I’m someone who typically likes to wing it when it comes to executing projects around our home. I’ve learned in our two and a half years of living here that this is not necessarily the best method for things that grow. Rather, when it comes to gardening, it’s best to have a plan.

I mentioned in a previous gardening blog post that I planned to plant bulbs in our yard in the fall that would then bloom in spring 2023. In today’s blog post, I’m following up on that idea! I’m sharing a fall gardening update—what kinds of bulbs I purchased, where I’ll be planting them, and what I’m most looking forward to about the process.

The current state of our yard and gardens

While the footprint of our yard and gardens is still the exact same as when we moved in, we’ve made a lot of progress in cleaning up these areas. The garden beds in particular were quite overgrown when we moved here, and I feel like we’re finally at a place where we’ve figured out how to maintain them. We’re doing regular cleanouts (multiple days a week!) of debris and weeds, and this process has become a part of my routine. I’ve also gotten in touch with the city and we’re now on their weekly yard waste removal schedule, which has saved us time when it comes to disposing of yard waste ourselves!

Fall gardening update

In terms of planting bulbs this fall, I decided to start small. In my experience, starting somewhere is much better than not planting anything at all (which is what ended up happening last fall!).

This fall, I bought striped lily tulips and Rembrandt tulips. Each pack contains 45 bulbs and was $11 at Menards. I’m going to plant them in clusters—one area in the front yard and one in the back—and put wire over them to try to detract squirrels from digging them up. The weather here has been colder of late but it’s supposed to warm up this weekend, which is when I plan to plant them.

I also bought some wildflower seeds that I’m going to plant indoors this winter. I plan to set up an area for the seeds to grow in the basement in March and then plant them outdoors in the spring.

What I’m most looking forward to about this process is the ability to see the seasons in a new way through our gardens.

What I’m most looking forward to about this process is the ability to see the seasons in a new way through our gardens. I’m expecting some trial and error along the way (as is the case with learning any new skill) and am all ears for any tips more experienced gardeners may want to share in the comments!

Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.