Living in a rented apartment has both pros and cons. I appreciate the great amenities and common spaces, friendly neighbors and puppy playdates. However, as someone who enjoys planting and gardening, it would be great to have a proper space to grow beautiful flowers or a fruit or vegetable garden. Though my home doesn’t boast great outdoor space, I do have a small deck with space that allows for a few hanging baskets and small planters.
I’m excited to start this summer with an almost blank slate on my balcony. In addition to a café set and outdoor rug, my fiancé and I plan to add a couple of bird feeders (mainly for the entertainment of our animals, who both love to bird watch!), balcony-friendly plants, including ferns and herbs, and I may even try my hand at a few potted vegetables.
I plan to take tips from this issue, which is all about outdoor living, where we connect with hortaculturists and landscapers, hikers and pollinators.
Writer Josie Smith sits down to talk with Ryan McEnaney about his new book, Field Guide to Outside Style. The garden design book aims to empower gardeners and nongardeners to dress up their outdoor space—and, when the time comes, you can trust that I’ll be looking to McEnaney for beautifying my outdoor space. Read more about him and his writing journey on page 20.
Flip to the following page to meet Evan Ceglar, the 20-year-old who started a landscaping company (LNG Landscapes) as a teenager. The now full-fledged business has worked on many of the yards in Woodbury, and Ceglar says, although it’s challenging, it’s a business that he loves. Read his story on page 22.
In the rest of our pages, you’ll find stories on how to create a pollinator garden and a beginner guide to hiking, information on Woodbury’s Memorial Day Ceremony and get a taste of some of the sweet treats around town.
What are you planting in your garden, readers? Share your plant snaps with us on Instagram by using the hashtag #WoodburyMagazine or by tagging us @woodburymag.
-Hailey Almsted
