes you just need to stop, wait and let nature take it’s course….do the nurture and nature will follow!

    Reply
  425. Tammie P. on

    What I’ve noticed lately that brings me happiness and joy is spending my mornings in my garden watering all the beautiful flowers opening and harvesting veggies, even the few strawberries for my son, prepares me for the work day. My garden has been slowly evolving for 2 years now. I used to stress about what to grow and making it a formal
    Garden, but all the unpredictable challenges this year has taught me to adapt; and, so what if I have to replant because yet another plant has become victim of a gopher. I look forward to what my garden will look like by next spring!

    Reply
  426. Ashley on

    The beauty of watching my garden growing so quickly this time of year and the anticipation of harvesting food and flowers in the coming weeks

    Reply
  427. Kim Berges on

    Honestly, I’ve been just stopping and noticing the clouds. I used to lay in the tall summer grass as a kid and watch the clouds. It’s feels good to just stop and remember ☁️

    Reply
  428. Terri Norris on

    As I advance into year three of being a farmer florist I have finally had a moment to just sit on a bench in the middle of my garden and say, “Wow I did this and it’s amazing!”

    Reply
  429. Ally on

    All the nigella at our allotment opening up 🌸

    Reply
  430. Holly Evans on

    I’m spending two weeks in Houston, Texas – reminds me how much I love summer in Indiana, especially weekends by a lake!

    Reply
  431. Katie Bezona on

    I’m embracing the beauty in overcoming adversity. This is my first year growing cut flowers and we are in the midst of a severe drought and extreme winds. Talk about challenging and frustrating but I am learning a lot and embracing the challenges and soaking in the beauty it has all brought me.

    Reply
  432. Cathy Williams on

    I have just noticed how fast everything has been growing and all the beauty with it! Love gardening and all the little surprises each day. 🌼🌸♥️

    Reply
  433. Kristan Wells on

    I was so nervous to design my front landscape beds last year even though I am a landscaped architect. But last week I was proud landscape mother. On my usual evening inspections, I was talking to my plants when I found a little fawn hiding in my Mexican bush sage. I couldn’t believe that wildlife thought my landscape was the perfect spot to hind her youngling. It was such a sweet moment watching the impact we have on wildlife habitats…oh and the fawn is safe and back it momma.

    Reply
  434. Maida S. on

    This is my firts year gardening, so EVERYTHING is new and beautiful for me. I cant belive it took me 36 years to realise that something as sumple as that could make me so fulfilled.

    Reply
  435. Nina Miggitsch on

    I’ve always hated summer in the city. It was simply too hot, too uncomfortable for a mountain child like me.
    But recently, as the temperatures have been steadily rising in Vienna, I’ve noticed myself relishing in the sticky, sweaty city heat. The feeling of sleeping with all of your windows wide open, hearing the soft hustle and bustle of a busy friday night. The smell of cigarette smoke and hot concrete walls. There is a special kind of joy and safety in all of it.

    Reply
  436. Federica on

    “From seed to bloom” reminds me of the circle of life and the resilient spirit, we learn while following nature every season!

    Reply
  437. Angie Kirby on

    My 3 year old grandson recently enjoyed his first strawberry from plants I grew from seed last year. His eyes got so big as a grin spread across his face, I was the best garden moment I’ve ever experienced!

    Reply
  438. Sue on

    Our son got married this past weekend in a beautiful outdoor wedding at the horse farm where his wife works. We did all the decorating and flowers ourselves; a true labor of love as we brought almost everything with us from out of state. The day was full of many beautiful moments but mostly it was full of friends, family and love. ♥️

    Reply
  439. Melissa on

    I’m loving at the diversity of insects (well the good ones anyway!)

    Reply
  440. Jennifer Laska on

    I noticed how wonderful it was to be able to celebrate my grandmother’s 89th Birthday this weekend. It is such a blessing to still have her in our lives and still be able create memories together ❤

    Reply
  441. Heidi on

    Would love this book to help me through the journey of my first flower garden.

    Reply
  442. Meghan Dudenhoeffer on

    I started growing flowers on a larger scale this year and it’s been pretty time consuming. The other night I was out pulling weeds and checking out the flowers. It was late, I was super exhausted, but I felt a such ease with my flowers and then I looked up and noticed all of the lightening bugs sparkling around. It was one of the most magical things I’ve ever seen. Sometimes we just have to slow down and notice the little things.

    Reply
  443. Lauren on

    There is so much beauty to notice. I’ve noticed the beauty of a more diverse population of pollinators increasing each year in my own cutting garden. Watching all the various bee species on one mountain mint plant astounds me! How cool to see them all foraging food together doing their thing despite their differences.

    Reply
  444. Christin Hayes on

    I live in the suburbs of Chicago, but I became a beekeeper during the pandemic and need a place to keep beehives so I purchased a 7 acre farm in a small town in WI where my dad grew up. I’ve been getting the house ready for Airbnb. The beautiful thing I’ve noticed is how peaceful and quiet it is there. It’s so different than the city. There are so many birds, always singing. And golden hour over the garden and hay fields is just breathtaking. It’s helped me to pause and just appreciate Nature’s beauty amidst all the hustle and bustle. I absolutely love it there.

    Reply
  445. Angela Pratt on

    As my summer garden starts producing, it’s a beautiful thing to be able to share my fresh produce with others. And while doing some hand watering in the mornings, I am afforded the opportunity to see all the birds and bugs that rely on my garden. I’m seeing lots of baby mantids, and am currently visited daily by a crow that drops all kinds of crazy things (I.e. hamburger bun) in my birdbath.

    Reply
  446. Savannah Largent on

    My 6 year old son cracked open a walnut and it was in the shape of a heart on the inside. He ran over to show me and said it was just for me❤

    Reply
  447. Josie P on

    I decided to slow down at work for the benefit to watch my kids grow. I have two children under 5 and it is going way to fast. I have now made the choice to spend more time with my kids, started a flower garden with them and teach them how to plant, grow and take care of flowers. Their shining eyes tell me that they love it as much as me. After all, flowers are like young kids, you have to take it all in because it won’t last forever ♥️. Thank you for sharing your passion with us.

    Reply
  448. Rachel Nixon on

    I am always so excited when my perennials/bulbs begin peeking up through the soil in spring. Like they are waking from their long winter nap. That represents beginning of spring for me.

    Reply
  449. C Kline on

    Flower gardening is good for the soul. It is like a treasure hunt each day, seeing something new!

    Reply
  450. Wanda K on

    I’ve noticed how beautiful LIFE is. Everyday there is something beautiful to behold. 🪴

    Reply
  451. Marian Walbert Wyble on

    It’s been a particularly challenging spring with little time to garden or even to stop and admire the changing landscape, but each day as I have arrived at my father’s home, first for caregiving and now to clean-out the family home, a gorgeous red cardinal has swooped past and landed at the window just long enough for me to admire his intense coloring, and then soaring to the skies, he has reminded me to look upward and admire the beauty of the heavens. It is enough.

    Reply
  452. Cheryl Bowlin on

    I am finally feeling better and I’m able to care for a few flowers now.

    Reply
  453. Amy Osborn on

    Snapdragons are beautiful! While I had never considered them before, I took my chances and they are working out fine.

    Reply
  454. Angelina on

    What a beautiful and inspiring conversation to read! Slowing down is so important and something I’ve also felt the desire to do lately. This lead me to notice all the gorgeous native grasses and flowers all over our beautiful Tennessee backroads! It’s inspired me to dream and design a “Native Wildflower Garden” someday♥️

    Reply
  455. Amanda Olsen on

    I have been watching all of the milkweed come into bloom in the ditches and fields around my small homestead. It is beautiful and wonderful knowing such a simple plant supports the life cycle of a great pollinator.

    Reply
  456. Cassidy DeYoung on

    I enjoy taking in the beauty of the evening light over the trees. I’m currently in two very stressful and crazy long hour work weeks, so seeing the golden sun on the trees and the flowers in the garden while the crickets and birds sing is my absolute favorite way to take a breather in the midst of the crazy to slow down and listen to nature!

    Reply
  457. Donna Perez on

    Beautiful and artful arrangements. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  458. Janet K on

    what a wonderful conversation. Sitting in my small container garden on my deck, it is so fun just to watch and see the bees and butterflies come visit the flowers.

    Reply
  459. Shelly B on

    Truly inspiring and refreshing, and a lovely reminder of goodness.

    Reply
  460. Natalie on

    I noticed how happy and calm I’ve been after quitting my day job to fulfill my dream of flower farming 🤗 and that to me is beautiful to be able to recognize it

    Reply
  461. Emily on

    Something beautiful that I’ve noticed recently is my 3 year olds joy at a new flower in thr Garden. Her excitement to see the sunflower seeds we planted grow and her amazement at the ladybugs that crawl across the leaves. It’s a special kind of joy and I absolutely love being there for it.

    Reply
  462. Sandra Lewis on

    your conversation was so enjoyable to read and I like her outlook of gardening and flowers as an important pat of her being.

    Reply
  463. Maureen Kenny on

    The resiliency of plants and human this weekend has been particularly hard one for my family, the nation and the plants(heat) but we always bounce back somehow❤️

    Reply
  464. Alli Torino on

    quiet morning coffee walks through the garden highlight the most beautiful subtle changes in my blooms and let me delight in the growth that can happen in just one day!

    Reply
  465. L. AGRASO on

    As someone who has moved across the country, I’ve been able to experience actual seasons and weather this past year. When nature forces you to stop, or even give you urgency for different growing times, you can’t help but notice. It becomes less of what I want and more of a desire for the beauty in the world around me.

    Reply
  466. Jennifer Binder on

    Loving the changes in the garden from seed to bloom to fruit. Each season is special.

    Reply
  467. Alexis on

    I have been really intentional lately to try to notice people who are working together and putting aside differences. It’s something I admire and find so beautiful when I notice it!

    Reply
  468. Logan Stoltman on

    It never ceases to amaze me that something so beautiful comes from something so small & insignificant looking.

    Reply
  469. Rachel Rainbow on

    Recently, I’ve noticed the way the morning fog lifts off the ground and lets the sunlight filter in slowly, all while the dew from overnight dries and I just think it’s the most stunning way that Mother Earth let’s you know that she’s waking up.

    Reply
  470. Amanda on

    I’ve recently watched several women I know chase their dreams vividly. Opening new businesses, hustling to fund that dream and make it a reality. What could be more beautiful then a woman sculpting her dreams into reality ♡

    Reply
  471. Linda Partyka on

    I have been able to notice all the beautiful wildlife in my yard…..I live on 5 acres that backs up to a 5000 acre preserve. So….from all the deer that come to feed, from the corn I leave out for them. To the rest of the wild life that are able to come and feed as well!! It started with the deer and then I would notice the turkey’s come in….then the sandhill cranes that would come, feed and bring back their hatchlings. To the squirrels, wood ducks, Mallards, Geese and other animals that come and feel safe. They not only feed, but lay in grass and relax knowing that this is a place where they can come and know that they won’t be hurt nor in danger!
    It is such a privilege to enjoy them and know that I live in a place where I have such beauty all around me……….I have a flower garden as well and to see that the animals respect my space because I respect theirs……has just been such a wonderful and beautiful thing!!

    Reply
  472. Adrienne Hegedus on

    I notice the regrowth of so many plants that I thought were dead due to the cold snaps in the PNW last winter. The resiliency adds a special touch to the flowers I am seeing now.

    Reply
  473. Julia on

    I noticed a few of my spring flowers have started to produce seeds pods and I have started to harvested them!

    Reply
  474. Steph D on

    I’m enjoying how my children notice the beauty and wonder all around them as they play!

    Reply
  475. Kristin Wilkinson on

    I have been noticing and paying close attention to the living lessons nature can teach us. The week after my Mom passed we planted tulips, iris, and crocus bulbs in my Mom’s garden in Iowa and at our home in the Pacific Northwest. The irises are now in bloom (March) at our home but are still nestled into the soil in Iowa. This is a beautiful lesson, that all things emerge at just the right time and that we are all in our own stage of growth and development. Iris represent faith, hope, courage, wisdom and admiration. My Mom blessed me with a strong spiritual foundation and faith in God, she gives me hope for a bright future, courage to move forward with grace, and the wisdom to know she is present and living within Love. I am finding the beauty in what is and I am appreciating the beautiful lessons flowers are teaching me as I grow them in my garden.

    Reply
  476. Bubba Harmon on

    My cats sitting in the windows and watching all the garden activities is the most beautiful thing to me.

    Reply
  477. Amie Easton on

    I just noticed for the first time that milkweed has a scent!

    Reply
  478. Ashton Weaver on

    Watching the bees buzz around my flowers is a simple joy of mine. Observing their work always slows me down and invites me appreciate the beautiful gifts of nature. 🌸🐝

    Reply
  479. Candace Decker on

    Birds in my garden landing on blooms and singing their bird songs as the scent of honeysuckle wafts in the air.

    Reply
  480. Windee Willoughby on

    I love when I’m alone in the garden to just take moments and be still instead of being a busy gardener. There’s always the lift of leaves on the wind, birds coming into roost and some precious seedling that sprouted from last years crop waving its flowers heads at me. I’m here, I’m here!

    Reply
  481. Laurie on

    Summer has arrived, spring flowers are struggling, but summer flowers are bounding

    Reply
  482. Kaitlyn on

    My garden is still coming to live, but I’ve been enjoying making arrangements out anything I can find. My fav so far has been local peonies mixed with dill flowers, peppermint, and nasturtium greens. I am loving how creative I feel in the garden and watching it beauty unfold in different places.

    Reply
  483. Lexi Strasbourg on

    I recently watched Growing Floret and it inspired me to plant my own flowers from seed, along with some vegetables. Yesterday, I harvested 2 beautiful sweet bell peppers and while I was harvesting, I noticed my first 2 Zinnia blooms as well as 2 of my Balsam flower plants bloomed. They’re incredibly beautiful and I’m so proud. Thank YOU for inspiring me to try and for sharing the beauty of nature and this wonderful planet.

    Reply
  484. Rachel on

    Love love love watching my garden wake up. All the flowers start blooming and then all the hummingbird and butterflies, dragonflies start showing up. Along with the robins and finches start building nest for the first babies of spring. ❤️

    Reply
  485. Kathy Blakeslee on

    This morning I viewed the new growth of my sunflower seeds emerging from the earth, it brought excitement and joy to me to see this new life🌻🌻🌻

    Reply
  486. Shana Waltrip on

    My little family recently moved from one of the largest cities in America to a very rural area in a totally different state. The nature surrounding us is amazing and beautiful. The butterflies, bees, flowers, weeds, wasps, spiders, trees… all of it. I’ve never had time to slow down and “smell the roses” before. Now I’m able to slow down and set an example for my kids to appreciate nature and teach them its purpose, even the things deemed as “bad” like weeds and bees, they have a purpose too. Also we began to grow flowers and veggies to witness the beauty of the plant life cycle from start to finish (or seed to bloom lol). Right now my daughter’s favorite thing is watching the bees on our flowers and the wild flowers and looking for ladybugs. All of this is new to us and beautiful and exciting.

    Reply
  487. Tammy Makoul on

    I love to notice the small details in the flowers, plants and trees from the little bumps in the mulberries to the beautiful flared and up torn leaves of the crocsomia . Looking at all of the ways that seasons sun gardening years are different and how our tastes and colors change when picking out new seeds and ultimately how we will be surprised by the calendula seeds that have never bloomed when I planted them but somehow this year when I didn’t plant them they come – similarly with Dara carrota! It’s always an adventure🎉

    Reply
  488. Lisa Howie on

    I planted my first dahlias this year, inspired by the beautiful work of Floret Flowers. I even pinched them! So hard to do, but I’m trusting and just waiting on the first blooms!

    Reply
  489. Anna P. on

    I have been taking time to notice the seasons change and the flowers that bloom in each season. Most recently I have been watching the peonies. They are my favorite flower! I love all the different colors they come in!

    Reply
  490. Daria Hezel on

    The beauty of a lone dandelion “wish”.

    Reply
  491. Christina on

    This is our third summer on the “new” property. I left a home that was completely finished with a personally curated and mature garden. The new place is raw and wild. We’re starting over and I’ve spent too much time feeling loss instead of embracing the new adventure. Spending so many years in that place of abundance allowed me to forget some of the simplest joys. I had forgotten how wonderful and almost giddy it made me feel when a volunteer would pop up from a previous planting or how supported I felt when my perennials would return and grow. It’s striking to sit in a place of gratitude for something I had probably taken for granted for such a long time and there is beauty in that sort of romantic rekindling.

    Reply
  492. Marcia McAvoy on

    For an ole’ Grammy, each precious year is a new gift filled with flowers in my Garden. Added tulips this year that were spectacular, have been watching the majestic Show of peonies in bloom, now gazing at a blue wave of delphinium and campanula. Already planning next year’s Garden and looking forward to that….bulbs ordered [some will be new for me, like foxtail lily] and a list of seeds made. Will do some “cool gardening” again too.

    Reply
  493. Mary on

    I’m enjoying my roses coming into full bloom this time of year. Every day is different, colors and blooms come and go. The strength of the plant with the fragile petals are so beautiful to me. It’s my calm place.

    Reply
  494. Shana Chisholm on

    My boys and I just visited 3 CA national parks. Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite. Nature is SO beautiful!

    Reply
  495. Jenny Hines on

    I have recently noticed how all the dormant flowers that have been on our property, which dates back to the late 1600s, are coming alive again and we grow more. The Mason bees have returned, there are more birds. If you take care of earth we reap the rewards

    Reply
  496. Solomiya Tormozov on

    These couple of months, I’ve had the opportunity to watch my strawberries growing. They started off quite sad looking, but have grown into these beautiful 1 foot tall stems. So many delicious berries appearing every day. One day they’re green, the next they are red and ripe. My children eating from the garden, now that is such a wonderful sight to behold. It’s such a wonderful process. Since losing my father last year, I’ve tried in general to slow down and notice all the beautiful life around. Life is a beautiful thing.

    Reply
  497. Monica Goodrich on

    I tended my “farm” garden at the senior garden in my city yesterday and worked for almost three hours weeding and watering my vegetables and dahlias. It was so good to see the result when I was done that instead of feeling tired, I was invigorated to go home and see what needs to be done there. I also pinched my (from Floret seeds) zinnias as was demonstrated in the video and made a pretty cute and tiny bouquet that I can enjoy in my kitchen window. The fun is just beginning!

    Reply
  498. Justa Deibler on

    When on my even walk with the floofers (dogs), I couldn’t get over how slow/fast the colors of the sunset changes. Slow enough to not notice but yet in an instant the colors change and meld into something completely different.

    Reply
  499. Pamela Blackwood on

    This year I started a new veggie and flower combination garden. I feel like a new mama waiting for each seed to emerge from the ground and nervously nurture each little seedling through the changes in the weather. I’m excited to see the flowers(sweet peas,dahlias,sunflowers) and vegetables(pumpkins.winter squash,melons,corn,broccoli,onions,Brussels sprouts) grow up and mature.

    Reply
  500. Jessica on

    I love to watch direct seeded flowers and vegetables appear from the ground and grow so quickly. With transplants the process does seem quite as impressive. Beans and squash specifically seem to have noticable grow every day!

    Reply
  501. Peggy Kelley on

    I recently discovered a beaver pond & a heron rookery about one hour from my house. I’ve made time to go out 3 times in the last month to this peaceful haven & have shared the experience with beautiful friends. 😊

    Reply
  502. Liza on

    I’ve noticed how quickly our beautiful lisianthus flowers are growing in the heat of the hoop house this weekend! Crazy growth of the plant in a single day it seemed

    Reply
  503. Bradie on

    Watching the California Poppies in my garden slowly open with the sun and close in the evening has been a lovely reminder to slow down and enjoy the beauty around me.

    Reply
  504. Lisa on

    Carefully watching, from an upper gazing window, a mother mourning dove patiently incubating her clutch until her two eggs hatched & eventually became independent! 🪺💚🌿

    Reply
  505. Sarah H. on

    Yesterday I sat on my porch and noticed all of the beautiful flowers blooming, the fullness of the trees and the wind sweeping through the trees. I sat for a while and watched the clouds roll by and watched how nature is just so harmonious.

    Reply
  506. Elaina Kelley on

    I’ve noticed my Dahlia’s that I planted this year after watching your story are starting to grow bigger and bigger each day! Love watching them transform! My garden that I planted for the first time this year I’ve noticed is now producing fruit and looks so full and beautiful too!

    Reply
  507. Michelle on

    I’ve noticed the butterflies are out in force here in Colorado and loving the garden!

    Reply
  508. Moselle on

    I’ve started making mini bouquets from my (mostly vegetable) garden this year to to keep track of what is in season and appreciate the garden’s evolution over the year.

    The bouquet on my table now has bursts of coriander blooms that I’ve been watching first drop their petals like snow and now swell into coriander seeds.

    Reply
  509. Nancy on

    I have been adding new blue/purple perennials to my garden and including white with them. Here are some plants that I am enjoying. I don’t have a lot of space so I am selecting smaller varieties. I want to have color throughout the season. I still need some late season ideas.
    – Caryopteris – Bluebeard
    – Russian Sage – Little Spire
    – Salivas – 3 different heights
    – Catmint
    – Wee Hydrangea White (really small and beautiful big ball flower) I am going to get another one!
    – I want to try Storm Cloud’ Amsonia (Bluestar) (It seems to be everywhere lately, but may be too big for me)
    – Unfortunately my False Indigo, in the back is getting shaded from a tree and is not doing well. I read that it doesn’t like to be transplanted.
    – Bright white petunias in pots – I switched from Wave to Trilogy and I love them.

    Reply
  510. Gina Hamilton on

    I took my 97 yr old Grandmother for a stroll through the greenhouse where the Dahlias and Lisianthus are now in bloom. She had so much wonder and excitement like s child. It was truly a beautiful experience just watching her 💖 May I never loose the wonder and giddy excitement of seeing the flowers begin to bloom!

    Reply
  511. Erin on

    Yesterday my 2 year-old daughter went to the unmowed park across the street from our house to pick dandelions. Normally I would be annoyed that the city had let the grass get over 2 feet tall, but as she sang and danced among the flowers I was struck by just how beautiful buttercups and dandelions can be. It made me wonder what other beauty we miss out on because of our preconceived notions.
    (don’t worry we checked for ticks when we got home)

    Reply
  512. Carrie Kysar on

    I grew floret poppy seeds in milk jugs and I am enjoying these beautiful flowers now, I will be growing every last poppy of florets next year❤️ I have so enjoyed slowing down and enjoying the beauty of flowers 🌸

    Reply
  513. Alexandra Briand on

    A beautiful thing I have noticed recently is how my kids act around our first big garden at our new home. It is so beautiful to see them be curious and ask questions ! I am a really proud mama and I feel grateful about that !

    Reply
  514. Jessica Favreau on

    We just moved into a new home. The yard was a complete blank slate as far as flowers go, so the first thing I did was create a space and planted a flower garden. It’s been incredible seeing life come into the yard that wasn’t prevalent before between the bees, butterflies and all the different colors of dragonflies. It truly seems magical.

    Reply
  515. Susan Erisman on

    I am spending the summer in Montana, and I am simply blown away by the hills of beautiful wildflowers blowing in the wind. I admire the beauty highlighted by the wind.

    Reply
  516. Billie on

    I find her flowers just amazing never knew by using a window as your canvas would make your bouquet look like a masterpiece. Breathtaking

    Reply
  517. Pam on

    I’ve been working on drawing more birds to my yard I have been noticing and family of blue birds! ❤️

    Reply
  518. Chrissy Smith on

    In my most recent arrangement of peonies, I was happy to have the help of mother natures’s weeds growing in my drainage ditch, beautiful little yellow flowers for the perfect filler!

    Reply
  519. Joanne Weaver on

    The sun rays hit my baby’s curls and the last pattering raindrops bounce off the patio.Up in the pasture goats and sheep frolic in the dewy grasses as the sun peeks thru the rain clouds. The smell of hot pavement rises to my senses. I glance around. I feel peace. I marvel at the beauty. Every where I look it is beautiful right in this moment.

    Reply
  520. Kathy on

    I have noticed and really paid attention to each new thing blooming after such a long rainy spell in WA state, and appreciated each bloom as a blessing from God.

    Reply
  521. Maddison Perzel on

    I’ve recently noticed how beautiful the evening light is when filled with lightning bugs and late summer sunsets.

    Reply
  522. Shannon Carr on

    Although it has been difficult lately to find the beauty in things, what I count on every morning to bring a smile to my face, is my half circle garden encircling my fire pit area. It is beautiful but what is more beautiful is that it has brought to me a confidence in myself that was lost for many years until I began gardening 4 years ago. I needed the boost. <3

    Reply
  523. Lori Van Every on

    Sitting outside, enjoying the beautiful day that God blessed us with. The dappled light filtering thru the leaves overhead. The butterflies stopping to appreciate our flowers. Birds singing, Seedlings popping thru the soil. So much work to be done, projects galore, but also so much to appreciate and so many beautiful things to enjoy.

    Reply
  524. Jo Anna Colbath on

    Hello! A beautiful thing I’ve noticed lately is the way the morning dew and sun hit my rose garden. It brings such peace.

    Reply
  525. Anna Dowell on

    I have noticed my sunflowers blooming! First time growing them, and it is pure joy to wake up and watch them subtly change.

    Reply
  526. Mika Leigh on

    My hydrangeas have put out much smaller blooms/heads this year, something I haven’t seen before. They look like wee fairy hydrangeas, and I’m appreciating their diminutive beauty!

    Reply
  527. Deanna on

    One beautiful thing I noticed recently is how planting natural habitat for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds has transformed my yard and my guests. From littles to those with grey hair, the flower garden is a source of joy while observing natural wonders and a source of curiosity as visitors explore new blooms and watching the bees. As they get reconnected with nature even for brief moments, I watch their bodies relax and the weights of the world be momentarily forgotten.

    Reply
  528. Heather Morehouse on

    This year has been rough. 90 degree temps on and off from April-June here in Wisconsin after being so cold for most of the early spring. We are so far behind schedule with planting. I lost a lot of cool flowers due to temps. I took off work the week my tulips were blooming in April and it was over 90 degrees just so I could catch them before they blew.

    I almost said “I’m done, just done this year” I sat and cried in our new 2 acre field we expanded into. It’s half sun flowers and half pumpkins. I spent many hours up there with my mom when she was alive planting the same things. As I cried the sun set painted the most beautiful sunset and nature sang its enchanting melody. I was suddenly at peace, seeing and feeling the beauty that was around me. It may be a dusty field now but it will be spectacular by fall. I saw the beauty of the future once I sat down and just took it all in.

    Reply
  529. April VanDerwerken on

    We have a red weigela shrub in our yard and every year I am impressed by its beauty once it blooms.

    Reply
  530. Hilda Banuelos on

    This year is the first time I started growing flowers from bulbs and seeds. It is so rewarding to see the plants break through the soil and the little buds turning into flowers. It is so calming to start and end my days admiring the beautiful flowers.

    Reply
  531. Brenda on

    Waking before the alarm and being able to enjoy incredible sunrises with 3 mountain views and a hummingbird zipping by to say good morning.

    Reply
  532. Janelle on

    The sunsets that stretch the sky and illuminate all the plants in an unique way.

    Reply
  533. Sandee Horan on

    How green everything still is due to our long cold spell. All the trees look very lush. And the foliage on the flowers is so richly colored this year.

    Reply
  534. Emily on

    Watching my 2 year old enjoying the small things of nature in the garden, tiny rocks, the sheep an horses in the field by our house an the fireflies, such fresh perspective.

    Reply
  535. Laura on

    Since welcoming my firstborn 20 months ago, it’s so much easier to notice beautiful thing as strictly everything is beautiful to him, especially since he turned year old. Today we savored a packet of fresh strawberries looking at people walking by, when he said “so pretty!” for the very first time. He was pointing at the flowers next of us and my heart was so full.

    Reply
  536. Julie Stout on

    I am so excited to see my Dahlia and zinnias growing from seed I harvest last year from Floret flower seeds! I pray they are as beautiful as last year! And my celosia that self seeded from last year is truly magnificent!

    Reply
  537. Kelly Jennings on

    Noticed a wee “volunteer” bloom striving mightily to push through the weeds I’ve not had time to tackle. Thanks for the motivation, little one.

    Reply
  538. Christine Roberts -Kehres on

    I love the surprises that the garden brings to my life each day. And the enjoyment to each living thing.

    Reply
  539. Chris on

    A beautiful thing I’ve been noticing and loving lately are all of the unexpectedly beautiful flowers from my flower and vegetable garden, especially the artichokes. This year I only harvested a few and they were delicious, but the left most to go to flower and the flowers are extraordnarily beautful and filled with bees. Your blog and Milli’s new book are lovely and inspiring. Thank you!

    Reply
  540. Laura C. on

    My own gardens. I know that sounds a bit self-centered, but I’ve spent the better part of 8 1/2 years planning, weeding, mulching, cultivating the many flower gardens around my home (most already existed when I bought it, but needed more love and beauty added to them). A few days back, I finally just looked at them all – REALLY looked at them. After all of my hard work, the sweat, the sore and stiff muscles, the money spent, the many, MANY hours of work, they are all finally coming together. Most could still use some more plant additions. But, for the first time, I really, truly, noticed that all of the effort spent is panning out and I finally gave myself a figurative, and, truth be told, a literal, pat on the back. :-)

    Reply
  541. Nikkol Kitchen on

    Moving from WA to TX recently I’m learning to embrace the beauty of new plants that I’ve never even know about. Growing here is a whole new world compared to the PNW.

    Reply
  542. Kelsey on

    a beautiful thing I noticed was my floret Iceland Poppies that I’ve been babying, carefully tending to, have freached the cracked bud stage and I can start to see the color. it’s incredibly beautiful knowing these delicate and tricky plants are about to put on a show and my hard work has really paid off. beauty in hard work, trust in mother nature and letting things thrive.

    Reply
  543. Nancy on

    I am loving the sunrises and sunsets, they are such a beautiful beginning and end point, a time to stop and savor all that is to happen and that did happen!

    Reply
  544. Danielle Little on

    We have had a slower start to our summer here and I’m loving how long my cool weather plants and flowers are blooming!

    Reply
  545. Shelley Geary on

    I planted strawflowers for the first time this and many others which Erin suggested. They are so beautiful and very long lasting. My pollinators are loving all the flowers.

    Reply
  546. Christina Cavalier on

    This is the first year I’ve started growing flowers from seeds. I’m so excited how easy, economical, and satisfying it is to watch a little seed germinate, grow, and produce beautiful flowers! I’m in awe everyday as I watch this miracle!

    Reply
  547. Arianne Jensen on

    Hello!!
    We were just in California. I noticed all of the beautiful flowers at the resort we were at. I also saw a bunch of agave plants at City Hall in Newport Beach California. So I had my husband park and I had my camera. I did not know that they have the most beautiful garden around City Hall. If you are ever there you must stop. Agave, succulents, cactus! Beautiful ❤️

    Reply
  548. Gayle on

    One beautiful thing I noticed this week are my pumpkin plants I grew from seeds I gathered last year. So exciting to see over a dozen healthy starts ready to transplant. Can’t wait to see what I will have in the fall. Thank you for the opportunity to win on of these beautiful books.

    Reply
  549. Linda on

    A beautiful I noticed were all of the fireflies putting on a lovely show in the fields and trees this weekend.

    Reply
  550. Tressa on

    All of my lilies are blooming and they’re one of my favorites!

    Reply
  551. Adaline Blythe on

    I recently started growing David Austin roses. I’m just amazed by how beautiful and healthy they are. I also have some little band size roses, these are not looking so well and I think it is due to the fact that I have them sitting off by themselves with no pollinators or other plants nearby. It’s hard for me to believe how a few plants or insects can make such a difference in my small garden but they really do!

    Reply
  552. Tiffani on

    This year I am finding beauty in the mess. I just can’t spend hours weeding my garden to perfection, not do I want too. There is beauty is the mess, in all shapes and sizes including us humans 💜

    Reply
  553. Jaime Preston on

    This is my first year with successful hollyhock blooms.. I can’t get over how tall they get and how gorgeous they are! One of my favorite things to do when I’m out watering in the mornings is take time to watch for all the new things opening up watching all the bees happily buzzing around the garden beds. Gardening is a joy and this season I’m enjoying watching my first flower seeds I planted thriving!! 💐

    Reply
  554. Rhonda Curry on

    A beautiful thing I’ve noticed recently are all the pollinators that are attracted to beautiful flowers such as yours.

    Reply
  555. Courtney Clerke on

    I’ve always loved peonies but only just became a homeowner and was thrilled to see I had a few planted in the yard already. After the flowers died and I went to deadhead I saw what the seedpods looked like for the first time and they were these whimsical little jester hats! I admired how amazing nature really is if you just look.

    Reply
  556. Rachel Hodge on

    This season is full of beautiful things for me. My mornings are above and beyond beautiful lately. Waking before the sun gets too hot, to have my morning coffee, and breathe with my plants. Every morning noticing how they’ve grown and changed over night.

    Reply
  557. Lori Crozier on

    Lately, I’ve been noticing not only what appears from the seeds I’ve planted but also what the soil brings to the beds (from other plants to insects) and how the two compliment each other!

    Reply
  558. Lacey on

    I am so excited that a miniature rose we had transplanted not only made it but is blooming again. In our Texas heat, it can be a real struggle. My pollinator garden is in its third year and is really flourishing now. Last, but not least, we witnessed a Gulf Fritillary butterfly laying eggs on our passion vines, their host plant! Such beauty!

    Reply
  559. Lori on

    I was just letting my goats out to pasture and love how the maple tree branches reach out and frame the dew filled pasture! There is so much more than that, but it was my favorite.
    Lori

    Reply
  560. Katrina Smith on

    Lately I have noticed just how beautiful a Childs wonder is. Like how they can pick a dandelion and see it as an equal to a peony or a rose. They will see lightning bugs and have just as much wonder with those little lights as we do with fireworks! It is just so beautiful and the sweetest and I want to take advantage of more of those moments.

    Reply
  561. Cathy Friesz on

    While I have lots of returning flowers every year, ths year I bought several wildflower seed boxes from the dollar store and scattered them in an area on my back hill. It seems each morning a new little surprise is blooming. Most have been tiny little delicate blooms that last just a few days but they are a joy to discover each day. I will let them go to seed and hopefully they too will return again next year!

    Reply
  562. MaryChris Jones on

    I just retired. I have had some flowers over the years I purchased, but now I want a beautiful flower garden. Your books will help me create that.

    Reply
  563. Brittney on

    I’ve started paying attention to how the monsoon rains opens up the beautiful new growth (and sometimes flowers) on the cactus and plants of the southwest desert. I used to see it all as just so dry and brown compared to everyone else’s green lush gardens and cities. But now I see the new shades of green and colors that I’ve never noticed before I started taking the time to actually enjoying being outside!

    Reply
  564. Megan Wickham on

    After a cool wet spring, the seeds are sprouting and showing their beautiful life. Nature is starting to reflect a smile here in our little garden, slowly but beautifully.

    Reply
  565. Lauren on

    I’m a very new gardener. But I have enjoyed the opportunity to slow down and create a garden I love.

    Reply
  566. Chelsie Taylor Justice on

    I had a lot of volunteer moonshine sunflowers come up this year, and they’re so beautiful I couldn’t wait to cut a bunch and bring them in to put on the table. I went out this morning while it was still cool, and before I could cut any I watched some native bees gathering pollen from their centers. Watching them work was wonderful, and I left all the flowers in the garden for them to enjoy a while longer.

    Reply
  567. Amanda Britton on

    I have been growing flowers just as a hobby for a few years and just love looking at all the minute details, the striations, the colors and patterns. The “weeds” that take over and how some produce the most beautiful flowers. Toad lillies have such a beautiful flower that can go unnoticed because of its tiny size.

    Reply
  568. Andrea on

    I discovered 7 beautiful gardens during Skagit Symphony Garden Tour in Anacortes. They were so inspiring.

    Reply
  569. Jenny Negrey on

    I have an almost two year old daughter who adores flowers. She isn’t the most tactful with asking before she rips them out of the ground but I’ve been finding myself reminiscing of times when I was little and I would help my grandmother “weed” her garden and I would mistakenly rip beautiful poppies out of the ground and say “is this a weed grandma” and she would just smile and laugh, never once getting upset by it. I’ve been embracing that mentality and learning to love the sheer joy she gets out of her freshly picked flowers.

    Reply
  570. Carla Ode on

    Robins nest near the front door with three babies inside!

    Reply
  571. Tami on

    I moved into my house 4 years ago but just started planting flowers in the backyard this year. I’m amazed at the wildlife that has already started to show up! I spent an entire evening watching a family of robins teaching one of their youngsters to fly. I’ve got hummingbirds, bees, moths and butterflies visiting all the beautiful flowers… it’s just pure joy! Thanks for the inspiration…

    Reply
  572. Katrina Hayes on

    This is the first year we’ve really grown flowers in our garden instead of just vegetables. I love how curious and interactive it has made my kids through this whole process and how engaged they are with the process. They both want their own gardens now to have free reign over!

    Reply
  573. CHRISTINE ROBERSON on

    I’ve noticed how many of the smallest flowers, when looked at with a magnifying glass or zoomed in with a camera are very intricate works of art.

    Reply
  574. Ally Bale on

    Well we had a cool wet spring and some of my seedlings were not happy. After a few days of sun and warmth, flowers are popping open. So many bees, butterflies and humming birds. Ya nature!

    Reply
  575. Tracey Williams on

    As a new lockdown gardening convert I am just so surprised and astonished every time I manage to get something to germinate, it’s like a little miracle and it’s very addictive and I’m now the proud owner of a new potting shed, can’t wait to fill it. My latest addiction is Dahlias, I bought 8 in the sales, each one has flourished and I’ve taken cuttings, can’t wait to see how they turn out, just got the keep the slugs, snails and everything else off them now

    Reply
  576. Tammy on

    Really loving how my flower beds are filling in this year. I’ve been working on them since we moved in 3 years ago and the results are starting to show.

    Reply
  577. Jennifer Long on

    I’m a fairly new gardener and watching my five year old learn to love gardening and flowers and growing alongside me has been so fun and beautiful to watch.

    Reply
  578. Deborah Fillmore on

    It seems that the few flowers I have planted in Montana are taking forever to bloom this year. However, the wild flowers near my home have been glorious!!

    Reply
  579. Katie B on

    I’ve started to notice and really appreciate all the variety of flowers around the homes in my neighborhood. I feel closer to my community, knowing there are other people close by who share a similar passion with me. My walks around the block are just lovely around this time of the year!

    Reply
  580. Shelley on

    My 9yr & 6yr old sons and 8yr old daughter laughing and chasing butterflies around the field at their grandparents farm. It’s such a simple thing and I’m so grateful they have not outgrown these moments.

    Reply
  581. Nicole on

    I’ve noticed how even the most simple gardens are ad beautiful and a abundant as a large one. I also love seeing the native wildflowers that are grown along a major highway by me.

    Reply
  582. Katherine on

    My very first sweet pea opened the other day. I was so impatient and worried about them and then, the first bud opened and it was beautiful and vibrant and perfect. Deep coloured veins and then lighter like water colours on paper. I’ve been out to visit it and some others now, multiple times a day! Started in February. Really exciting.

    Reply
  583. Carissa on

    Green on the leaves of the trees and the shade they provide after working in the garden. The butterflies are finally coming around. Monarchs are my favorite!

    Reply
  584. Mary May haerer on

    I noticed our first ever cherries are reddening out our bedroom window

    Reply
  585. Jane on

    I’ve always loved and appreciated flowers. They seem to give me just what I need at exactly when I need it: they bring joy, they comfort, they inspire, they encourage, they cause me to wonder and at times they bring challenges! This summer, I have committed more time and energy to my gardening.

    I am a teacher and over the past two years, COVID has presented many challenges – professionally and personally. I absolutely love my job, but these last few years have been the most difficult of my career. In addition, I moved from my family home place after living there over fifty years. I absolutely know the move was the right thing to do – no question, but it was still bittersweet leaving behind the home that held all of my sweet memories of growing up. I share all of this to say, that now, my gardening has new meaning. I see it and feel it so differently than before.

    Now I see the beautiful in the HOPE that gardening provides.

    Hope in change – like the change found in the seasons and the change in growth from seed to flower. Hope in fruits of the labor. Hope in overcoming challenges and becoming a stronger version of myself – the way the health of the seeds and roots provide the strength for the flowers. Hope that the garden and flowers provide joy and inspiration for others.

    HOPE is the beautiful I see now. ❤️

    Reply
  586. Vicki Bedford on

    I have noticed my grandchildren in the “smelling” garden, smelling all the different herbs and trying to guess what they are used for!.

    Reply
  587. Jackie Gray on

    Really enjoying all the butterflies visiting my zinnias! I will plant a lot more next year.

    Reply
  588. Heidi Fry on

    The water lilies in our koi pond just started blooming and they’re so beautiful!

    Reply
  589. Michelle carson on

    Loving taking the time to look through all of my dahlia seedlings. There is nothing better than the anticipation of what they are going to look like :)

    Reply
  590. Staci H. on

    I have noticed the wonderful smell of rain and how vibrant the colors outside are after a rain shower!

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  591. Stephanie on

    The lightening bugs were out last night in the garden. I love sharing their magic with my three boys. I’m trying to take it all in before they turn into young men.

    Reply
  592. Jackie Holman on

    We’ve just received a few days of summer weather where I live in the PNW and both my peonies and roses are blooming at the same time AND the monarchs are back, its the most wonderful time of the year! My garden feels like magic right now ✨️ ❤️

    Reply
  593. Barbara on

    My first sweet peas flowers appeared this weekend & I anticipating the opening of dahlia buds.

    Reply
  594. Joey E on

    Currently in love with my cantaloupe colored coneflowers .
    But loving more the curiosity of my 3 year old granddaughter on her daily “nature walks” around my house.

    Reply
  595. Stephanie S on

    The flow of the garden. The flowers that start as others fade out. The birds that sing and chirp and dart about. We had a bunny come in under the fence, and even though he won’t stop eating, I just marvel at nature and the sight of a rabbit right in my suburban backyard!

    Reply
  596. Stephanie G. on

    I’ve noticed just how many pollinators, including lots of hummingbirds, my cut flower garden attracts. Just lovely!

    Reply
  597. Lesley Frenz on

    We’ve been starting most of our flowers and veggies from seeds this year (thank you for the inspiration and information, Erin!) and although our PNW spring was incredibly soggy, it’s been so beautiful and rewarding to watch everything break through the soil and reach for the sky.

    Reply
  598. Sheashah on

    Can’t wait to read the book! Very inspirational.

    Reply
  599. WendyC on

    Two big beautiful hot air balloons greeting me this morning as I checked on the garden, only to find another excitement, my first dahlia seedling bud!

    Reply
  600. Alexis on

    Watching my little kids exploring the garden and flower beds with such pure joy and excitement as everything starts to fruit and bloom is one of the things I truly look forward to every growing season. It gives that warm fuzzy feeling that I’m teaching them something memorable together.

    Reply
  601. Bernie on

    This morning I was greeted by a hummingbird singing hello while feasting on my salvias – pure beauty

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  602. Cassandre on

    My belly growing with my little girl inside, I just can’t wait to meet her (and so her 3 big brothers!) and share my passion for flowers with her.

    Reply
  603. Anita Vanberkom on

    The last couple of years I’ve been really struggling trying to grow/sell flowers-because I had to give up my job, homeschool the kids, have a baby, we had just moved here before the pandemic so we didn’t have any friends. I was really lonely and overwhelmed. I lost the joy of motherhood. My kids became work and I couldn’t handle. This year we have to move again for my husbands work which means that all my hard work is going to be left behind. Which is so frustrating but it allowed me to let go of the garden so that I can actually enjoy the beauty of the flowers with the kids. I love to watch them come out with me and make their own bouquets. I have the ability now to see the joy and wonder that flowers bring to even little people. Especially when they give them away.

    Reply
  604. LeeAnna Guidry on

    This is just what I need- I read and tagged your books Erin- this book would just add to my knowledge of what I learned from you! Fingers crossed
    LeeAnna

    Reply
  605. Marissa Schroeder on

    I’ve enjoyed my Japanese Snowbells so much this year. I love walking by just to smell them and listen quietly to the buzz of the bees enjoying them, too! Thousands of tiny white bells hanging delicately from the branches. I look forward to enjoying them every year. I have two of them that are about 20 feet tall and stand side by side with a small walkway between them. They provide a natural garden arch and welcome all to enter my garden.

    Reply
  606. Tanja on

    Everything is a bit later than usual this spring in the PNW but finally the garden is bursting with blooms and scents, the rugosa and David Austin roses are spectacular this spring. I was sitting out on the deck, watching the happy bees buzzing in the blooms, especially enjoying the tubular comfrey flowers.

    Reply
  607. Emma on

    We have such amazing sunsets at the small farm we bought last fall. They cap off the days with beauty.

    Reply
  608. Ashley on

    I usually dislike summer/warmer months. Recently I have started noticing how amazing it is to watch the seeds I started thrive in the warmth! I love watching them throughout the day to see how they chase the sun through the sky!

    Reply
  609. Shawn White on

    I noticed beautiful purple wild flowers along I-95 North while driving to VA..I wanted to stop but didn’t do it. Nature is so beautiful.

    Reply
  610. Kimberly C on

    Lately? Genuinely one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen lately is the soft stillness of the trees and leaves after a rain. When the air is still heavy with moisture and the birds are starting to call again. You can see drops settled on the leaves of my past blooming Bleeding Hearts, beaded like crystals to catch the light. The yarrow is bent to touch the ground and slowly rises as it dries.

    The peace after the rain. That has been the beauty

    Reply
  611. Heidi on

    I have noticed so many flowers I didn’t plant in the garden. I love that the birds transfer the little seeds in unexpected places. Kind of like life… so many unexpected things that come our way that can first appear as a weed, but bring us great joy in the end. 💕

    Reply
  612. Jenna Byrne on

    We have had a quite challenging spring and summer in my area as far as growing goes. Severe drought and intense heat with no reprieve. But, sunflowers and zinnias. These beautiful, hardy, tenacious plants continue to thrive and fill our place with splashes of cheerful blooms. My life recently has been similar to a season of intense heat and drought. I have lost many family members in quick succession and it has taken a toll. But, sunflowers and zinnias. I am doing my best to grow and bloom despite difficult challenges and I will do my best to look to the light and find joy in all of life’s little blessings, like sunflowers and zinnias. Thank you for all the joy you bring to this world and sharing your knowledge and expertise with those who wish to grow happiness along with you.

    Reply
  613. Amy Schwartzenberger on

    Slowing down to smell my peonies that just bloomed after 2 weeks of rain in MT. We just moved to a new property a couple years ago and are adding more flowers than ever. These peonies were one of the first ones planted and look beautiful!

    Reply
  614. Marta Nowak on

    My garden is my sanctuary. It heals my mind and body when everything around seems to be falling apart. This season I’ve created a great habitat for wildlife with the hummingbird hawk moth topping the list. Never before had I seen one. Watching it visit same flowers at the same time each day makes everything so much better.

    Reply
  615. Tammy on

    I’ve enjoyed seeing how nature gives us beautiful flowers in places we didn’t plant! We work so hard to grow and nurture so many plants and then you’ll have one pop up you didn’t plant or that was an annual but came back…what an awesome surprise gift to us the farmers!!! 🌸💕🌸

    Reply
  616. Jeannie on

    Beauty in the little things. Alpine garden, White Mountains, NH

    Reply
  617. Michelle Klein on

    As I get older, I enjoy more and more watching nature unfold each spring. The new smells, new specimens of floral blown in by the winds. It is the one constant I can rely on in these crazy times. Thankful for my moments in nature and the beauty it brings to our world.
    Thanks for sharing beautiful images on the daily and the hard work you do to do so!

    Reply
  618. Heather Catuzo on

    The sweet peas I started from seed are greening up and growing fast in this PNW heat. It’s a joy to watch them grow.

    Reply
  619. Carla on

    I’ve been watching the forest floor evolve as spring turns into summer and am totally awe struck by the discoveries made when taking a closer look. It’s not all just green, there’s a whole other world in there! I was peering into a small spruce and saw the tiniest birds nest with tiny blue eggs! It was so beautiful!

    Reply
  620. Donna Chachko on

    I just found the sweetest volunteer petunia growing in a crack of our patio. Nature always finds a way.

    Reply
  621. Ashley Tandy on

    My Sunflowers blooming and all of the bees and butterflies!!

    Reply
  622. Jennifer Kuhn on

    In my garden, my peonies have never been more beautiful and my strawberries are delicious.

    Reply
  623. Aimee on

    With all the rain lately I’ve noticed all the trees are more lush, greener, and fuller, so many more blossoms on trees I’ve seen, so many more pollinators this year too! I’m hoping another upside to how wet it was this spring is that the fire/smoke season is very short.

    Reply
  624. Chelsea on

    A hillside of poppies and cornflowers in full bloom in a spot where I hadn’t expected to see anything beautiful.

    Reply
  625. Brittney Norris on

    My butterfly bush is just starting to bloom and it’s beautiful! 🦋

    Reply
  626. Brooke Scharff on

    I found some sort of wild hibiscus growing as a weed in my yard. It’s absolutely beautiful and I told my husband not to use the weed whacker in that spot, no idea how it got there but I want to keep it!

    Reply
  627. Ashley on

    My children playing with their cousins until the sun sets.

    Reply
  628. Johanna M on

    I found a lovely self-sown viola in the garden this morning. It has such a lovely watercolor effect. I love the surprises that can just pop up in the most unusual places as a result of the flowers we have grown.

    Reply
  629. Shirley Poirrier on

    Such a beautiful inspiration! Love seeing all the seasonal blooms right now!

    Reply
  630. Bethany Reimer on

    The first rays of the summer sun when it’s still cool.

    Reply
  631. Kathleen on

    Milkweek found its way in to my beds in the most beautiful shades of yellow and orange

    Reply
  632. Pam on

    I am in the PNW and this year has brought unexpected gardening results. Very early the Kale bolted with yellow flowers, providing weeks of pollen for the bees. I found myself spending hours watching the bees work. That is an amazing thing of beauty. Also the Rhodies were stellar this year.

    Reply
  633. Marci Bastin on

    I slow down to notice the beauty of my children and the changes in them. I am blessed to be their mama and honored that I get to witness the new freckles, shoe size, and inches that seem to show up daily!

    Reply
  634. Cindy Nicholls on

    I decided not to mow my small front yard this year and have a border of flowers. I love sitting on the front porch looking at my mini meadow with the various grasses of varying shades of green producing their seed heads and swaying in the breeze. Although I live in town I feel like I’m in the country.

    Reply
  635. Kim Pearson on

    This year I am growing many flowers from seed for the first time…larkspur, zinnias, delphinium and poppies. The poppies are budded up and hopefully will bloom soon. I check them daily..impatiently awaiting on that first bloom.

    Reply
  636. Melinda Plummer on

    My Grandma as well as my Mom started my love for flowers. Spreading the joy of flowers to my kids as well. The farm has starts of peonies, daylilies, roses from previous generations on our farm. The pandemic was such a fun time to enjoy my landscape. I spent the time going back to the love of flowers and expanding my gardens for all my neighbors to enjoy!

    Reply
  637. Sarah on

    Love following both of you!
    I have spent more time outside than I ever have in our garden, I love to hear the birds and my favorite part is the sunsets each night always so beautiful but different.

    Reply
  638. Olga on

    I’ve started my first cut flower garden in my backyard this year, and so far I’ve loved watched the ranunculus come to bloom. The way their many layered unfold into a magical bloom is simply lovely. Thank you for organizing this giveaway and sharing wonderful work. Cheers, Olga

    Reply
  639. Kim Carter on

    I really like the early morning and late evening times in the garden. Everything just seems calm and beautiful. ❤️

    Reply
  640. April on

    After an incredibly wet spring in the PNW, how lush and green everything is.

    Reply
  641. Ashley on

    We recently expanded our garden, and watching all the new things pop up is magic!

    Reply
  642. Kokie Larson on

    The cooling breeze when the sun is at its peak. Noticed and appreciated!

    Reply
  643. Andrea on

    The angle of the sun has changed and I love how the light has changed on the northern side of my home.

    Reply
  644. Chrissy on

    I noticed a whole ecosystem on my rudbeckia in my front garden. There were aphids, but I left them alone because there were also ladybugs and leather wing beetles having them for lunch. There were all sizes of bees and even a transverse-banded flower fly. Nothing needed my intervention as nature was taking care of itself. All I had to do was enjoy and observe.

    Reply
  645. Noelle Durrant on

    The fractured light that comes through the glass on our back door creates a beautiful pattern on our floor.

    Reply
  646. A'lyce on

    We recently moved to a new property last year, so this is the first spring I’ve gotten to experience, here. Along our irrigation ditch grow a type of grass that produces feathery tops and I love them so much! When the breeze ruffles through them it creates such a peaceful feeling and it just allows me to take a moment to slow down while watching.

    Congrats on your book, Milli! It is a stunning piece.

    Reply
  647. Wendy on

    On a recent vacation to Pigeon Forge, TN, we drove through beautiful Cade’s Cove to see bears. There were none. About a half hour after we got back to our cabin, one came traipsing down the hill right through the fire pit area. It was so cool!

    Reply
  648. Beth on

    I slowed down and noticed that my milkweed plants had already become home to me very hungry monarch caterpillars.. we didn’t see them last year till august, so this was a sweet surprise I wouldn’t have noticed, had I not stopped to just breathe and take in the tiny details of my garden.

    Reply
  649. Katy Macleod on

    I noticed how much my sunflowers follow the sun throughout the day even before they’ve started to bloom. Nature is so amazing.

    Reply
  650. Kimberly Fleming on

    I noticed the dance of the hummingbirds this morning as they wove their way around my flowers drinking their breakfast. So many things these flowers provide – nourishment and life blood for the hummers and bees as well as joy and beauty for everyone who beholds them. I am blessed to live this life.

    Reply
  651. Elisabeth on

    I am blessed to work in an environment with idyllic gardens which provide fresh cut flowers. I am grateful that one of my “jobs” is helping arrange them as it brings me so much joy.

    Reply
  652. Lacey McDaniel on

    I’m noticing how every petal on my dahlias are different!!! Such depth and variegation!!! Even the hummingbirds are taking notice and visit them!!

    Reply
  653. Sonia Covarrubias on

    Yesterday I really noticed how kind my teen son is not only with who he loves but with strangers ❤️❤️❤️

    Reply
  654. Abby on

    Everything about this season is beautiful! The flowers are blooming which draws the bees and butterflies to float around the garden. The sunsets are always magical this time of year and the way it adds a golden glow to everything always makes me stop and take in all the beauty the world has to offer!

    Reply
  655. Brenna R on

    Mountains. Wether they are faraway or up close they are beautiful.

    Reply
  656. Kristine on

    I have actually slowed down to realize that green looks absolutely beautiful with everything! The green grass the green on a flower stems green frogs 🐸 too !!!! ♥️❤️♥️ A new love for green 2022 for me !!!!

    Reply
  657. Katherine Browne on

    Watching the solitary hummingbird flying between the canna lilies and agapanthus makes me so happy!

    Reply
  658. Rebekah Markes on

    The other morning I woke up early and the sun was a golden orange color & it shined through the trees outside my window onto the driveway and it was just absolutely beautiful!! A picture could not do it justice.

    Reply
  659. Laura on

    I have noticed how the flowers stand a little taller in the evening time. I love to sit and enjoy the quietness of the garden. Even in the middle of a city, it brings about a sense of peace.

    Reply
  660. Erin on

    My cosmos have just started blooming and I think they are beautiful!

    Reply
  661. Tina B on

    I love the way my portulaca bursts open with a bright blooms of all colors and will bloom all summer!! They are my Happy Flowers!

    Reply
  662. Jennifer Petering on

    I have a rekindled love for sunlight streaming through the trees in the forest … And I’m inspired by the woodsflowers 😍

    Reply
  663. Breanna on

    This is my first year starting seeds for a cut flower garden and I’ve really been able to experience and notice the beauty in the changes of plants – from seed to seedling and beyond. I’m SO excited to see the beauty of my blooms in a few weeks and over the next few months!

    Reply
  664. Laura on

    I have noticed the beauty and consistency of God’s love in a world that is ever shifting and full of change. I can trust God’s leading when I give my life to him and rest in the assurance of salvation. The flowers blooming in my garden are little love notes from Him!

    Reply
  665. Lauren on

    Finally harvesting the vegetables and cutting the flowers I’ve been growing for the first time :)

    Reply
  666. Laurie on

    The glorious sunshine in the PNW!

    Reply
  667. Samantha Muller on

    So excited for this book! I just moved to a new town and I’ve noticed the local garden club does an amazing job making the public garden planters look beautiful. It inspires me to create a beautiful garden that my neighbors and friends will enjoy seeing.

    Reply
  668. Patricia on

    Flowers have always made me happy throughout my life and I have finally made the leap of growing cut flowers! I decided to place my garden of flowers along the roadside of a scenic ridge that people from all over come to view, in hopes that I can share the beauty of the flowers during their travel. As I was planting my seedlings, a truck passed with a bed of flowering plants. I was so excited to see their flowers and joy overwhelmed me for them. I felt fulfilled that I was giving the same joy to others.

    Reply
  669. Kellsy on

    My two boys have recently taken an interest in checking on our flowers we’ve been growing from seed. They’re feeling the same excitement I do when that first bloom appears :)

    Reply
  670. Kathy on

    I love walking the garden after devotional each day to see the wonders God has opened at sunrise!

    Reply
  671. Emily on

    My daughter and I have started painting with watercolor recently to try and hold on to our bond. Before she would not be as enthused as I was to participate. Now, she asks when we’re going to paint again and is excited every time! We mostly paint flowers, and her perspective of nature is so beautiful to me!

    Reply
  672. Gina on

    I’ve been noticing how beautifully green Western Washington is after the very wet spring we’ve had.

    Reply
  673. Madelyn on

    It’s my first year intentionally growing flowers! My daughters and I have gotten to watch echinacea bloom and our minds are blown. So glad someone recommended I watch your documentary!!

    Reply
  674. Sharon P on

    A friend gave me a hummingbird feeder as a gift a few years ago and watching them has brought my entire family such joy! Watching their tiny bodies dart about with their whirring wings is beautiful and fascinating!

    Reply
  675. Charlotte Boman on

    The most beautiful thing I’ve noticed recently is how my two young boys are turning into friends and not just brothers. It warms my heart!

    Reply
  676. Rhonda Yarrington on

    My recent love of all the poppies. This is my first year growing them and I am just over the moon about how beautiful they are. They are running a close race with my favorites, peonies.

    Reply
  677. Laurie Parkison on

    The way the peony petals look like layers of ruffles on a fancy skirt.

    Reply
  678. Carolina on

    Being from Miami, I tend to overlook the Everglades since I live right next to them. But the other day as I was flying home from the PNW, we flew right over the expansive and lush natural aquifer right at sunset, and the reflection of the clouds and colorful sky on the water took my breath away. There’s so much beauty that surrounds us… sometimes it just takes looking at it from a new perspective to gain a deeper appreciation for it.

    Reply
  679. Staci Hunter on

    When walking through my lavender field, the humming of the bees as they work. The sound is so beautiful!

    Reply
  680. Kelly Tripp on

    How so many flower farmers are so willing to support each other. From flower emergencies to tough love to taking care of oneself in the thick of it – Flower farmers are beautiful people.

    Reply
  681. Sarah on

    We just moved and simultaneously welcomed our second baby boy. I’ve not had time to plant anything and of the the things I’ve planted most are dying because we’ve been so busy. The inside of the house is a mess of toys and unpacked chaos. Last night I was downstairs pumping in the dark at 3a tired and a bit grumpy when I got a whiff of the Lillies a family member sent us. It was in that moment that I was reminded everything is temporary and there’s beauty even in the chaos. Thank goodness for flowers. In this moment, thank goodness for the beauty of fresh cut flowers.

    Reply
  682. Cindy Leonard on

    My most gorgeous things I’m noticing right now is the zinnia seeds coming up and blooming that I bought from Erin. In Indiana, I’ve always had just orange ones. Now I’m so excited to see a Lime Blush start to open, a pretty pink, and an almond color.
    I also bought red and white sunflower 🌻 seeds. Some animal I have likes to eat the top off of the white baby sunflower plants. I have to keep bug dust on those to detour the animal. I can’t wait to see these bloom!

    Reply
  683. Cynthia baumer on

    How peaceful my life is. How everything slows down. Gardening is a life saver.

    Reply
  684. Sheila on

    The most beautiful thing I’ve seen recently is my sweet husband checking on me during my COVID recuperation.

    Reply
  685. Marilyn on

    Dappled light filtering through the Japanese maples at my favorite nursery in Snohomish

    Reply
  686. Pamela Gill on

    So much beauty here! I hope someday I can create beautiful floral arrangements. I took the Floret course this year and have always been an avid gardener but wanted to try flower farming as a value added product for my 50 acre farm in Florida. This year, I’m growing mostly for myself to trial what grows well here. I’m hoping to do well with the cool season flowers now that I’ve researched and educated myself as much as possible! Baby steps 🙂

    Reply
  687. Andrea on

    I love the peace that walking early in the morning and viewing my flowers brings me. I smile as I cut flowers for vases everyday. Flowers have given me purpose and enjoyment in my retirement.

    Reply
  688. Candace on

    My four o’clocks this morning. I think they were a bit confused because they were in full bloom at 7:00 am, but they were gorgeous in the morning light.

    Reply
  689. Marla Wexler on

    Last week I saw the most beautiful sunset on the beach in Mattituck, NY. It looked like a beautiful painting of orange, reds, and blues.

    Reply
  690. Betsy on

    Something beautiful? The way the light hit my Lauren’s Grape poppies last night as I sat reading a new book on the patio. Too distracting and beautiful to keep reading.

    Reply
  691. Teresa on

    I just started gardening and now my favorite part of my day is going outside first thing every morning and checking in with my plants. I can get so caught up in the stress of life but starting every day by noticing the tiny day-to-day changes in my garden reminds me of the bigger picture.

    Reply
  692. Sharry Nyberg on

    I love these early morning as the sun comes up and lights up the leaves of our coralbelle maple tree and sitting on our deck taking in the colors and smells of our flower pots

    Reply
  693. Alexandra Truchot on

    Just at sunset, the flowers of the honeysuckle smells divine! It’s the first year that i realise that. :)

    Reply
  694. Mary Ann on

    We planted a Yelloew ITOH peony 3 years ago and this year is the first time it had more than 2 or 3 blooms on it. We had 15 gorgeous yellow blooms. 💛

    Reply
  695. Chelsea Dunshee on

    Something beautiful this time of year to me is what wakes me up early to sneak out to the garden while my kids are sleeping…it’s the morning sunlight on my few June blooming flowers in my little garden in the woods. My sun peaks through a little later but nothing beats sun rays through the trees and revealing all the little subtle details on the flowers.

    Reply
  696. Sara on

    The smile on my dog’s face when I came back from vacation.

    Reply
  697. Christina on

    I not only love seeing my summer garden bloom but love making new recipes with my fresh vegetables!

    Reply
  698. Donna Shepper on

    The continuous evolving array of flowers in the community gardens in my neighborhood in Manhattan. They lift my spirits.

    Reply
  699. Elise on

    The golden sun peeking through the trees into my baby’s room in the morning.

    Reply
  700. Christa on

    The most beautiful thing I’ve seen recently is my sweet 6 month old baby smiling and reaching for a handful of blooms in my hand.

    Reply
  701. Lisa on

    A single cloud in a blue sky

    Reply
  702. Erin K. on

    I simply love this time of the year when the garden is really starting to grow and change. Everyday there is something new to take note of; new leaves, new growth, new colors. I just love it!

    Reply
  703. Cate Pomelow on

    When the sun sets, the fireflies come out with the bats, and dance around our flower beds. Makes me take a deep breath every time I see it.

    Reply
  704. Hayley on

    Cedar shadows dancing in the kitchen

    Reply
  705. Katy Behringer-Alm on

    Constantly amazed by all the little beings that interact with flowers daily. I actually find joy in watching little spiders and bugs crawl out of a freshly cut bouquet I bring inside. I make sure they all make it out safe and try my best to get them back outside. Flowers are incredible, but they are also a home to so many. 💗

    Reply
  706. Jess on

    I love seeing the warm golden colors of summer, from the yellow sunflowers opening, to our yellow cherry tomatoes ripening on the vines, to the special gold cast of light that only summer brings in the evening. 💛

    Reply
  707. Kery on

    I’ve noticed that as I plant more flowers around my house more insects show up which brings more birds and more bunnies and I’m slowly starting to see wildlife repopulate my yard! It’s the most magical and exciting thing to watch :)

    Reply
  708. Carri on

    My baby discovering his hands. 🤍

    Reply
  709. Ethan on

    Watching the new flowers emerge this year has been such a fun experience. Watching something grow and evolve through the stages is such a beautiful thing, similar to life itself.

    Reply
  710. Kirsten on

    I recently got married and moved in with my partner. I love in this season the pure joy of getting to drive home to him every evening and the gratitude I feel for the little, simple moments we share at the end of our days. I hope to hold on to this feeling and not take these times for granted too often.

    Reply
  711. Hannah Precup on

    Beautiful bugs on my sunflower! They are probably eating it, but they are so pretty.

    Reply
  712. Gloria Nikkel on

    I grew antique shades pansies from seed for the first time. I am proud of myself for growing them and I LOVE looking at them! They are so beautiful. ♥️

    Reply
  713. Maggie Morgan on

    Oddly enough at this time of the year when everything in the garden is coming alive and showing off, the most beautiful thing has been the face of the three-year-old across the street who comes every day in search of a new flower. She is so enthralled by flowers… particularly yellow ones! She proudly picks one out and takes it home to her mother and her delight fills me with such joy. Flowers are miraculous, wonderful gifts from God and I love to see the way they make people feel!

    Reply
  714. Rachel on

    Living in the city, I’m surrounded by concrete but if you look closely, there are little pockets of greenery and flowers all around. I love walking neighborhood streets and seeing the different plants the individuals have planted – they add such a lovely boost to my day. I’m saving for a place that will allow me a green space of my own (and for my pup to run) so that I can curate a beautiful garden that brings joy to everyone.

    Reply
  715. Mary on

    Watching by the park near my house change from season to season is such a daily joy. Right now the hydrangeas are starting to bloom, and the bright blues and purples contrast so beautifully with the rich greens that summer has brought to the landscape.

    Reply
  716. Tami on

    It was a unusually rainy spring here in the PNW, but since the sun has been out the last few days, everything is lush, healthy, colorful, and thriving from all that rain! It’s beautiful!

    Reply
  717. Rachel on

    Being in an urban city, I try to find beauty all around me. There’s a lovely stretch of flowers on the river walk and it always transports me to a different time. I dream of having outdoor space and curating a beautiful garden once I can afford it.

    Reply
  718. Whitney on

    Lavender skies over the ocean last night. Fireflies at dusk❤️

    Reply
  719. Ana on

    I’ve noticed that there are a redstart nest in my house!! They are so tiny and beautiful, we are observing them grow 🥰

    Reply
  720. Mollie on

    Watching a heron fly over us in our secret cove

    Reply
  721. Victoria on

    How a simple sunset can slow things down for me. Disconnected from everyone and watching the sun saying good bye has been the highlights of my summer. It’s my quiet time when all the kids have gone to bed and a moment to take to myself.

    Reply
  722. Emily on

    The moments where my kids are plying peacefully together have been showing me beauty lately.

    Reply
  723. Kristin Keef on

    I took a walk around our 25 acre hayfield right before I cut it and was surrounded by dragon flies and butterflies on the most beautiful Maine summer day.

    Reply
  724. Jessica on

    This is my first year growing a garden and oh how beautiful each subtle little change is. Just yesterday my zinnias in the garden started budding and it has brought so much joy watching each vegetable and flower grow daily!

    Reply
  725. Jessica P on

    Oh, I would love this book!
    This is my first year planting dahlia’s and after a long, wet June which delayed planting the tubers-I’m starting to see little sprouts. I love this time of year in the garden when the sun is hot and plants grow and change so much in just a day or two.

    Reply
  726. Gabby on

    The most beautiful moment in a garden or on a farm is when you interact and witness the magic that is pollinators. Watching a bee, butterflies, hummingbird you name it enjoying and spreading the beauty of the flowers we grow is amazing!

    Reply
  727. Kathy on

    Soft oranges from lilies, geums and gladioli.

    Reply
  728. Sara on

    I have noticed the few in the morning on my flowers. Truly beautiful!

    Reply
  729. Sherry Wankowski on

    The excitement that I can feel when my children help in our vegetable and flower garden. Its magical for them which then makes it magical for me. I find it contagious and it puts me in a fantastic mood for the day!

    Reply
  730. April on

    I drastically expanded my garden this year, and we have so many more pollinators flying about. I saw a monarch drinking nectar from an echinacea yesterday!

    Reply
  731. Sara on

    The miracle of growth- both in my garden and in my life.

    Reply
  732. Cait on

    I’ve been appreciating the beauty that is early mornings on our family’s river property. All you can hear is the birds and the water is so calm it’s like a sheet of glass reflecting the trees and clouds.

    Reply
  733. Courtney Seamons on

    Something beautiful I have noticed in the garden…. That seeds want to live. Even in the hottest, hardest dirt possible, they still want to reach for the sun. I love that sweet surprise every time the seedling breaks through the soul… skyward.

    Reply
  734. KimberlyPreston on

    Bees are essential as I watch those busy creatures transfer pollen to create the beautiful landscape that we enjoy.

    Reply
  735. Nicole on

    How plants and flowers bring people together in the happiest and saddest of times

    Reply
  736. Emily on

    Looking forward to another book to add to my collection!

    Reply
  737. Faith Holinaty on

    I love the cycles in a garden; no matter what time of year something is always beautiful!

    Reply
  738. Alexandra on

    Something beautiful that I’ve learned about recently is that you can collect seeds after a flower is done blooming and it’s petals have fallen off. I just think it’s a beautiful concept and is a bit metaphorical for new begininings and growth.

    Reply
  739. Julie Eiden on

    Long sunlit days with silky evenings studded with fireflies.

    Reply
  740. Megan on

    Spontaneous, enthusiastic smiles from my 2-month-old daughter.

    Reply
  741. Susan Friedman on

    I noticed the simplicity, yet breathtaking beauty in a a few delicate light yellow petunias that I recently purchased. After taking a dozen plus photos, I marveled at how much beauty lives in flowers of all kinds.

    Reply
  742. Susan Rodgers on

    I noticed a turtle upside down struggling to get turned back over. Suddenly several turtles came to the rescue! They gathered around the over turned turtle and by using their heads they worked together to flip the distressed turtle over. After a couple tries they successfully turned their friend over. What complete camaraderie Nature is amazing!

    Reply
  743. Nancy on

    The dragonflies on the river at the end of the day with that low yellow light…breathtaking.

    Reply
  744. Hannah on

    My husband returned from a 3 week long work trip and we celebrated with a family backyard dinner. My 7 year old daughter had recently watched a flower arranging video done by Gabriel at La Musa de las Flores and she wanted to me the table look extra special like Gabriel demonstrated. She took a basket and pair of snips to the lilac tree, filled the basket so full that lilacs were spilling out then carefully arranged them in mason jars on the table. She scoured the house and found little things that caught her eye and used them to decorate the table. It was beautiful to watch her enthusiasm, excitement for surprising her Dad, and creative eye. I wish I could attach a photo of the table scape she created because it was beautiful.

    Reply
  745. Rebecca S on

    We were picking strawberries and the weather was perfect – not a cloud in the sky, moderate temperature, with a lovely breeze. Seeing my kids smiling in the sun while picking the bright red strawberries brought me so much joy – it was such a beautiful moment.

    Reply
  746. Danna Compton on

    While my husband and I were driving our tractor, I noticed how many pretty flowers were along our path. Most of these flowers were weeds, but I found them to be so beautiful growing wildly with the grass.

    Reply
  747. Sue C on

    I love how the bumblebees sleep curled up in the blooming monarda. They stay there until the dew has dried off the next morning.

    Reply
  748. Adrienne on

    It’s been a tough, long, wet spring, but today the sun shone, so at lunch, I went outside and just lay on the lawn. Spent a lovely 15 minutes just watching the swallows swoop by. It gave me hope.

    Reply
  749. Mary Tallyn on

    Early yesterday morning as I enjoyed the cool part of the day, I noticed a 1 inch long baby praying mantis among the leaves. It couldn’t have been more than a few days old. It made me stop and reflect on all the magic in the garden just waiting for me to discover.

    Reply
  750. Cindy Kerr on

    This morning while watering my numerous container plants, I noticed a small green anole lizard had climbed up on a lower green leaf of one of my cannas, and was slowly savoring every water drop it could find still clinging to the leaf. We’ve been extremely dry along the South Carolina coast this year, so that tiny tongue was lapping up every fresh droplet of water it could find.

    Reply
  751. Alana Karam on

    Last night while down in my overgrown pasture (too much rain to mow in Oregon this spring) I noticed an unusual stem that I thought would be interesting in an arrangement, so I cut a few and put them in water to save until I had time to play. It was just a simple purple cone, kind of like a coneflower center after all of the leaves fall off. When I woke up this morning it had transformed into some kind of beautiful thing that was so unexpected! It turned into a flower! It’s a Narrowleaf Plantain, apparently, and it’s weirdly cool and gorgeous!

    Reply
  752. Jane on

    A nasturtium in my garden was beheaded by mistake and I left it in full sun on top of a compost pile. Today, I saw new flowers blooming from it. Beauty in slow death.

    Reply
  753. Kate Rozelle on

    I had JUST about given up on my tray of Bells of Ireland and FINALLY I saw a couple of green leaves coming through! Hoping to get them all the way “from seed to bloom”!

    Reply
  754. Heather Mingus on

    In my ‘must be kept alive pile,’ a rose still waiting for its place in the landscape sent out a beautiful bloom this morning.

    Reply
  755. Deborah on

    Gorgeous morning sun spotlight on my trees :)

    Reply
  756. Caitlin on

    I have noticed that the wild flowers in my garden are beautiful. I have been slow this year to keep my flower beds cleaned of weeds and unwanted growth, but because I have been slower at getting rid of them, I have notice the blooms that some of them create are actually lovely!

    Reply
  757. Kathy on

    Over ten years of caring for my father, I’ve grown a tiny patch into a large perennial garden at his house. Every year I’ve added plants, encouraged reseeds, laid sea grass on pathways that have appeared, learning more from it than it from me. Unimaginably, this slow collaboration goes from nothing to something every spring. People going by slow down and stop. I myself spend as much time standing still, watching, as “working.” This year, living with my father, I watched a delicate leaf emerge from a tight chink between rocks into a lupine in full purple glory—this after several seasons of no lupine at all. As I grieve my father’s loss, I think about those plants that choose to begin again in seemingly inhospitable places.

    Reply
  758. Kristy Melton on

    It’s June 23 here in Missouri and I am really enjoying my morning walks around the yard. This morning the pink phlox are just peeking through and all the different colors of Yarrow are blooming. It’s so quiet here in the country that I hear the doves almost every day as I do this walkabout… they sound like an Indian flute and it’s very peaceful. The blueberries I planted 24 years ago when our kids were little are ripe so I have a treat when I do my morning walk around the yard.

    Reply
  759. Ailsa Tessier on

    Just found Milli’s lovely Instagram and have begun to follow – can’t wait to see more! With the really hot weather here in North Carolina recently, I’ve been careful to keep my birdbath filled because it evaporates so quickly. More and more of my backyard visitors are taking advantage of it, and there’s no more beautiful sight from my kitchen window than those pretty birds splashing about and drinking. We have cardinals, chickadees, cowbirds, pine siskins, brown headed nuthatches and robins who enjoy a bath…they make me smile!

    Reply
  760. Bernadette Varner on

    My violas are blooming here in South Africa – every colour imaginable! It’s a beautiful sight! As well as my Ifafa Lillies – indigenous to South Africa – and blooming here in the middle of Winter – such a treat! But the most beautiful thing is that our mask mandates were lifted today, and now we can see one anothers’ beautiful faces once again, after a very long 2 and 1/2 years of being hidden – I’m so exited to be able to smile at all the little kids I see whilst waiting in line in the shops – they can now see what life is meant to be like! And once again being able to smile at a stranger!

    Reply
  761. Jingfei Cai-Pincus on

    Lately I notice American Goldfinches come to snack on the native wildflowers we grow on the hellstrip, in particular, it is the seed heads of Coreopsis they’re after this time of year. These little rays of sunshine make me so happy.

    Reply
  762. Tracy Carson on

    The book looks gorgeous Milli. I’m new to finding you beginning of this year on Insta when your Windowsill Wednesdays popped up, JUST STUNNING. I look at flowers more whimsically now and am spending some injured down time reading and re-reading gardening books with my new approach to whimsy and fantasy looking creations.

    Reply
  763. Jessica Klein on

    So happy for you and you new book, Milli!
    Thanks for sharing @floret. I have noticed the birds singing every morning. It’s like they are trying to remind us, it’s a new day, be happy, enjoy nature!

    Reply
  764. Elisheva on

    Lately I’ve been enjoying the summer flowers and fresh basil.

    Reply
  765. Toni A. Linder on

    Considering the Plant Kingdom, the beauty, forethought, and timing, of the succession of similar colored flowers in the natural world that provide for the nourishment of new emerging groups in the Insect Kingdom, the Animal Kingdom and especially the Human Kingdom.

    Reply
  766. Susie on

    The bluest crisp skies and soft white fluffy clouds with a cool gentle breeze.

    Reply
  767. Kim on

    The sun finally coming out! Putting my feet in the stream and feeling the water flow….

    Reply
  768. Sarah on

    The beautiful shape and structure and gorgeous jewel tones of the bachelor buttons I grew from seed.

    Reply
  769. Janet on

    I am forever fascinated and mesmerized by the life of my honeybees: the constant activity from early daybreak until dusk, honeybees taking off with such incredible gusto to a destination unknown, while other honeybees are returning back to the hive with the same enthusiasm with treasures of nectar and pollen. I see them later on the clover or in an apple blossom. I feel as if I know them, so I sometimes speak to them, but they know don’t me, and they don’t care to, but that’s ok. They pay no mind to me as I observe with envy their simple and beautiful existence.

    Reply
  770. DaniK on

    My Apricot Lemonade cosmos has started blooming. It’s so delicate and beautiful.

    Reply
  771. Alicia on

    The wild rose growing in a ditch outside me office just started blooming. Perfect soft pink and one flower can scent the whole room!

    Reply
  772. Amber Uhlhorn on

    My peachy color Iceland poppies just opened yesterday, so beautiful.

    Reply
  773. nc on

    in recent years dandelions have invaded my wilderness area in alaska. i’ve never minded dandelions–early food for bees, great salad for me, beautiful blooms. but it’s important to keep invaders out, so i dig and dispose once the transition to seed begins. this year has been extra clear weather and the stems are up to 18″ long and blooms as big as a clementine. gorgeous.

    Reply
  774. Laura Sullivan on

    I have lived in my home for 24 years. At some point during that time I discovered a beautiful trillium plant blooming on my property, in an out of the way place. I have no idea how long it had been there, but now I anticipate it’s bloom every year.
    I’m treated to a little treasure hunt every spring.

    Reply
  775. Debi Rix on

    Having been pretty ill this past year and continuing to recover I have been so blessed by Floret’s pictures and posts. This slowing down has made me “see”. The view outside my sunroom is my beautiful perennial garden and the river. The geese, the ducks, the birds that come to my feeder, the hummingbirds, chipmunks and squirrels. Life is indeed beautiful 😊

    Reply
  776. Kim on

    It’s taken a little patience living in Oregon this year with all the rain but we are starting to see some sunshine. It will be my second year having a garden in my new house and my garden is getting so full and lush. I just love how the sun dances off blooms. They almost look translucent the way the sun shines through. I’ve been getting out there early just so I can see it. It’s so beautiful 😍
    @rusticvalleyviewfarmhouse

    Reply
  777. Joanne Dubrow on

    As the early morning light touches the garden, I grab my snips and basket and greet the first day of summer. As I’m picking flowers I start to hear a gentle humming coming from the foxglove bed. I turn my head and notice just a bit of fuzzy bottom poking out from one of the pendulous flowers. Yes as I look closer it’s a fuzzy bumble bee, way up inside the flower tube and she must have slept overnight in the foxglove flowers, drunk on sweet pollen. I smile and continue on picking my flowers with the morning bees. I love the garden and all it’s wildlife partners.
    Joanne Dubrow

    Reply
  778. Hannah wilhelm on

    Watching my two year old absorb all things flower related is truly amazing. She has been observing all sorts of bugs and is so delicate with all of the flowers she picks.

    Reply
  779. Shaun Schmiling on

    I’m enjoying watching each stage of my peonies bloom. They are just about to burst open & I think they have more flowers on them than ever before!

    Reply
  780. Erin J. on

    We’ve had an extremely challenging year, A loss of my baby, and a close uncle within days of each other. Then two weeks later my Father passed away on his c-pap machine which had turned off in the night. He was the strength and comfort for our family. I spent the next months helping my Mom to sell her home and get settled into a new place. In the midst of all of this it was the flowers that kept us grounded, extra rain and a cool spring allowed my Mom and I to transplant much of her Garden to a new space. I started adding to my garden more Dahlias because I find them cheerful and calming. I started growing many things from seeds, now my Mom has been helping me to tend to all my young plants and new Dahlias. Gardening is beautiful and calming, it helps create deep connections through our relationships, a deep connection to earth and nature. Hope for the future of new life and another chance at becoming a Mother.

    Reply
  781. Emily on

    My summer flowers starting to bloom!💐🥰

    Reply
  782. M Goerke on

    Love the emphasis to slow down. I’m working on that as well and I’m definitely enjoying life more. Beautiful sunsets here in Colorado are our norm and I enjoy them from the deck . Wish you could sit with me and enjoy the fragrance of the roses and the cool summer evenings.

    Reply
  783. Julia H. on

    Seeing the big fuzzy bumblebees arrive to sample my first blooms of the season brought such joy for me!

    Reply
  784. Annie on

    Observing kids take in the natural world… more specifically, my daughter’s love of buttercup (one of my most hated weeds).

    Reply
  785. Vickie on

    If this book was food, it would be cake!!

    Reply
  786. Lynne on

    So many flowers are starting to bloom, it finally feels like summer. <3

    Reply
  787. Christen on

    Now that I have my own (first!) garden, I take note of all of the beautiful plants and shrubs that I see everyday on my walks. It inspires me with things that I want to plant in my yard and new flowers that I can grow next year!

    Reply
  788. Sam Chilton on

    The faces of my sunflowers looking at me from the garden as I stand at the kitchen sink.

    Reply
  789. Eron on

    We recently had a heat wave that knocked all my spring flowers out earlier than usual. I was scouting my beds looking for anything I could make an arrangement with when I noticed the spent allium. Some were green, some brown, but when I mixed them with blue and purple bachelor buttons and spiky speedwell they looked like a fireworks display exploding from a vase. I love how beautiful flowers are in every stage. It’s such a mirror of life. Every stage completely different, but also completely beautiful.

    Reply
  790. Valerie on

    A dreamy summer solstice sunset and then beginning of lavender buds.

    Reply
  791. Grace erickson on

    We went fishing on a river recently, the sun was flinging down but everything was reflecting the light. The water the tree leaves, even the insects. It looked like the whole world had been splashed with gold

    Reply
  792. Lucy LaFayette on

    I notice how quiet and peaceful it is in the morning in my garden. The birds are singing and the fresh dew is on the beautiful flowers.

    Reply
  793. Aimee on

    This year I have grown anemones and ranunculus for the first time. Each day for the past two weeks new blooms are opening. I was even able to make a bouquet for a friend who got engaged recently. The beauty of these flowers is breathtaking and makes me want to try and grow even more next year. I am hoping to save my corms and plant them again next spring to enjoy even more beauty.

    Reply
  794. Moe on

    I am just in awe of all the different flower petals on all the flowers I grew from seed! Growing the flowers myself really made me appreciate the flowers so much more! I love flowers and my garden but this year after growing from seed for the first time, I have a new appreciation for sure! Thank you for this opportunity!

    Reply
  795. Megan Hover on

    I noticed my first sherbet icelandic poppy bud starting to crack! 😍

    Reply
  796. Celeste Atterberry on

    Hummingbirds zooming through the wild roses in a flourish during a mating ritual with such speed, grace and accuracy that it makes me even more in awe of the wonders of nature.

    Reply
  797. Megan Clinch on

    Muted light tucks into
    The dewy folds of new leaf
    Grey-green & rumpled
    Like bedhead for seedlings
    Why I wake early

    Reply
  798. Taylor Ryan on

    Watching the waves continue to touch the shoreline no matter how many times it’s sent away. It reminds me that God is always there no matter what.

    Reply
  799. Donna Mohan on

    I love to sit on my front porch with a coffee , enjoy the quiet and just look at all the beautiful flowers that show there colorful faces daily. With this came a never seen Baltimore Oriole to my birdbath nestled among the beebalm and daisies. A giant thank you to @floretflower and @menagerieflower for rekindling my love of flowers and daring me to grow flowers I have never tried before. You also have sparked my daughter, who has taken your course and now we share this special flower bond.

    Reply
  800. Molli on

    The way healthy relationships and community heal brokenness 🤍 it reminds me how healthy soil and a faithful gardener can heal struggling plants and flowers and those who were there for the plant are blessed by its growth.

    Reply
  801. Anne Kerr on

    Cornflower blue blueberries about to fall off their stems. How much sweeter they taste!

    Reply
  802. Olivia Day on

    This summer heat can be exhausting and there are days where I dont want to step foot outside. I wait until the evening. Instead of getting thing done like weeding or transplanting, a lot of the times I’m just in the moment admiring everything. The air is a little cooler, the lighting dimmer, that beautiful glow of golden hour… and then that anxious feeling of having to get things done goes away and I’m left with this peace that warms my soul

    Reply
  803. Beth on

    Monarch caterpillars munching on the milkweed in my yard.

    Reply
  804. Julie Taft on

    Watering plants can be a great time to slow down and take in all the little things that we might not otherwise notice. How the light hits a flower and shows off its beauty, how water beads on a lady’s mantle leaf or runs down the veins of hosta leaves.

    Reply
  805. CJ on

    My front yard in my new home turns out is a beautiful wildflower meadows. I especially am in love with all the wild lupine in bloom right now.

    Reply
  806. Kaylyn on

    About a week and a half ago I finally got over my fear of killing plants and just planted some zinnia seed in some large containers hoping for the best. I was AMAZED at how quickly they started to break through the soil. Since I do not have many I have been checking on my babies daily – very close up. The small but noticeable changes in the seedlings I see from day to day is incredible!!! I’m so glad I just put one foot in front of the other and started!

    Reply
  807. Amanda on

    Yesterday I saw the most beautiful blue bodied dragon fly with black lace wings on a river bank while my kids played. It was so peaceful and quiet

    Reply
  808. Xenia D'Ambrosi on

    So true that growing flowers is about connecting with the land. Lately, I’ve been fascinated by the number and variety of pollinators the flowers have invited to my cutting garden. I’m looking forward to reading Millie’s book.

    Reply
  809. Jaclyn Newns on

    This morning I noticed a new growth on a lilac root I brought back from a vacation in the Hudson Valley. It’s been 5 weeks of walking past this small potted stem, wondering, do I give up? The growth that emerged stands upright with hope!, sung to by the chorus of finches and Philly train crossing whistles that hug our backyard. Cheers to awareness of sight and sound!

    Reply
  810. Abby Gaddis on

    How green everything is. The birds song🎶And chatter. Peonies starting to bloom! I wait all year for those.

    Reply
  811. Ana Teixeira on

    Flower seeds that were scattered by the birds growing in small notes of colour in my otherwise dried landscape… it is wonderfull the power of seeds

    Reply
  812. JonnieCombs on

    Grateful for interviewer and subject of interview and for the little bit of heaven on Windowsill Wednesdays! THANK YOU! Congratulations on your next big thing, Milli!

    Reply
  813. Laura on

    I have been noticing all the subtle beauty of the winter in the bare branches, evergreens, buffs and frosty whites. The plants all have muted tones but they have a beauty all of their own. Also taking time to note the longest shadows in the garden for planning next season.

    Reply
  814. Kelly Meeks on

    A beautiful thing I’ve noticed is the ability see beauty in all things. Even when things are hard I try to stop and remember that I am blessed and life is beautiful. I have followed Milli for a while. Her garden looks and sounds like a scene from a Disney movie. A real fairylike garden.

    Reply
  815. Robin Fortenberry on

    Seasons bring on such different energy. The colors smells & textures are simply wonderful. The summer’s thickening deep greens of my natural lawn feels soft as I lay rubbing my hands across it while gazing through the dense leaves filling the branches above. Each blade & leaf dances in the breeze as if ballerinas. The dance of life full yet revolving.

    Reply
  816. Sonia Smith on

    Thoroughly enjoyed your conversation with Milli. Thank you for sharing it. The pictures of Milli’s flower arrangement remind me of Rachel Ruysch painting … So beautiful!

    My response to Milli’s question “why am I growing flowers?” to connect with the earth, helps feed the bees, to nurture and grow something so breathtaking, and constant surprise of beauty created by planting a wee little seed.

    Reply
  817. Jamie on

    A beautiful thing I have seen recently is how much people will rise to a better place when you just make the place available

    Reply
  818. Yolanda on

    I didn’t think my dahlias were coming back this year. Then, surprise! They popped up and exploded with blooms! 🌺

    Reply
  819. Jacqueline Fisher on

    Today, on the first day of summer, I noticed in my garden that the first of my clematis flowers began to bloom. Such a lovely sight and way to begin the summer season!

    Reply
  820. Lindsay on

    The way a coral charm peony ages and changes colour!

    Reply
  821. Angie on

    This is my first year growing dahlias and I get so excited each time a new one is ready to be harvested!

    Reply
  822. Jennifer Downs on

    This year we successfully grew sweet peas for the first time from seed to seed and I just think the bursted spiral seed pods are the cutest little accents that can be used in boutonnières or little floral clusters. They are so fun!

    Reply
  823. Danielle on

    The quiet beauty of flowers opening themselves to the world.

    Reply
  824. Amy on

    Love the hummingbirds and butterflies on my flowers!

    Reply
  825. Stacey on

    The brightness of the Strawberry moon

    Reply
  826. Susan McKenna on

    I noticed the last rays of sunshine on the treetops right before it set tonight, as glorious pinks and golds lit up the sky. 🌅

    Reply
  827. Sharon on

    Clouds, rain and a rainbow over the weekend! It’s a beautiful sight to see in parched California.

    Reply
  828. Joanna Fagerness on

    After such a wet spring, the summer sunsets we have just started having have been the highlight of my day.

    Reply
  829. Sara Tharaldson on

    Every morning I make time to sit with my coffee and watch the birds around my yard. We recently put up a hummingbird feeder and now have hummingbirds visiting us. It’s a small thing but it bring joy to the start of my day.

    Reply
  830. Beccy on

    I had heard recently how fragrant Linden trees are in bloom, and I was surprised as we have several in our new yard, so I stopped as I saw one in bloom and took the time to pull down a branch and smell the beautiful fragrance. I got to share that with my sons, and I know I will be watching for the linden trees to bloom every year now to smell the sweet fragrance.

    Reply
  831. Rachel on

    Seeing my bucket fill with milk from my sweet jersey girl is so beautiful.

    Reply
  832. Candyce Mitoma on

    Since retiring I am still trying to learn to slow down and enjoy! This is my first year growing from seeds! I wanted to do it all!! Just realized that I am learning to decide exactly what i want ! The flowers are for my personal enjoyment. I love having my own cut flowers from my yard. What a gift!!

    Reply
  833. Laura on

    I love watching my 2 and 4 year old daughters pick from our garden and arrange their own bouquets. It is beautiful!

    Reply
  834. Patty on

    It’s a beautiful thing to watch my garden get greener and fuller and to see the blooms start to form and burst forth with color.

    Reply
  835. Barbie on

    The book looks absolutely gorgeous! I love to watch the monarch butterflies eating from my flowers and then effortlessly floating through the garden. So calming and beautiful to watch.

    Reply
  836. Michelle on

    I love the part where she say “Ask yourself why you are growing”. I am growing this year for the first time all from seeds, tubers and bulbs. Looking forward to continuing to see the whole life cycle of a flower.

    Reply
  837. Sara on

    A beautiful thing I noticed recently is how perfect dusk is on my front porch. I noticed it this evening to be exact. The mountains were perfectly silhouetted by the fading blue and pink sky. The birds were singing their good nights as the bats came out and started flitting over the field below the house. I noticed when they swooped close enough to my perch on the porch that I could actually hear them clicking and the whispery flap of their wings. The fireflies started winking to each other from the bushes and trees around the field. The tree tops looked like they had Christmas lights as more and more fireflies joined in. The cicadas set the music with the fireflies and bats dancing in a chaotic yet otherworldly way. It was magnificent.

    Congratulations on your new book, Millie!

    Reply
  838. Karen on

    Tonight the fireflies were giving us a summer solstice spectacle in the garden and it was beautiful. So excited for this book!

    Reply
  839. Katrina on

    The evening light shining thru a pine grove..Millie’s book looks like one I would love to add to my book stash.

    Reply
  840. Dee Dickerson on

    Just a beautiful creation and great interview. Thank you for turning me on to Milli.

    Reply
  841. Jacqueline on

    Oh how beautiful! I’ve been anticipating the release of Millie’s book and it looks and sounds amazing. 💛

    Reply
  842. Rasna Gupta on

    One of the most beautiful things I noticed recently was a young father dropping his little kid to school and the love in both of their eyes for each other. It was precious .

    Reply
  843. Courtney Morris on

    The morning I went to check on my seeds and I saw the first one had sprouted, this was my second attempt after I overwatered my last batch and I was just so proud of myself and inspired to keep trying

    Reply
  844. Leo on

    Staring at my small porch garden, I saw a beautiful yellow butterfly fly by, it was so large I thought it was a hummingbird at first lol

    Reply
  845. Kathy E on

    I’ve noticed how beautiful the light is in the garden right after sunrise.

    Reply
  846. Angie on

    After a summer of drought last year, we are noticing an abundance of foliage this year – making up for lost time!

    Reply
  847. Ruthi Nicholson on

    The way all of the rain & cool weather has made plants double in size this spring! It’s as if they’re rebounding from the intense heat spell last summer. 🌱🌿

    Reply
  848. Sarah Busenitz on

    I’ve noticed how if I go to the garden it draws my children out there and we notice the beauty together.❤️

    Reply
  849. Suzanne Nielsen on

    I witnessed my baby grandchildren enjoying just being outside. They laughed with joy as they played with mowed grass, grasshoppers and bugs. Simply beautiful!

    Reply
  850. Andrea on

    A beautiful thing I’ve noticed recently is the budding relationship between my two older sons and their newest baby brother. 😍

    Reply
  851. Andra on

    When I stopped working in my garden one early evening I laid down on the outdoor sofa for a few hours to rest. This rest allowed me to notice the chickadees going in and out of the birdhouse, the hope of new life to end my day 🐣

    Reply
  852. Monica on

    I noticed a frog taking a nap in a potted dahlia.

    Reply
  853. Katina on

    My grandmother’s peonies. They look and smell amazing! 😍 wish they lasted longer…

    Reply
  854. Barb on

    I noticed a beautiful bald eagle flying high in the bluest sky imaginable last evening.

    Reply
  855. Brooke on

    I bought and moved into my first house with my husband two years ago. We have lots of different landscaping had a lot planted and that we have added to. This year I have really been observing and watching all the various areas progress and change. It’s crazy how day to day it all feels the same but it is actually constantly changing.

    Reply
  856. Liz on

    I notice the length of days and how all the flowers, shrubs and trees are showing off. The lavender is in full bloom and smells delicious. The fields being mowed and the beautiful sunsets bring a sense of peace.
    Thank you for sharing Milli’s book

    Reply
  857. Stacey diehl on

    Red-winged blackbird nests in the plants by our ponds. Sometimes eggs, sometimes baby birds. Always worth slowing down and searching for them as you walk past!

    Reply
  858. Cecilia on

    Historically I haven’t been a very “outdoorsy” person, but I’ve been spending time outside every day this summer and have slowly been getting more into gardening and landscaping our outdoor space. It’s a change I’ve noticed in myself and I think embracing that change has brought a lot more beauty into my life.

    Reply
  859. Victoria on

    I always cut my hedges around this time of year because of the height and pathway restrictions in my community garden. This year, not only do we have a beautiful surprise robin’s nest in one of them, but waiting to trim so we don’t disturb the babies has allowed the privet to actually show its sweet little white flowers for the first summer in ages.

    Reply
  860. Heather on

    A beautiful thing I witnessed was a rain storm in a mega drought.

    Reply
  861. Alice on

    We are having such a hot summer already in June. So much is struggling ugh! But then I see the things that are thriving that I never expected like echinaceas I planted in a hot garden area located in the middle of a parking lot. They are tall and strong and the most beautiful raspberry color.!!

    Reply
  862. Jenny on

    I spent this day picking up repurposed flagstone and edging my new hosta border, noticing all the greens and grays, fussing over their shapes, and placing each one with care.

    Reply
  863. Audrey Jennings on

    I’ve really been drawn lately to the blooms in my garden that are often thought of as “toss” flowers because they don’t have perfectly straight stems, the cats decided to run over them turning the petals, or perhaps it’s on the shorter side in stem length. They have become perfectly imperfect blooms to me and have found their way into my personal arrangements and small vases. The twists, turns, and imperfections of those flowers still have beauty, purpose, and the ability to bring joy in my eyes! So I treasure these imperfections and enjoy them too!

    Reply
  864. Jamie Sammons on

    I feel like every season my husband and I notice and appreciate things a little differently than in the past.
    For instance, as we were driving through the countryside over the weekend and it was the trees! They are so crisp and green right now. So lush. Why is it that something as simple as the fresh crisp green leaves that caught our attention this week?
    And a few weeks before that we noticed how pretty the locust trees flowers were, something I feel like I never really appreciated before. It’s funny how the older I get, the more I appreciate the little things. It’s like looking at the world with new eyes every year. New and wiser eyes.

    Reply
  865. Sabrina on

    The cotton candy colored clouds in the morning are such a beauty to witness when I wake up.

    Reply
  866. Abby on

    I’m noticing the wild flowers along each road. The beautiful natural meadows are filled with color and even the small spaces around roads are full with this rainy spring we have had. I love to walk slowly past to see what’s in bloom.

    Reply
  867. Kim C on

    Each day I admire the first (and only, so far) delphinium I cut from my new plant. It’s gorgeous and is lasting sooo long! Hopefully there will be more coming, but for now I’m happy admiring the one I’ve got.

    Reply
  868. Mary Ann on

    It’s the first Day of SUMMER and the sun is out and what beautiful day here in the PNW . Struggling with my flower garden this year but I’m positive and I’m going to make my little back yard oasis shine !

    Reply
  869. Irina Gerasenko on

    Something Beautiful well, I have started gardening not to long ago and since pandemic hit my 2 boy and my husband expended my garden quite a bit. We had watched how from the little tiny seeds could grow such Beautiful things! 💛
    This year on Golden IKJ Farm we are growing slowly but very proudly and Love all the Beauty it brings!

    Reply
  870. Zinette Vink on

    I love how when I plant out a seedling it doubles in size so quickly, as if to say ‘oh the room for my roots, bliss’.

    Reply
  871. Sarah J on

    I’ve been enjoying the opportunity to work in my garden and enjoy being outside.

    Reply
  872. Amanda Dunn on

    I recently took an Alaskan cruise. We did a helicopter tour in Skagway and the view of the mountains took my breath away. I highly recommend doing an Alaskan cruise or exploring that area any way you can.

    Reply
  873. Keely-Shea Smith on

    Congratulation, Milli! Milli is one of the first floral accounts I followed on IG and I’m excited for the chance to win her new book!

    Something beautiful (and quite delightful!) I’ve noticed are the bumble bees: after a busy morning buzzing from flower to flower they will sometimes take naps right on top of the colorful blooms. Their favorite place to snooze is the zinnia patch!

    Reply
  874. Leslie Bilyeu on

    The Dahlietta Louise dahlia I planted in memory of my sister who passed away last August bloomed and it’s beautiful. Her middle name is Louise. I cut two blooms so far to add to small cut flower bouquets. What a beautiful way to remember her!

    Reply
  875. Charlotte M. on

    I recently noticed that the crape-myrtle in my backyard started to bloom. This is always to be expected in the summer. However, this year I realized how close this blooming is to the spring-equinox.

    Reply
  876. Jessica Ten Veen on

    We have had nothing but rain for most of our spring here in British Columbia Canada, and though frustrating it is to see everything grow at a much slower rate than we are used to, I’ve had the opportunity to take more time to slow down, take more pictures as my garden slowly grows, and actually take in the beauty of what Mother Nature has to offer us, because ultimately she’s the one in control!

    Reply
  877. Patty Meeder on

    The weather here has been insane, hot and humid one day, and sweatshirts the next! Noticing how this affects the flowers and bloom time as compared to previous years.

    Reply
  878. Chelsea Compton on

    I’ve noticed my twins, toddler girls, have really taken to gardening with me. They love to see and touch the flowers, pull out carrots and pluck tomatoes. I’ve noticed that they take their time picking the most perfect flower for their momma and I proudly display them and then I will dry them to keep forever to remember the first year of my girls gardening.

    Reply
  879. Cassandra on

    My first go at growing dahlias from tubers took so long and have finally breached the ground! We had a heat wave and some of my flowers really appreciate the heat. I’m learning to appreciate patience for sure!

    Reply
  880. Ruby Albert on

    Over in the Southern Hemisphere it’s winter and I’ve noticed how cold it gets so quickly! Today was -9 Celsius and the frost is so so pretty over everything! The little designs in the frost intrigue me! I often overlook it because it’s so cold I don’t want to go out there!!

    Reply
  881. Lisa Smith on

    June. Here in socal people call it June gloom pejoratively. They’re wrong. It’s the best month here

    Reply
  882. Samantha on

    The hazy heat is bringing vibrant, joyful, knockout colours that sing across the plot, meeting the delicate, froth like lace of Ammi Majus. In chorus together, you’d think they would clash, but they don’t, they gracefully chime.

    Reply
  883. Barb Winnicki on

    The feeling I get from starting a seed and nurturing it until the most perfect flower is created.

    Reply
  884. Margaret Gino on

    Just slowing down to harvest the daily blooms with intentions. To capture the intricacies in even the simplest flower. So often when growing for market it can be more about production vs purposeful appreciation.
    I’ve been able to slow down in the rows to approximate all they are trying to show me~

    Reply
  885. Lisa on

    I’ve noticed & become keenly aware that nature knows exactly what plants go together. Also, that little flower blessings will spring up along well traveled pathways for our enjoyment. We busily try to plant where we think is best & the ultimate Gardener ALWAYS provides what we wish for. He gives it to us without us even asking most of the time. 💖

    Reply
  886. Amy Reay on

    The most beautiful thing I have seen related to flowers is what they do for the soul…working my garden is healing my body physically and bringing my strength back. But it also sets my mind in a peaceful place and makes me feel proud. Then, when I share pictures of my garden progress, the comments are all positive and uplifting. It has changed the tone of social media for me. It is my hope that others feel the same. As I expand my garden each year, I hope to grow enough to cut to bring to those that need a lift too. I’m just beginning and appreciate the learning I find here. Thank you.

    Reply
  887. Ashton on

    I have been enjoying how quickly the light changes in the morning here in Montana. It makes the flowers and landscape come alive! Sometimes you can almost watch the flowers unfurl…..beautiful changes in the animal babies growing up. The veggie garden starting to sprout and grow. Morning dew drops on leaves.

    Reply
  888. Nicole cifuentes on

    The most beautiful thing I have been noticing are the wildflowers growing on our property. I see them as sprinkles of goodness laid out just for me to stop and breathe with. We have meadows of tiny daisies that recently took over from their predecessor an unknown yellow bell type flower. We live in a harsh climate in Wyoming where extreme temperatures and wind never seem to fail, but these little beings still find the strength to blossom, which shows, that even amongst our climates of uncertainty in the world, we humans are still meant to bloom.

    Reply
  889. janet hall on

    This is my first year selling flowers, and though it is thrilling to sell an arrangement, I am finding it just as rewarding to see the joy on someones face when I gift them flowers Flowers are all about love.

    Reply
  890. Susanna on

    The most beautiful thing I’ve seen:
    I sprinkled a cheap bag of wild flower seeds last summer- nothing. Ohio winter led to a very soggy spring and suddenly, poppies and larkspur appear! What? Nature is amazing and beautiful!

    Reply
  891. Dominique on

    I have been taking a lot of trips this summer, and I have loved seeing the differences between the upside down bowl hills of Missouri. The rolling fields in Iowa, and the forests of Wisconsin. Comparing and seeing all of the little differences of these very agricultural places is beautiful.

    Reply
  892. Kayla on

    After two years in my home I finally did the landscaping this spring. It is finally coming into its own and I find myself drawn to my front porch more and more, just to sit and look at it

    Reply
  893. Gail on

    We just had our county fair and I entered some flowers. I walked my garden on Tuesday checking for blooms, registered and entered. When I came home on Thursday, a whole new fresh set of blossoms were there! Tiny buds had burst to full blown flowers on several things, the quickness just caught me by surprise. And btw…my Floret Earl Grey sweet peas earned a blue ribbon!

    Reply
  894. Gail on

    We just had our county fair and I entered some flowers. I walked my garden on Tuesday checking for blooms, registered and entered. When I came home on Thursday, a whole new fresh set of blossoms were there! Tiny buds had burst to full blown flowers on several things, the quickness just caught me by surprise.

    Reply
  895. Georgia Alexander on

    3 years ago when we still lived in an apartment I bought my first magnolia tree. Hoping that one day soon we’d move into a house with a garden and I could plant it. Fast forward to now, not only does it sit in the garden, but just this week despite the fact that it’s the middle of winter for us, it has bloomed it’s first flower! So much of gardening is about patience and it’s such a worthwhile wait!

    Reply
  896. Patti on

    A put some flower seeds in the garden and they popped up so fast! So dag on THRILLING!

    Reply
  897. Kristie on

    Today marks 11 years since I’ve lost my mom. Sadly She never got to meet my kids. I’ve noticed her in them. The way they smell the flowers we are growing in our garden, they way they show compassion to a stranger. I hold onto these subtle changes, these beautiful memories. I see my mom, the joy she is able to bring to my children without even being here in this beautiful world. There is still beauty in sadness, you just have to find it.

    Reply
  898. Randi on

    I’ve noticed the tomatoes starting to bloom. Little splashes of sun!

    Reply
  899. Patricia Ridgeway on

    I purchased roses for the first time this year, after reading Erin’s article this spring. I was instantly in love with the first beautiful bloom.

    Reply
  900. Janet Hedrick on

    My in-progress cutting garden! I’ve been cleaning beds, planting seeds and seedlings for the last two days. Today, I sat in the grass and watched a new on a coneflower and admired
    all the pretty lilies on the plants my mother gave me years ago

    Reply
  901. Peggy on

    One recent evening I was out in the garden observing different plants. I sat down in the pathway to take some notes. I glanced at a parsley plant that was going to seed and there was a small cluster of seven bees sleeping in one of the umbrels. The next morning they were still there. They departed late morning but returned in the evening. This has been going on for 10 days so far and another two bees have joined the group. They are the last thing I check in the evening and the first every morning. They are adorable and I find them fascinating.

    Reply
  902. Jeanne McCabe on

    I just found a bunch of sunflower volunteers amongst my tomato plants, can’t wait who see which ones they are.

    Reply
  903. Deb Gatz on

    I am a 67 year old woman who has been putting flowers in the little beds I’ve created around our small property for years and who just hopes they will grow. Therefore, I can’t even call myself a gardener. However, for the past two years, I’ve been able to be more deliberate and attentive. I’ve been using organic products to help my soil to “heal” as I’m assuming it has needed to heal with how iffy my plants have performed. I grow flowers because I absolutely love them, learning that astilbe grow here as if they’re living their best life but that snow-in-summer just peters out before it can really start. So many little steps are needed to acquire some success but when it happens: hooray!! My heart is full. And you, Erin – along with other growers – have been such a huge help. Thank you SO much.

    Reply
  904. Gweneth Kovar on

    I’ve noticed how the orb spider webs within my flowers shine with dew in the humid morning sunrise.

    Reply
  905. Kelly on

    I have 2 tiny self seeded jewels of opar in my garden I just noticed this morning! So sweet!☺️ Congratulations Milli on a beautiful book!

    Reply
  906. Christine on

    It’s amazing and beautiful that a love of flowers doesn’t require a large scale garden . If you plant them they will grow as will you.

    Reply
  907. Holly Laway on

    The beauty of wild roses growing along our gravel road caught my eye just today.

    Reply
  908. Anna Tracht on

    This morning, it was beads of dew on my sage plants! So sparkly and beautiful!

    Reply
  909. Marie Reiner on

    I purchased your book last year and received a packet of your dahlia seeds 😀. I am counting the days until my plants bloom and I see what beautiful flowers I am blessed with. Thank you for your inspiration ❤️, I will from this day forward be a dahlia grower forever !!!

    Reply
  910. April Browne on

    Sweet peas blooming again and again and again. I’m a first time gardener and aspiring flower farmer, and I am literally so excited in a morning to see how many new sweet peas have appeared and what colours they are 😍

    Reply
  911. Kerry on

    My daughters, 2 and 3, have been getting more involved with helping water the flowers and pointing out their colors!

    Reply
  912. Phyllis on

    Just appreciating naturalizing in the garden. A several years ago my brother in law stopped by the roadside on his way to visit us and pulled some Black Eyed Susan’s for me as a thoughtful gesture. (he also knew what a flower nut I am). I planted those seeds and we have since moved and made sure we brought those seeds from the flowers with us. Needless to say 10 years later our yard and meadow are covered in them. My brother in law has since passed, but he would be truly amazed how prolific those little seeds were. Each time we look at them we think of him. 🌻🌻

    Reply
  913. Ashley on

    The seeds I planted on my balcony are sprouting :)

    Reply
  914. Penny on

    I am paying closer attention to the sunlight in my garden and realizing that I need flowering perennials who do best in shade!

    Reply
  915. Meredith Bishop on

    I recently watched, late at night, our first litter of kittens be born alongside my two young daughters. The sheer awe of the experience was not lost on them, nor me. Birth is transcendent, regardless of the species, and getting to witness & share in this private miracle with my girls will be a beautiful memory for me for the rest of my life.

    Reply
  916. Catherine on

    I live on the Wasatch Front Mountain Range and I’ve loved watching the green creep up the mountains over the past month 💛

    Reply
  917. Carol McGann on

    Although it’s hard to pick just one beautiful thing , I’m blessed with living in such a lovely area , I think it might be the baby birds living in a beautifully created nest on my porch eaves. I’ve watched since the construction of their mossy abode to both mom & dad taking turns to feed to this afternoon as they are fluttering the wings in their first attempts to get ready to fly. I’ll miss watching this family but it will be nice to be able to sit out on my porch again😊

    Reply
  918. Annie on

    When I was 6 years old I crossed a a highway ( I was grounded ) to pick the most exquisite flower I had ever seen. The flower had little periwinkle blue “mini flowers” clusters on one stem. My grandmother told me it was a Hydrangea which is still my most favorite of all flowers. Reading Erin’s posts and interviews with other flower gardeners is so inspiring and informative. I love that the insight, skill and knowledge is being shared to continue the love of all flowers .

    Reply
  919. Tracy on

    I’ve noticed when I slowed down to see what was wanting to grow on my land instead of trying to force something to do well that a wild version showed up. It was shocking that I’d planted and tried nursing something that just didn’t feel like performing and then nature showed up telling me, pay attention!

    Reply
  920. Kathleen on

    I spent the winter doing a big overhaul in my garden and I have a lot of new plants growing where there used to be lawn. Every morning I inspect with my coffee in hand and this morning I am starting to see the tiniest bit of colour on my rose buds. It’s beautiful even we’ll before it blooms.

    Reply
  921. Mendy Bradley on

    My husband & I just moved into our new home & i have no gardens yet. I water the plants i brought with me from the old house every day and so enjoy the beautiful blooms that my various hydrangea have right now!

    Reply
  922. Stephanie L. on

    Recently a beautiful thing I noticed was my grandmother smiling again after losing her son to Covid. She has been sick and depressed, and she is 84 and seeing her smile through her pain is the most beautiful smile in the world. She loves flowers and at her age she is getting to thr point where she cant garden line she use to. Watching her plant a simple flower brings me so much joy.

    Reply
  923. Ellen Moderhack on

    The beautiful new sprouts of my second sowing of ornamental basil, amaranth, zinnias and cosmos have just pushed up and they make me so very happy.

    Reply
  924. Nikki Solomon on

    This book looks wonderful!! The roses and calendula are blooming so beautifully right now. Cooler, misty mornings and warm afternoon sun.

    Reply
  925. Elizabeth on

    I planted Butterfly Bush, Milkweed and Parsley in large containers on my deck. Just waiting for my fluttering friends to arrive! So beautiful! 🦋

    Reply
  926. Marie H on

    We purchased an older home last fall. This week I discovered the tree on the side of the house with great big leaves , blooms! It’s a catalpa I’ve been told.
    Now a couple of days later it looks like God dropped a box of popcorn on my lawn! Ha Ha

    Reply
  927. Amy on

    We planted a small wildflower patch three years ago and it is finally in full bloom this year. It’s beautiful!

    Reply
  928. Elizabeth Burnham on

    Recently I began a practice of photographing the sunset every evening and taking a moment to be thankful for everything I have. In posting it on my Instagram story, I get to share our sweet moments on the farm of our family, animals, and wild Texas sunsets with a handful of people. There is so much good to focus on, and when we slow down, we can live everyday in awe and wonder.
    Elizabeth Burnham
    @liz.farmhouse

    Reply
  929. Emily on

    I have been loving the blanket flowers that I sowed two years ago and are still coming back in my flower beds 💕

    Reply
  930. Joanne on

    My hummingbird visiting bloom after bloom. Taking her time. Giving me joy

    Reply
  931. Kim on

    My roses! They’ve finally reached the age where they are starting to tumble and fill up the bed! Thanks f it ever gets warm enough the scent will be heady but it’s t just keeps raining- so for once the lawn is white with clover blossom and contrasting with the pink and white of the roses!

    Reply
  932. Marge on

    I never knew I could grow such beauty, as the flowers I have grown from your seeds this year. They are breathtaking you have given me the courage that I can accomplish anything from the smallest seed to the tallest stalk. I’m in awe of the beauty of my flowers, love your books and how to do classes first time at the age of 68 that I have grown my whole garden from seeds. Thank you and don’t stop what you are doing you inspired me.

    Reply
  933. Vera Soroka on

    The old honeysuckle is blooming right now. It took me awhile to fine one but finally saw my bumble bee. There has been so few this year but I hope with all the flowers I planted that I can bring more of the bumblebees back. I love those fat fuzzies.

    Reply
  934. Rhiannon on

    It’s been a really cold, wet spring in NW Washington this year and it’s been hard on my plants. In the last week though, I’ve seen them turn a corner and start reaching for the sun with renewed vigor!

    Reply
  935. Jen on

    I’ve noticed recently that if you listen closely, the bumble bees gathering pollen on flowers actually make a slurping sound quite distinct from the usual buzzing sound a bee makes.

    Reply
  936. Deborah Cook on

    As winter bites, I see the beauty and bounty of my crabapple tree glowing red with its fruit. The beauty of silver eyes feasting on them. A friendly fantail following me through the garden snapping insects as I walk. Spring will soon arrive bringing blooms again. 🍃🌸🍃

    Reply
  937. Ashley on

    Visiting my parents in the country and the drive to their house is always beautiful with loads of trees lining the road and hanging over creating a canopy type feel. Takes me back to my childhood and is a welcome break from the city!

    Reply
  938. Ami Schultz on

    I live in northern Minnesota. So just recently my gardens have been coming to life. This year is my first year actually planting a cut flower garden. Thank you, Erin, for the inspiration! So the watching my seedlings get established and grow has been such a treat. My little ones have also been helping me tend to the garden. I think watching the pure joy and dedication I see in my 3 year old in my garden is one of the most beautiful things.

    Reply
  939. Ann on

    The Golden Hour of the days have become extraordinary here after the heat of the day in Georgia.

    Reply
  940. Tabitha on

    The life in all the plants. I miss it all winter and become impatient for it to come in spring. But now it’s here and I’m beginning to see the fruits of my labor.

    Reply
  941. Bec on

    We’ve had a crazy wet spring, but with that came a lot of beautiful blue skies in the evenings!

    Reply
  942. Karen on

    The shifting position of the sun; more light for the gardens yay, and also an incredible late afternoon glow in the dining room that is pure take-your-breath-away magic!

    Reply
  943. Thalia Q on

    I am new to the gardening world and have been obsessed with growing flowers! I’ve notified a lot more butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds flying about and it brings me so much joy!

    Reply
  944. Rebecca on

    My husband and I bought our first home and I’ve been kicking myself that we haven’t gotten a lawnmower yet, but it’s been a guilty pleasure watching all the pretty wild things grow!

    Reply
  945. Nancy Wynne on

    Today I spotted a beautiful young fox basking in my woodland garden. He is one of three kits born this spring. My fingers are crossed that he continues to thrive!

    Reply
  946. Davia on

    Last night I noticed how beautiful our little flower farm is right at dusk even with all the mess everywhere and half harvested beds. It still took my breath away

    Reply
  947. Diane Bottcher on

    Started doing landscaping for the first time this year trying to figure out a design and structure. It all came together a couple of weeks ago when I had a baby shower for one of my babies! I looked around on this beautiful day with the beautiful addition and my heart was beating with happiness about my infant gardening and my soon to be born infant grandson ❣️

    Reply
  948. Billie on

    As I walk along the walkway of my raised beds early in the morning just as the sun is breaking through the cloud’s and the mist is still on my flowers. I have planted these flowers from seeds for the first time in my life. I have deadheaded them twice already this year and they are still blooming. I am in awe of the beauty of the Zinnias the Cosmos and Snapdragons and the Stocks I have a little bit of everything in my flower garden and I enjoy every moment that I can go out and pick them put them in a vase and enjoy them in my home. A little bit of sunshine. Looking forward to next year growing here in Texas.

    Reply
  949. Jessica Mitchem on

    My first season of growing to do some small cut flowers for myself. With all your tips tricks from your books I’ve been able to get my dahlias off to a great start! My one year old son is the loveliest gardening assistant.

    Reply
  950. Mary Merenda on

    I am starting to focus on growing more flowers since I retired last summer. I love zinnias and have started several kinds this summer. I learned how to get longer stems for bouquets, by watching your classes Erin. Thank you for that and I enjoy being outside since I’ve worked inside so long!

    Reply
  951. Stephanie on

    My granddaughter and I spent some time watching a hummingbird hawk moth enjoying some lavender. It was such a pure and peaceful experience. It’s the little moments that lifelong memories are made of.

    Reply
  952. Pamela McClellan on

    Lightning bugs are out in big numbers. I love sitting in the middle of my garden in the evening even more these days.

    Reply
  953. Brooklyn Pearson on

    Standing alone in DFW airport among three gates worth of boarding passengers, loud speaker announcements, and restrooms to boot, I was overcome with a sneeze. Not extreme, not soft, unexpected nonetheless. A “bless you” makes it to my ears as a group of passers-by carry on. I turn in time to see a smile and a nod from a busy stranger as I mouth “thank you” and acknowledge that we all play a part in making the world more beautiful for one another.

    Reply
  954. Kristy Wright on

    This is my first year growing dalhias and gladiolus and I’m obsessed!!!! They have both started blooming and I can’t get over how gorgeous they are!!!!!

    Reply
  955. Tia on

    At this point in my life, so many changes are coming at me at once. I’m noticing how my children are the fully capable, independent people I’ve raised them to be. And they’re GOOD. As much as I want to hold on and protect them, it’s not fair of me to keep them from their path.

    Reply
  956. Kayla Yoder on

    A beautiful thing I’ve noticed recently are these random wild daisies that have sprung up in my front yard, they’re button sized and just adorable

    Reply
  957. Victoria Wier on

    Before starting my own cut flower garden I never stopped to look at all the beauty that grows naturally around me. Now a stare at what I used to see as weeds as native plants that are flourishing. I baby my seedlings so much and then have to laugh when a zinnia grows from a crack in concrete without any care given to it. Beauty want to grow when given the right environment.

    Reply
  958. Emanuela on

    Again a new life for me, a new country, a new house with the garden, out of the city. It’s time to think about growing dreams and not let them there. More time to spend with nature, growing slowly my beloved flowers for the first time.
    It’s never too late to start over with something new.
    Our soul needs authentic and simple moments.
    Slow down things and breath again in this messy and chaotic world.

    Reply
  959. Betsy Hove on

    Thank you Floret for rekindling my love of flowers. I am looking forward to the next planting season to redo the builder grade landscaping of the house we just purchased.

    Reply
  960. Jane B. on

    I was never interested in starting flowers/plants from seed. It takes too long, I don’t have the time, I always fail at them, so and so stores have them already, etc etc. Well your Instagram, blogs, and book inspired me to try. I started with a packet of bachelor buttons and voila I’m hooked. I can’t stop looking at what I started from seed!! So fun!

    Reply
  961. Sarah C on

    When seeds scattered long ago, almost forgotten, sprout and bloom!
    And the beauty of my children’s delight when they hunt through the garden each day <3

    Reply
  962. Natasha Letchford on

    The last of my alliums are flowering and this one giant one with the thickest stem has just the most perfect 90 degree bend. Couldn’t have built a more perfect corner. I love noticing the beauty in the other parts of the flower, not just the bloom.

    Reply
  963. Dana Bergman on

    Floret has inspired me to try so many beautiful new things. The most beautiful delicate little iceland poppies were so pretty. I didn’t have enough of them to master getting them to live in a vase. I enjoy your posts, videos, books and most of all your flowers.

    Reply
  964. Britany on

    There has been nothing more beautiful to me this summer than watching my one year old develop a love of gardening. She loves checking on our plants several times a day and we water together in the stillness of the morning, just the two of us. Gardening is magic.

    Reply
  965. Katie Bell on

    My rose garden is coming into her own this year and the differences in the blooms from each plant and even on the dame bush are so nuanced. It’s a miracle

    Reply
  966. Katie on

    Last year I tried to start Shirley poppies from seed but they were a total loss. This year I have had more success and everytime I notice another one blooming I feel encouraged to just keep trying.

    Reply
  967. Petra on

    Took a trip to a cottage with my family, 15 of us, after finding out our mum has terminal cancer. I noticed the beauty of my home province. Just an hour away, but a completely different biome with different plants and birds. Time on the water in a kayak and coffee with my siblings makes you remember to slow down and be grateful.

    Reply
  968. Sarah Samuelson on

    I grew up with parents that always had gardens, my mom always had plants. I love growing things. Experimenting with growing different things. But what I realized not everyone grew up the same way. I ran into an old school friend and we started dating and living together and this year I started a veggie garden and seeing his excitement for every tomato, every bloom that appears, all the squash and cucumbers, the excitement and pure joy he gets when he picks the strawberries, and the ideas he comes up with for our fall garden, and next years summer garden – it amazes me. I fall in love with gardening, plants and him all over again!

    Reply
  969. Dani Boss on

    My 3 year old was hospitalized recently for worsening seizures due to her COVID infection. The day she got admitted, my husband chose to stay with her and I came home to be with our 5 year old. I was so anxious and stressed and went out to the garden to clear my head, and there I saw my first dahlia bloom had fully opened. I’ve never had success growing them before, but there it was, standing tall and strong and so beautiful it made me cry. The joy that little flower brought me during such a tough time was so wonderful. Flowers can truly heal your soul!

    Reply
  970. Cara on

    I have recently been finding my cat looking out the windows in our sunroom at night watching the fireflies rise to trees in our backyard. It’s a beautiful sight, and I love to sit and watch with her.

    Reply
  971. Jacqueline on

    After several summers of unrelenting heat and drought, we’re having a cool, wet spring here. Though it comes with some challenges (and so many mosquitoes!), it’s been so lovely to see everything so green and lush again.

    Reply
  972. Dee Lillywhite on

    Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. I saw a wasp inside my squash bloom. Before I despised them. Now I smile because I know the good side of a wasp! To think it was always bees I protected.

    Reply
  973. Molly on

    I’ve noticed how the morning dew and rain collects in the petals and leaves of my roses creating these beautiful tiny natural reflecting pools.

    Reply
  974. Melody Trowell on

    Something I noticed lately that I think is beautiful at home is how my hydrangeas are changing color with the season!

    Reply
  975. Anne McGilvray on

    When I’m out in the garden I’m usually absorbed in the weeding and watering. Recently I heard a screeching from above and looked up to see two hawks staring back at me. They were magnificent to watch hunting for prey. Now I try to pay attention to ground level and on high.

    Reply
  976. Rebecca H on

    Maybe not “beautiful” per se, but watching my son gardening with me brings me so much joy. There’s so much curiosity and excitement from him. Every worm he sees is new and he wants to know the name of every bug and plant we encounter. It’s just lovely to stop and enjoy it.

    Reply
  977. Jenn on

    Watching the bees crawl into the snapdragons. So funny the way that they just dive, headfirst.

    Reply
  978. Cheryl Hayles on

    This is my first growing season in my new home, and I have been noticing where the light falls at different times of the day, so that I can choose the right spot to plant ALL the flowers I want to grow! My last house had lots of shade trees and this house has lots of sun. Quite a different set of plants to grow!

    Reply
  979. Teixeira Elodie on

    Recently, I noticed that I didn’t care of flowers that I didn’t fall in love at the first eye contact. It reminds me that even if I had a professionnal production, I had to grow only the flowers that are vibrant for my heart. I forgot to focus not on the commercial flowers, but on the deep love I have for each !

    Reply
  980. Chelsea on

    We have a row of Serviceberry trees growing along the road next to our house! Maternity leave has caused me to slow down and to take a closer look at the beautiful things nature has to offer right in my own backyard.

    Reply
  981. Emma Whittaker on

    Something beautiful that I have noticed is the quiet summer breeze that comes through my backyard while I read in the evenings.
    I thank God for his creation and handiwork that we get to see move and grow.
    There is a violet- colored perennial in my front garden that blooms in the morning sun and closes at night to protect itself- how cool!

    Congrats Milli on the book and having such beautiful gardens!
    -Emma

    Reply
  982. Michelle Maas on

    I’ve noticed the absolute beauty of the peony flowers before they burst open! They look like the most delicious scoop of ice cream.

    Reply
  983. Faye Mitchell on

    I am always so amazed when I look at the flowers in my garden and notice that they are even more beautiful than last year.

    Reply
  984. Michelle on

    I talk to my 15 month old a lot about what’s going on in our Kentucky garden, and she has started trying to say “yarrow” and “dahlia.” She’s rough on the plants, but it’s worth it witness her hands-on discoveries of nature.

    Reply
  985. Sandee Radtke on

    My husband found a small sprig of wild honeysuckle which smelled so fresh…then we stopped at one of our new Magnolia trees for another invigorating scent of a creamy half open blossom. Looking back at the house, I am always excited to see how well our plantings seem to blend in the little herb garden that used to be a rocky surface for parking. My gardens are starting to come alive and it is the first day of Summer!

    Reply
  986. Julie on

    Here in New Hampshire we just had a weekend of 50-60 degree weather, it almost felt like fall! (Typically in the 80s) It was so wonderful to put on jeans and a sweatshirt and sit on the porch to relax and soak in the beautiful cooler temps! It isn’t often you can relax in the summer with cool breezes and the beauty of blooming flowers all around you. Really made us pause and enjoy it!

    Reply
  987. Lee Ann on

    A beautiful thing I noticed lately is how much young
    Children love flowers in my garden. My young adult
    Daughter has a love for fresh flowers in her apartment.
    Love how this can be passed on to others.

    Reply
  988. Vanessa Amspacher on

    I’ve started to notice that the weeds are beautiful in their own way too.

    Reply
  989. sandra ballardini on

    LOVE LOVE LOVE these photos and find such inspiration with both them and Floret Flower to fuss over my 1st year wildflower and butterfly garden. Yesterday I took close up photos of the stamen inside the blooms. Noticing the flower within the flower.

    Reply
  990. Robin Buckley on

    I think my love for flowers comes from what Milli describes as slowing down and noticing change. Witnessing gardens grow and flowers bloom is one of the most beautiful ways to watch time pass. Both her and your photos provide so much inspiration for my small paper flower business I’m working on until I develop more of a green thumb!

    Reply
  991. Nicole on

    The sun setting over our pond and garden last night

    Reply
  992. Brenda Nickels on

    I’ve been watching the monarch lay her eggs, the bees 🐝 gathering their food source and the really listening to the birds communicate … it’s a beautiful beautiful thing to really observe nature all around us.

    Reply
  993. Wendy on

    I’ve noticed that this spring I’ve been more impatient than ever before to see the green return and for the flowers to bloom in our small corner of the world. I’ve been feeling a bit down from all the news happening all around, and I find I’m drawing comfort like never before from all the natural beauty surrounding our home.

    Reply
  994. Geri Bekins on

    The garden is where you can enjoy God ‘s beauty. His gift to us. I love going there.

    Reply
  995. Heather Gratias on

    I love the feeling that comes over me as I walk amongst the sweet peas in the early morning. It invokes childhood memories of flower gardening with my Dad.

    Reply
  996. Tracy Kopp on

    I was recently in Florida, my husband and I walked the beach at 6am as the sun was rising. The beauty was incredible and saving jellyfish along the way was heartwarming but I will never forget seeing the fin tracks from a sea turtle over 5 feet wide coming out of the sea to lay her eggs and then the tracks going back in to the sea:) such a beautiful experience.

    Reply
  997. Amanda monsen on

    I have really tried to notice all the little changes on my garden. I love the new buds, I love all the little quail scratches in the dirt. I love the big furry bumble bees that collect from the flowers. It’s been nice to slow down and just watch.

    Reply
  998. Sarah Kolinen on

    A beautiful thing I noticed recently was that even in failure, there can be beauty. I failed on some of my flowers I planted out recently. Poking out between these failed flower seedlings was a lone cosmos seedling. It was beautiful to me because It reminded me that even amongst failure, there can be something that fought hard, even in a climate it would not typically be hardy in, pushed through and will one day this summer produce beautiful blooms. So that small cosmo seedling is definitely a thing of beauty to me. I can’t wait to see what cosmo this seed came from and the beauty it will give me. So

    Reply
  999. Ann Wainscott on

    Cut myself today while drilling holes in my kitchen cabinets. Decided to just keep working since it was very minor. The pain of the cut reminded me to look at it from time to time and I found myself marveling at the body’s healing capacity. It just closed right up!

    Reply
  1000. Brit on

    Watching the bees on my salvia is a beautiful thing.

    Reply
  1001. Megan Brown on

    I love the long nights on the deck watching the sunset as the night turns from dusk to stars as the fireflies come out. Watching them hover over all the flowers omin the yard and on my deck. Summer peace.

    Reply
  1002. Julie kelly on

    I am a certified horticulture therapist and gardening is my therapy

    Reply
  1003. Cassandra on

    The first blooms on my very first peonies, years in the making! The smell is amazing.

    Reply
  1004. Hanna on

    A beautiful thing I noticed are tiny wild bees sleeping in the campanula bells. I adore campanula and have a dozen of differnet varieties, and watching those little fellas snuggle in the blooms makes me love them even more.

    Reply
  1005. Nanda on

    I love summer sunrises! The golden light, the birds singing, a cup of fresh coffee and a short walk by the yard where I can smell the lilies that recently bloomed, and see all the beauty that the heat brought us. <3

    Reply
  1006. Khrystyna Diaz on

    Thankful for the beautiful and unique nature . Can’t help but wonder every single flower, how beautiful and unique they are. Thank you for helping people like me to grow them and be able to enjoy them every single day in my own garden.❤️

    Reply
  1007. Ali on

    Gardening has given me more peace and tranquility than any other form of therapy has following my divorce.

    Reply
  1008. Sherri on

    I’ve notice that flowers usually remind them of someone usually a grandmother or mother! I been asked to do the flowers at a celebration of life , the granddaughter asked if I had Forget me nots, I have started the seeds💕

    Reply
  1009. Angie on

    A beautiful thing I’ve noticed lately is how my garden heals me. I know it sounds cliche but, truly, it has. I struggle with anxiety and since garden season has started it has disappeared! I wish it could be summer all year long!

    Reply
  1010. Dorinda on

    I love growing/ cutting various greens to make unique bouquets!

    Reply
  1011. Kryssa on

    My husband and I decided to start our own flower farm this year! We are learning fast on things that we want to do differently next year but growing flowers has really taught us to show down and to enjoy the beauty that is around us. Its amazing how many things we miss on a daily basis when we finally decide to take the time to slow down and to just enjoy everything. Even a flower beginning to open up for the first time brings so much joy to not just us but our little ones.

    Reply
  1012. Maria on

    Looking forward to reading this beautiful book!

    Reply
  1013. Shari D. on

    Our PNW rainy, cold Spring (and now early Summer) has made my garden bloom late this year and then droop in the rain, but I’ve noticed that the gloomy, overcast light has made what is blooming practically glow with color. The blooms are gorgeous.

    Reply
  1014. Sarah jonsgaard on

    One of my favorite slow things my husband and I practice everyday is taking a morning walk. We typically walk around a pond close to our house. We usually pause for a few minutes by this one log that all the turtles sun on. Sometimes a blue heron will be resting by them, another turtle will be laying eggs in a mound closer to us and geese can be found preening their feathers. It sounds fake and from a Disney movie and I think that’s way it has captivated us- nature is so beautiful and teaches us everyday in small and big ways to slow down.

    Reply
  1015. Grey Olphin on

    A beautiful thing that I’ve noticed is how I am growing along side my plants.
    When I started my plant journey I could barely sprout seeds. Any seed. Cacti died and bamboo rotted away under my care.
    Three years later and I’ve grown dahlias from your breeding seeds. I’ve taken pups and offshoots off of my healthy houseplants. Most important is the fact I’ve grown in patience and kindness, along side my garden and plants.

    Reply
  1016. Malissa on

    This is my first year growing flowers with VERY limited space on my apartment balcony. It’s frustrating when a new seedlings doesn’t survive, but I’m stopping and noticing those that do and the beauty that they bring every day. It is truly amazing what you can do with such a small amount of space and I’m excited to keep learning and growing along with my flowers!

    Reply
  1017. Shawna on

    I love the sound of a California poppy pod flinging its seeds hopefully into the arms of the dry earth to be held close until the rains return.

    Reply
  1018. Ann on

    Yesterday evening, I woke up from a nap and saw through the window that the rain had passed and we had what appeared to be our first summer-sun evening. The trees I could see through the window were that post rain, summer evening green — alive with color.

    Reply
  1019. Tori on

    I’ve been noticing wildflowers a lot the past few weeks, nothing is more distracting and mesmerizing on my way home from work than all of the beautiful bright flowers springing to life all on their own in less-than-ideal circumstances. I just picked a bunch of daisies growing out of a pile of asphalt a couple weeks ago. The fact that they chose to thrive there in the midst of mess was inspiring.

    Reply
  1020. Stephanie on

    I planted Zinnia seeds for the first time in the spring. They have become a new discovery each time I walk out to the garden and see a new color and shape that has bloomed. What I thought was a simple flower has turned out to be such a joy for my daughter and me to see every day.

    Reply
  1021. Megan on

    This is my first year doing a cut flower garden, and the whole process has been so fun! I’m also growing some veggies and get so excited whenever I find a new tomato popping up!

    Reply
  1022. Ashley Bowers on

    I live in the desert, this spring we got a lot of rain and everything is so green and beautiful. I do appreciate the beauty of the dry desert that most people over look, but it’s nice to have a little bit of a change now and then.

    Reply
  1023. Diane Hughes on

    Beautiful to me is a morning in my little flower garden, watering, pruning, nurturing, praying and watching the butterflies and hummingbirds enjoy their breakfast.

    Reply
  1024. Carolyn Conway on

    We’ve had a very cold wet spring this year. When we do get a sunny day the flowers suddenly open up. The starts in the vegetable garden double in size.

    Reply
  1025. Debbie on

    I have a munstead wood rose bush and love how the petals open. The scent is intoxicating and I always take some quiet time to smell this flower.

    Reply
  1026. Stefani Froevel on

    My husband and I built a wooden cottage in 2019. Last year we finally started building and growing our own cottage garden. It is a lot of work but it leaves us more satisfied and happy with every day and all that beauty and green that is blooming and flowering around us.

    Reply
  1027. Roxanne Rodriguez on

    What a lovely interview! Since starting to grow flowers, I’ve noticed the hum of the bees more than ever. I always thought of our yard as this dead space without much going on, but now it’s literally buzzing with life as the greedy bumbles hop from the clover to the cerinthe and back again. Nature is amazing and there’s nothing like tending flowers to make you stop and take notice of that.

    Reply
  1028. Karen on

    Last night I paused while looking at a city park, and was grateful for the people who have taken the time to design and nurture the landscapes there!

    Reply
  1029. Lily Crytser on

    With the rainy season in Washington finally (maybe) coming to a close, I’m loving seeing my beautiful zinnias in the sun. Their colors are shining and I feel so grateful to be able to spend more time in the garden.

    Reply
  1030. Rebecca on

    I planted a yarrow plant at the end of last year and promptly forgot what color it was. But now the blooms are just about to open and I can see a gorgeous dark pink color peeking out. So excited!

    Reply
  1031. Adriane Poston on

    Blooms opening in my first ever raise garden beds!🌻🌼🌷⚘

    Reply
  1032. MaryChris Jones on

    I was having coffee on my porch one morning. I have a fuchsia hanging there. All of a sudden a little hummingbird came up to the fuchsia and had it’s morning beverage as well. It was a beautiful way to start my day.

    Reply
  1033. Casey Grysen on

    Beautiful!
    I have noticed the birds and their beautiful songs in the mornings and evenings! Brings me such joy!

    Reply
  1034. Barbara Francis on

    Its wonderful to see my grandchildren delight in picking pretty flowers from my garden and making little bouquets for their Moms. Another generation of gardeners.

    Reply
  1035. Crystal Allison on

    Like many areas of the states, we’ve had a cold start this spring. But slowly the blooms are happening. Last night I noticed the earl grey larkspur had bloomed and the Chinese forget me nots are starting to put on some height. Every day something new to discover.

    Reply
  1036. Camille on

    My partner and I are renovating an old house and have recently moved into the garage space on the land. It is easy to focus on the task-list of things that “must” be done. However, I have been spending time each day going on forest walks, noticing all the diverse ferns growing on the land and the wild asters, lupin, and poppies that are blooming all around.

    Reply
  1037. Sophia on

    While visiting my home state, I am completely surrounded by so many beautiful things! The unbelievably gorgeous sunsets… the breathtaking clear, starry nights… the majestic mountains, horses and native wildlife… the indescribable amazing scent after a desert rain… the awe-inspiring lightning and thunder of the monsoons — the beauty of Arizona is simply unforgettable! 🏜

    Reply
  1038. Andra Hepler on

    We notice last night the cutest squirrel has figured out tht my one pot has a holder under it and water collects there and had a nice long drink. Then slowly walked away.

    Reply
  1039. Karli Rasmussen on

    The unintentional nigella in my yard are making their dazzling blooms all over. Just brought some into my home because I love their texture so much

    Reply
  1040. Rochelle on

    A quiet evening spent on the deck overlooking our acreage! Each week brings changes; from listening to the spring peepers to the now glowing fireflies! Occasionally wild turkeys stalk through and there are always a few deer playing or taking new fawns out to get acquainted with the countryside. The change in blooming flowers is continual and each new burst of color is awaited!

    Reply
  1041. Chelsey Watts on

    With the heat wave here in Texas we spend the early mornings out in the garden. Seeing my 3 little children running around the overgrown flower garden in their jammies is something I will cherish forever. The morning light just beams off their tiny faces. It’s the most beautiful thing to see all the things you’ve created all in one space together.

    Reply
  1042. Em Swan on

    All sorts of birds are enjoying the AK summer. Yesterday I saw a Robin pull out a huge earthworm. They know the exact location-it’s not pecking about to get it. Migratory birds are flying late evening in the neighborhood. It’s all wonderful.

    Reply
  1043. Rebecca on

    The red growth on my roses.

    Reply
  1044. Chris on

    Even with the cold rainy spring in the PNW my flowers are starting to bloom.

    Reply
  1045. Lisa Lynd on

    I always appreciate this time of year when our hydrangea is in full bloom, a beautiful matrix of shades of lime and white. It’s very well established and its fullness is the perfect complement to the undulating border of day lilies and lily of the valley across the way.

    Reply
  1046. Sharon S on

    My climbing rose somehow smells sweeter this year. Something to look forward to on my nightly yard walks.

    Reply
  1047. Mariia on

    I’ve spent 3 months far away from home with my kids. We are from Kyiv, Ukraine and we left to the West of Ukraine right after the beginning of russian invasion. So I didn’t see how my roses started to come to life after the winter. But we came back now and all of them startet to bloom! And I can’t be more happy than I am now. I just hope we won’t have to leave again and I’ll be watching my garden blooming every day as the LIFE has to win in this battle ✌🏻💛💙

    Reply
  1048. teri on

    We are in monsoon season, so the clouds and rainbows are just beautiful this time of year!

    Reply
  1049. Audrey Hollatz on

    Oh, how lovely! The book, the setting, the photography, the concept, and the whippets!

    Reply
  1050. Hallie on

    Since I’ve started gardening I’ve noticed the home it’s created for life around us. Last night, while I was cutting and watering I stood still for several moments. I saw several types of bees, wasps, butterflies, and birds flitting around each garden bed and it brought me so much peace.

    Reply
  1051. Amy T on

    The summer solstice!

    Reply
  1052. Leslie Hulshizer on

    I’m continuing to learn about gardening; along with the hard work, I’m relishing the beauty and satisfaction of growing!

    Reply
  1053. Kirsten on

    A beautiful thing for my garden this year is the huge number of bird and bird babies who have moved in. Also lizards! We lost our poor sweet Kitty in January but now, without her, there is so much more life in the garden. I really had no idea the havoc she caused, now I sit and watch all this life and think of her.

    Reply
  1054. Helen on

    The beautiful thing I’ve noticed most recently is connection brought by lovely evening weather. I find myself sitting outdoors and visiting with my neighbors most nights now. The hum of the cicadas and glitter of fireflies set the scene for hearts to fill and spirits to renew.
    We need one another!

    Reply
  1055. Robin Zuppan on

    Inspiration this Season for Me has been growing Flowers That I’ve never grown before! When I found out that I could grow Dahlias from Seedlings! Never in a million years did I think I would have 47 Dahlia plants from the Bee variety from Floret. 61 yrs young and I’m having Alot of new experiences in my flower garden!

    Reply
  1056. Leanne on

    Fireflies in our meadow grass 💡

    Reply
  1057. Mindy Brennan on

    The beautiful thing I noticed was that my grandson brought my daughter a small cup home from preschool for Mother’s Day. In the cup were seeds that they planted at school for their Mom’s. It has been so amazing to watch him water and care for the “flowers” and him actual talk about the growth of the seeds to a real flower with a bloom.

    Reply
  1058. Linda Hansen on

    I’ve noticed that my Hollyhocks grow shorter and still bloom when faced with less water. The flowers are beautiful!

    Reply
  1059. Stephanie Robinson on

    Work has been intense for my husband. Watching him stand under an arbor of runner beans to observe the bees was a pretty perfect moment.

    Reply
  1060. Grace Krogh on

    I’ve been growing Floret’s Orach ‘Ruby Gold’ for flower arrangements. I was harvesting some yesterday and noticed that several gold finches were feasting on the leaves and seeds. Even though I was within a few feet of them, they didn’t seem to notice me. They were so beautiful! I decided to let them enjoy it instead of worrying about the stems I wouldn’t be able to use because of their munching. Gardening has given me so many small moments like these – witnessing the natural world up close is a gift.

    Reply
  1061. Lynn Martell on

    I’ve notice that every book I learn one new technique improves my floral selection and arranging. This book looks amazing as the country romantic style is right up my alley.

    Reply
  1062. Sandy Doyle on

    Maybe it wasn’t a beautiful thing. Having breakfast with my daughter at a local cafe, I noticed that the small vases on the tables had cloudy water and sad looking flowers. The next morning I popped in with 7 small bottles filled with fresh flowers from my garden . The smile on the owner’s face was beautiful. Growing Kindness!

    Reply
  1063. Suzette Bergeson on

    We’ve had a very wet Spring in the Pacific Northwest. I found it frustrating at first, but recently have noticed the plants that have flourished. The Sweet William is over abundant, the hydrangeas have doubled in size, and the grasses in the field are thick and emerald green.

    Reply
  1064. Lia on

    I’ve been looking at the bushes all around my yard much closer more recently and there’s this one I cut down last year because it’s everywhere where I live and the leaves always look damaged and it was shading one of my flower beds. This year it grew new, and healthy foliage with blending shades of orange, red, and green. I don’t know what it’s called, but I’ve been using it in all my bouquets and it looks lovely and has been lasting for days. I need to find out what it is haha. Sometimes you just have to cut to see some new growth, it looks so happy now! I gave my neighbor some flowers with it and that was the first thing she asked about.

    Reply
  1065. Abby Ostler on

    Inspiration comes from so many sources … I am a first year full time gardening/ small time farming and I have never learned so much ( I took the Floret course just this past year) and yet I still crave to learn more🌼🌸🌻

    Reply
  1066. Janelle Quirk on

    We moved to a 100+ year old cottage late summer last year so this is our first full season to see what is growing. I had meant to plant hollyhocks and peonies this season but had gotten distracted setting up our kitchen garden and sunflower patch so they fell through the cracks. Well it turns out wee have a STUNNING peonie bush inherited from the former owners that is still blooming and yesterday I was overjoyed to find some hollyhocks growing away. So I’ve been reminded how the beauty of good stewardship is something that can affect generations just like the people who once loved and lived here. Not to mention how my Nana’s green thumb affected me and Milli’s Grandma obviously affected her💚💚💚

    Reply
  1067. Denise Cummings on

    Because we had cats and I believe you care for pets until their end, I had very few birds in my garden. With the passing of my last pet cat, the birds have returned. Their singing, nest building and family raising antics have been mesmerizing to watch all amongst the flowers. Now, I can’t imagine my garden without birds….something I hadn’t noticed before.

    Reply
  1068. Debbie on

    We recently lost our alpha mare. It is indeed painful to watch them mourn their lost leader. And then a beautiful thing happens when another mare takes the lead and integrates the traits of her dear old friend with her her own; a new gentler alpha mare.

    Reply
  1069. Lorri on

    The beautiful thing I’ve appreciated lately is “time”. Quiet time to tend to my little garden & time to sit on the porch & listen to all of the bird’s conversations.

    Reply
  1070. Kate on

    I’ve been enjoying checking on my gardens in the evening, and have been especially noticing when the fireflies and bats come out for the night.

    Reply
  1071. Sarah on

    The home we purchased 2 years ago has over an acre of natural prairie. It is so beautiful and I have recently realized how full of life it is… birds, butterflies, dragonflies, bees, and of course the gorgeous wildflowers.

    Reply
  1072. E on

    A beautiful thing I’ve noticed recently…the first sighting of the nine baby ducks with their mama in the neighborhood pond.

    Reply
  1073. Esther B. on

    I discovered some Virginia Pepperweed, bright green with pink tinges, growing in a gravel parking lot the other day. It was so beautiful. I took some home and arranged it in a vase with zinnias from the garden. It made my day❤️

    Reply
  1074. Hannah on

    I’ve noticed how much beautiful changing details are in the small mundane things right around us when we take the time to immerse ourselves over and over again to notice them.

    This book looks like such a beautiful inspiration!!

    Reply
  1075. Allison on

    I have been noticing more and more the warm wind in the evening. Spring evenings were cool but the summer winds are slow and warm and make the evening feel magical.

    Reply
  1076. Jennifer on

    I planted some rose bushes this year and am loving the sweet blooms!

    Reply
  1077. Karey Chester on

    That the lupine I bought on a whim and doubted would survive is putting up TWO new bloom stalks.

    Reply
  1078. Janelle Greene on

    I was in the garden bringing in snapdragons I just cut and a bumble bee went inside one of the snapdragons in my hand. When it emerged from the flower it was covered in pollen. Nature at its best!

    Reply
  1079. Nancy Hampton-Thompson on

    I’m just starting to grow flowers. On Mother’s Day my husband gave me A Year in Flowers. From Seed to Bloom looks like the perfect companion book! I’ve fully embraced your ethos of sharing flowers spreads joy and we need more joy!

    Reply
  1080. Katrina on

    Lovely article and images. As for one recent beautiful thing, the way the light filters through the bright spring green maple leaves is just astounding. Add a bit of breeze and I could relax for hours!

    Reply
  1081. Lynne Resch on

    “Blue”. The first blue frog in my frog pond.

    Reply
  1082. Anna S. on

    One of the recent discoveries is tea garden roses. There are so many of them in my high rise neighborhood! I am under great impression, contemplating this beauty.

    Reply
  1083. Marilyn on

    Beauty is in the process of planning my Dahlia garden, sprinkling love over them to provide me with their gorgeous blooms! And the planning of sharing them within my community so know one knows it’s me! Spreading Kindness is the BEST beauty there is!!!

    Reply
  1084. Michelle -Florelle on

    How easy the warm months are on my soul. Living in Wisconsin we brace for 6+ months of cold and dreary weather. Once the warm season hits, even though it’s constant hard work with planting and harvesting and selling, my soul is happy.

    Reply
  1085. Amy Watson on

    What a lovely interview! Thank you for sharing your story.

    Reply
  1086. Chrystalyn Sloane on

    Something beautiful: my young children and nieces and nephews traipsing the wildwood for armfuls of
    the abundant Tall Bluebells, Dandelions and False Solomon’s Seal and presenting them as bouquets for their grandmother, my mother-in-law. So sweet.

    Reply
  1087. Jan Krass on

    My white ‘Festiva Maxima’ and pink Japanese peonies were gorgeous, and their fragrance was divine!

    Reply
  1088. Julissa on

    A bee buzzing in a foxglove flower, wildflowers coming into bloom in a meadow, blueberries and raspberries and strawberries slowly ripening, apples are forming, zinnias pushing through the soil and the sweet sweet smell of peonies. So much beauty after so much rain on the west coast.

    Reply
  1089. Donna Palmer on

    The interview was very nice and the new book looks wonderful!

    I find gardening very rewarding! As flowers grow and bloom the colors continually change, which makes each day interesting. Along with growing flowers it is satisfying growing and eating vegetables that have been grown by the caretaker. The constant miracles of things growing things keeps me beyond interested in gardening.

    Reply
  1090. Jennifer on

    A beautiful thing I’ve noticed in my garden lately are all the hummingbirds and bee’s.

    Reply
  1091. Violet on

    I have just become a first time grandma on June 6th/22. I can’t wait to introduce my Granddaughter Hannah to my flower garden and to take her on walkabouts . Walkabouts is what I called it when I walked my daughters around the garden showing them my flowers and pronouncing the names . They still laugh at the names and say that it’s sounds like something out of Harry Potter lol. My garden is my happy place and sharing it is a joy.

    Reply
  1092. Katie on

    I noticed a hole in one of my rose buds. A small bug had chewed down to the middle of the bud, but the beauty of the bud was not reduced. It added complexity, and it made me happy that bugs and flowers can live together.

    Reply
  1093. Jessica on

    All the little new visitors, hummingbirds love my foxgloves, lady bug larvae eating aphids, swallowtail caterpillars on my dill and parsley, so much life happening if you stop to look closer and watch.

    Reply
  1094. Summer on

    How good vegetables from my garden taste!

    Reply
  1095. Angie on

    For me it’s a sunset. My days are full and my list is never ending, most days I feel like more gets added to the list than checked off. But when I see that sunset I will stop and take it in, and I’m grateful for the day.

    Reply
  1096. Beverly Chesney on

    Loved the article.Woke up one morning extra early and was surprised how many others were already awake and enjoying my flowers and water feature. To just sit and enjoy , what do they say, plant and they will come. Just getting started in growing from seeds already a year in . Hopefully I can become as good as I see everyone else doing it. 🌹

    Reply
  1097. Sarah R on

    I’ve enjoyed exploring all the local gardens in the area I moved to less than a year ago. And making lists of my favorite plants that I want to find a home for in my yard.

    Reply
  1098. Anne on

    I love living on a flower farm, even though sometimes I want to give it all up do to the hard work. But the beauty I see everyday is worth all the sweat and tears!

    Reply
  1099. Angela on

    Recently I have noticed how strong and resilient plants really are. Some of my camomile, kale, and rapini seedlings were eaten by pests almost to nothing. Usually I pull these out and plant other things in their place, but not this year. As the time went by, they are growing back up. My rapini is 4 inches tall now. I never stop learning in my garden. Another lesson about patients and time.

    Reply
  1100. Kelsey on

    Carolina wren nest in my compost pile- I can’t wait for them to hatch!

    Reply
  1101. Vickie Harris on

    How the sun glistens over my 20 acre freshly mowed grass!
    An a deer across the way!!

    Reply
  1102. Catherine Charles on

    School is finally out and I am able to slow down and just enjoy being outside. I have been growing old garden roses for almost 40 years, and their beauty never ceases to add made me.

    Reply
  1103. Becky on

    While weeding an open area near my driveway, I was pretty sure that one of the little green “intruders” was a volunteer petunia from last year (not at all near where I had grown any). I left it alone and when I returned to the spot after the weekend, I was greeted by 4 perfect little white petunia blossoms , blooming on a plant sitting all be itself. I love that beautiful picture of quiet determination and resilience.

    Reply
  1104. Marybeth on

    Thank you for sharing this interview! So lovely and inspiring!

    I was sad that I ended traveling during the peak of peony season this year. I told my MIL about keeping buds in the fridge for a couple weeks. She said I got cut a few of hers to try to save while I was away, but I forgot. :( When I came back she gave me a few that she had put in the fridge for me herself! They were in the fridge so long and pretty tight buds I thought they probably wouldn’t bloom. But the day after I took them out and put them in water they all opened up gorgeously! Beautiful pale pink with bits of yellow. :)

    Reply
  1105. Maggie Cunningham on

    I have been trying to fill my patio garden with more pollinator friendly plants, and the other day I saw the first butterfly arrive!! Many bees and other insects have been loving the flowers too which makes me so happy!

    Reply
  1106. Jessie on

    I recently visited my parents and noticed that there were hundreds of bumble bees on their one salvia plant. They are so wonderful and work so hard to survive together. They hardly even notice if you reach out to pick a flower, they simply just continue buzzing around and may even land on your hand. It was remarkable.

    Reply
  1107. Pam on

    Watching the hummingbirds come to our feeders
    They are magical little creatures that never fail to entertain us!! When we take the feeders down to refill them , they fly around wondering where they’ve gone 😊☀️😊

    Reply
  1108. Cyndi on

    I sit in my garden surrounded by the wonder of it all. Beautiful blue skies. Flowers emerging, each in their own time. Birds chirping. Bunnies exploring. I can’t even stop to read a book, it’s so magical!

    Reply
  1109. Lori Wallace-Lloyd on

    I live in the Piedmont region of Virginia near the Blue Ridge Mountains and we have been blessed with rain and heat lately (alot!). Everything is growing at an alarming rate and I found myself anxious because I couldn’t keep up with the weeding, mowing and all the other gardening chores. But then just looking around this morning and relishing the peacefulness and the birdsong, I realized that enjoying this beautiful place was more important than my to-do list….so I relaxed and remembered why I grow flowers.🌞🌸🌎

    Reply
  1110. Lauren on

    My four-year-old son asking me the names of the flowers I grow so he can learn about them. Little ones have a beautiful curiosity.

    Reply
  1111. Lisa B on

    I have a hummingbird friend in the garden and when he visits, I stop and watch him flit from flower to flower. His feathers are almost iridescent and it’s hypnotic watching him. Mother Nature is beautiful!

    Reply
  1112. Kimberly Beaumont on

    A mother deer nursing 3 fawns on our front lawn, two of which were very small and likely hers. The third was bigger and I don’t think hers but when her babies were done nursing she allowed the bigger fawn to nurse as well. I didn’t see another adult deer nearby so I think something must have happened to its mother and this mother is taking care of him/her.

    Reply
  1113. Ashley Laabs on

    I’ve recently noticed the cardinals that nested in my yard are teaching their nestlings to fly – on my dahlia supporting t-posts! They flutter around from post to post for hours with the parents coaching them.

    Reply
  1114. Tori on

    This morning I noticed a little group of birds through the window hoping around my garden hose picking at crumbs my daughter had dropped the previous afternoon.

    Reply
  1115. Tammy L. on

    I find beauty in all the little changes in the garden, from new leaves, flower buds, a surprise seedling. It is always changing and gets more beautiful.

    Reply
  1116. Camille on

    A community cat visits my garden and last night the evening light lit up her fur like a halo as she explored. Set against the green foliage, it was a spectacular sight!

    Reply
  1117. Karrie on

    The magic of the unexpected. It is dry where I live and this spring has brought record rainfall. On my walks and in my garden things are blooming that I’ve never seen before! Fields that are usually grasses and sparse spring blooms are covered in wildflowers. Local IG feeds are full of wonder as friends capture this unexpected beauty.

    Reply
  1118. Leah Farrell on

    This was a lovely interview! Something beautiful I’ve noticed lately is hearing the birds songs earlier each day. They call to you to get up and enjoy the longer daylight hours.

    Reply
  1119. Kathy on

    I have been watching gorgeous varied species of bees pollinating beautiful purple lupine in the mountains of Colorado.

    Reply
  1120. Jennifer on

    I haven’t planted many flowering plants yet in my garden, I’m starting small with one raised bed for veggies & herbs. But right now the clover in my yard is flowering. I know most people find that a sin against the perfect lawn; I think all the tiny white flowers look like a very short meadow. Plus it feeds the bees!

    Reply
  1121. Vanessa on

    I’m visiting family in a very different climate from where I live and have been enjoying walking and looking for familiar herbs and trying to identify unfamiliar ones along the roadside.

    Reply
  1122. Allie on

    Something beautiful I noticed: The sunset on our farm and the wheat that kept turning into a richer and more beautiful golden as the sun slowly disappeared.

    Reply
  1123. Jennifer on

    In creating my garden over last summer and now, I have learned that nature always finds a way! It is extremely adaptable. We may have a plan on how we want something to go in thr garden, but we need to take baby steps
    Step back and let nature guide us! Itbis always more beautiful than we could ever dream up!

    Reply
  1124. Callie on

    The most recent subtle change in nature that I’ve found beauty in has been in the way that the heat of the summer brings out bold colors. It inspires the fashion, the music, the food. Summer is bold and seeing nature influence society again in this way is beautiful.

    Reply
  1125. Elizabeth on

    So many changes & beautiful things in all our Portland gardens the last few days! After a very, very wet spring, summer is really starting this week after a few sunny days.

    Reply
  1126. Sara on

    A beautiful thing I saw recently was a nest of baby birds in one of my ferns :)

    Reply
  1127. Sue Kirchner on

    The daily visit of a cardinal in our backyard.

    Reply
  1128. Nicole on

    Something beautiful I’ve seen recently: the kindness of a neighbor caring for another.

    Reply

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