One of the reasons that Park Seed and Wayside Gardens are good places for gardeners to shop is because we are gardeners, too. Obviously, our team includes many fine workers who tend our plants in the greenhouses and keep the 9-acre trial garden looking spiffy. Those folks get to garden all the time. But I'm also talking about folks in the "back office" world who finish their work here and then go home to blissfully prepare the soil, plant, weed, prune, and otherwise stay deeply connected to the natural world.
Now that we are well into garden season, I thought you might enjoy getting a peek at what's in our backyards. I've asked a few of my friends to take some snapshots to share with you. And in the spirit of leading by example, I thought I'd start by sharing a few shots from my home in Greenwood, South Carolina.
Some people are drawn to work here because they are life-long gardeners who want to be immersed in their most passionate interest. Others have non-gardening skills that the company needs and once here, find themselves increasingly seduced by the beauty and mystery of life unfolding, ever-changing in the 
garden. I fall squarely into the latter camp. Other than that the occasional squash patch, tomato plant, or row of cucumbers when I was growing up, I really haven't pursued gardening as an active participant. However, I do love to see beautiful plants and appreciate being in a woodsy environment.
As a result, our home landscape is very natural, with little lawn to mow, and no flower beds per se, but lots of fabulous trees and flowering shrubs. The photo above right was taken looking across the front of the house. If I'd planned better, I would have taken this view when the Crepe Mytle were in bloom! Those two, towering Crepe Myrtle are so striking--one with white flowers and the other with deep pink. At their feet are lots of liriope and some kind of standard-issue generic shrubs. (Hey, I've warned you before and you'll soon see it again--I am horticulturally impaired!)
Around in the side and back yards, we have the requisite (in the South) Azaleas in a variety of colors. Gosh, how I missed seeing Azaleas in the spring when we lived in the Midwest! Likewise, I missed the Dogwood, and happily, this home has a lovely, tall one that I can see from my breakfast table. I am almost embarrassed to mention our Camellias. You see, our first year here, I was rashly trying to reign in the very mature (as in overgrown) plantings that were enveloping the whole front of the house. At one point, I came to these tallish, green things that didn't look familiar. I tended to think that they were just giant weeds. But I wasn't sure, so I compromised and just reduced them a good bit. DUH! As the seasons changed, I realized that they are, indeed, Camellias. Happily, they survived my ignorance and blossom joyously in their season.
In some ways, my favorite little miracle plants are the Dianthus (shown in 3 pictures, very cleverly cropped so you can't see the weeds!). They popped up during our first spring and every spring after absolutely no effort on my part, and bloom in a variety of colors--pink, white, mixed--just about non-stop! They cheerfully spill out of the little raised bed that the previous owner obviously created for them. And with the winter as mild as it was, I honestly don't think they ever completely gave up.
Well, there you have it. The Kuhl family grounds and gardens. I know a lot more about them now that I did before I started working at Park Seed. And I trust that I'll continue to learn more and more as I work with the real gardeners here!
Now that we are showing you ours, we hope that you'll show us yours! Send in photos of your garden and landscape along with your favorite tips and stories. Be sure and get the kids and the pets in the picture, too! Email me at ckuhl@parkseed.com. Happy Gardening!
