To end the week, we’re visiting Cory in Neptune City, New Jersey, for a tour of his ever-expanding Zone 7b garden. Here’s what Cory has to say:
We bought this house 11 years ago, and the first thing I did was clear room to build my greenhouse from recycled windows. That was followed by four medium-size beds, and each year I cleared a little more of the yard for gardening.
I started with almost all veggies and quickly realized I couldn’t keep up with eating our crop. Soon I incorporated dahlias (Dahlia cvs., Zones 8–11), the gateway flower. After some lessons about overwintering tubers, I started doubling my dahlia collection almost every year and gradually added zinnias (Zinnia elegans, annual), cosmos (Cosmos cvs., annual), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare, Zones 4–9), poppies (Papaver cvs., Zones 3–10), and strawflowers (Xerochrysum bracteatum, annual) for more diversity.
Over time, I also added fruit trees throughout the yard and planted an annex garden at my sister’s house across the street. My cut flowers go to my wife’s restaurant for table arrangements, and I also make bouquets for friends, family, and anyone who asks.
All of my plants are started from seed in my basement, transferred to my greenhouse, and then planted in the garden or given away. I save seeds, participate in local seed swaps, and recently started sharing gardening videos on Instagram (@lettuce_and_figs).
I love sharing the gift of gardening. It gives me a break from the outside world, and I love showing people that it’s never too late to plant something. Even if you grow one tomato plant or a sunflower, you’re creating life and growing something cool, and then you can add from there.
Cosmos catching the morning light in the garden.
A freshly picked bouquet of dahlias and zinnias from the garden.
A dahlia harvest ready to be turned into bouquets and arrangements.
Dinner in the garden, with bouquets of freshly cut flowers lining the table.
A freshly cut bunch of ‘Labyrinth’ dahlias (Dahlia ‘Labyrinth’, Zones 8–11).
‘Miss Amara’ dahlia (Dahlia ‘Miss Amara’, Zones 8–11) showing off its large, ruffled pink blooms.
My dahlia patch in full bloom. After learning a few lessons about overwintering tubers, I’ve doubled my collection almost every year.
A colorful tomato harvest from the vegetable side of my garden. I started out growing almost all veggies before cut flowers began taking up more and more space.
Our ducks enjoying the garden alongside a bucket of mixed flowers from that day’s harvest.
A mixed bouquet of dahlias, zinnias, cosmos, and fennel, all freshly cut from my garden.
Thank you, Cory, for sharing your garden with us! Between the flowers, the garden dinners, and those ducks, I’d happily RSVP to the next gathering. You’ve created such a fun and generous space for growing, sharing, and bringing people together.
We want to see YOUR garden!
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, fill out the Garden Photo of the Day Submission Form.
You can also send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Gardener’s Log Book from NYBG
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features:
· Sturdy waterproof cover to protect pages from rain and muddy soil
· Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds
· Five years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when
· Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and disease control, and container gardening
· Useful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting
· Space for listing your favorite sources and suppliers.
Chapin International 10509 Upside-Down Trigger Sprayer
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
CLEAN & DISINFECT: made to handle disinfectants and mild bleach solutions. DESIGNED TO CLEAN: adjustable nozzle for fine to coarse spray. 32-OUNCE TANK: translucent, chemical-resistant poly. COMFORT: ergonomic handle and sprays upside down to reach awkward areas.
The New Organic Grower, 3rd Edition: A Master’s Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener, 30th Anniversary Edition
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Since its original publication in 1989, The New Organic Grower has been one of the most important farming books available, with pioneer Eliot Coleman leading the charge in the organic movement in the United States. Now fully illustrated and updated, this 30th Anniversary Edition is a must-have for any agricultural library.
