About Make it a Garden | Make it a Garden

Garden magazine Picture of author/artist sitting on her front porch steps

“To sit in the shade on a fine day and to look upon the verdure is the most perfect refreshment”
Jane Austen, author

I couldn’t agree more!

Jane Austen’s remark captures the essence of what Make it a Garden is all about. I can almost hear her say it in her proper English accent.

Hi, I’m Kristen

In our stressful world, I believe there’s a real desire to create a backyard environment that’s an intimate and inviting place to spend time. In fact “The Allure of the Garden” is the very first piece ever written for this blog!

A garden is more than simply flower beds or vegetables. It’s where you are free to simply be yourself. Where the possibilities are as endless as your imagination.

I guess that’s why I like a fair amount of whimsy in my garden. I like things that are positive and happy and beautiful. I’m crazy about garden sheds. I love to re-purpose, re-use and re-make. Even salvage…though I don’t like calling it “junk”. That may be the popular term, but I just don’t like the sound of it. While it may have been junk at one time, now that it’s out in the garden, it’s ART!

finding ‘art’ in ‘heart’

“Make it a Garden” is an extension of my two passions: art and gardening. I’m a rock garden enthusiast who loves perennials and wild flowers. Many of the photos used throughout our site are from my own garden and the surrounding area.

I’m also a writer and craftsman who makes and sells my own garden art. Click here to visit my studio and see some of the things I make.

It was Francis Bacon who said: “God Almighty first planted a garden, and indeed it is the purest of human pleasures.”

Gardens have always fascinated me, especially from a design perspective. I’ve got five acres on the side of a mountain that I dream of turning into a Thomas Kinkade painting. Well, a portion of it anyway…even if just a small corner.

In the meantime, I was searching for simple things that I could do on my own–things that didn’t cost too much. That’s when I began to see how a touch of art could transform any garden. Art is the magic that makes a bland wooden fence spring to life, or turns the humble storage shed into a charming focal point.

simple things

I consider the natural surroundings to be every bit a part of my garden as well. For instance, there’s a gracefully formed willow tree with a branch that stretches out towards the garden shed. Just perfect for hanging my little bird feeder. Its trunk is surrounded by a mass of wild roses. (Prickly Rose, rosa acicularis) They’re only in bloom for a few weeks in June. But whenever a light breeze blows, I catch a faint whiff of their perfume.

Garden magazine decorative garden art piece of a tea cup and saucer mounted on a stake. Placed around delicate wild roses.

There’s a lot of nature girl, in me, too! I simply could not go without showcasing the splendor of the wild countryside around me. I have hundreds of exceptional photographs taking up space on my computer that needed an outlet to be shared and enjoyed. So, I created a little spot for them right here.

picture shows a painted brass butterfly perched on a small boulder next to bright yellow flowers.

Cute little garden shed belongs to the garden magazine Editor. The shed sits on the edge of a spacious lawn. A couple of planters full of pretty flowers are in front of the shed. — The Editor’s little garden shed

Since I don’t travel much, you’ll find me puttering around out in the garden when I’m not making art or working on the blog. I don’t even mind pulling weeds as it gets me up close and personal with a microscopic world. It’s there that I can examine my soils and inspect my plants. Where I leave my world and enter theirs.

I chuckle watching a bumblebee crawl down into a flower with his little bee butt sticking out. Now, there’s a critter that’s intensely focused. I pause to watch a centipede scramble across a rock, while hoping that butterfly will land nearby. Where’s my camera when I need it, right?

If you like to get lost in the garden, nap in sun, and create inviting places to hang out, I hope you’ll like what’s happening here. Whether your yard is like a blank slate or you already have established beds and borders, an adventure awaits in the garden. On a small budget, I’ve learned that with careful planning and a bit of ingenuity, it’s absolutely possible to create a delightful setting to visit with friends.

Or just to enjoy the quiet solitude.

Picture shows an old wheelbarrow used as a planter. It is overflowing with flowers that are brilliant yellows, whites and a touch of orange like the sun — My wheelbarrow of sunshine

Thanks for visiting Make it a Garden! Kristen Spencer, Editor

See more of Kristen’s glass garden art!

A visit to the studio

Tiny Home Tour & Interview

Kristen is a tiny home dweller on five not-so-tiny acres on the side of a mountain. Down the road and around the corner is a stunning panorama of the river valley and the glacier that feeds it. While it feels like you’re out in the middle of nowhere…the nearest town is not too far away.

If you’ve ever wondered about Tiny Home living or design possibilities, you’ll enjoy the interview and photos she did for blogger Tanya Pace of Free Range Cottage. It’s a small space that lives large with some surprising and beautiful embellishments. Wanna take a look? Click HERE