Kimberly Young, Winfield, Kansas, USA: Instagram heaven!

Kimberly Young lives in Winfield, Kansas. She has been a registered nurse for 28 years, and has a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing). Twenty of her twenty-eight years have been spent as an operating room nurse. She currently works full-time and has 3 grown children.

She has 4 small, stone-raised gardens and 2 medium/large ground-level gardens. The front yard is east facing, in full morning sun. The backyard is west-facing, with full sun, part sun and full shade areas. Her soil is mostly clay, therefore she needs to spend a lot of time improving the soil in the beds.

1. Why is it important for you to create a nice garden?

To create a beautiful atmosphere for my outdoor time.

2. How many hours a week do you spend working on your garden?

10-ish hours.

3. How much leisure time do you spend in your garden and what do you do?

I spend 3-4 hours in my yard every day. I read, listen to music, and participate in social media. My favorite activity is photographing my flowers!

4. Which is your most prized plant and why?

My Tall Bearded Iris are by far my most my most prized. I eagerly await early spring each year. When they bloom, it is just as exciting as Christmas morning when I was a child.

5. Which plant do you feel gives the best value in your garden?

Echinacea and Rudbeckia give great colour and long blooming season.

6. What is/has been your biggest challenge in this garden?

Very hot and dry summers.

7. What has been your biggest gardening disaster?

Can’t think of one!

8. What is your favourite gardening shortcut or tip, and who taught you it?

Always keep a garden map/journal of your plants (especially bulbs, rhizomes and tubers!). I also enjoy making a photo album for each year.

9. What is your oldest plant, and how old is it?

My old-fashioned rose is 40-50 years old.

10. Where do you find information on which plants to grow and how to care for them?

Internet searches and gardening friends.

11. Do you grow anything to eat, and which have you had the most success with?

Sadly, I don’t.

12. Do you admire any famous gardeners or gardens?

My favorite gardener on twitter is Dale Dixon. I love seeing all of the Australian plants.

13. What have you learnt from your own garden?

Gardening is a direct reflection of life; filled with joys and sorrows, successes and disappointments. It certainly teaches patience….but it just doesn’t get any more EXCITING than coming home to newly opened blooms!!!

Follow Kimberly on twitter for regular updates on her garden and her favourite blooms!