Why I Chose the Plants I Planted: A Senior Gardener’s Journey in Zone 3
Author: Elizabeth Erasmus Every plant mentioned in this article is from my own garden and personally planted by me over the years through trial, patience, and love for gardening. Gardening in Zone 3 is not for the faint of heart. Our growing season is short, and our winters are long and harsh. When I first started gardening, I was full of excitement and optimism. I visited garden centers in spring, filling my cart with beautiful blooms, not realizing many of them weren’t suited to our climate. Year after year, I spent money and energy planting flowers that never came back after winter. It was disappointing—not just emotionally, but financially. Over time, I learned through trial and error which plants can truly thrive in Zone 3. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve also come to understand something else: my garden needs to not only be beautiful, but also manageable. As a senior , I can’t work as long or as hard in the garden as I used to. So, my choices now are guided by two things—resilien...