Hi everyone! I randomly wondered when GPOD first started, and my curiosity sent me digging through the archives. I went all the way back to the very first posts to see what Garden Photo of the Day looked like when it began and how it compares to what we share today.
GPOD first launched in January 2010 and was run by former editor Michelle Gervais. Back then it really was a garden photo of the day—one photo every weekday with a short caption or story to go along with it. The very first post described it as a daily look at “a great garden, a spectacular plant, a stunning plant combination, or any number of other subjects.” These days, we share up to 10 photos in a single GPOD, so I thought, why not bring the first 10 together in one post? Take a look at where it all started!
The very first Fine Gardening Garden Photo of the Day! – The garden in today’s photo was designed by Tom Nelson and Randy Bolin in Oakland, California. Photo: Michelle Gervais
A private courtyard in Charleston, South Carolina – This cool oasis in the middle of town mixes casual and formal perfectly. Recreating the elements of this design would not be too difficult given some time and the right tools.
- Hardscaping- The patio and walls provide a beautiful backdrop to the pond and plantings. You can build a patio in a weekend with this tutorial.
- Water features- The pond and fountain are set into the patio and then edged with bricks, hedges, and containers. See how to trim a hedge here. If you want to create a water garden, start here.
- Living Accents- Lilac, boxwood, and palm trees are just a few of the living green accents that help to turn this courtyard into an oasis.
Photo: Michelle Gervais
Have year-round color with bright hardscape – Flowers aren’t the only color in this garden. These colorful chairs add extra visual pop.
Flamenco Samba bat-faced cuphea – This flamboyant tender perennial (Cuphea llavea Flamenco Samba, Zones 9–12) is a star in summer containers. For more information, check out this plant’s entry in the FG Plant Guide here. Photo: Jennifer Benner
Garden vignettes can be more than just plants – We love this garden vignette. Designed by Tom Nelson and Randy Bolin in Oakland, California, it features earthenware pots and a metal panel in harmonious hues. An array of textural plants complements them perfectly. Small details like a half-hidden face are icing on the cake. Photo: Michelle Gervais
Turn a garden tragedy into a stunning focal point – Before removing that beloved tree or shrub that bit the dust, try highlighting it for another season or two with a coat of vibrant paint. This garden was designed by the horticulturists at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson, Tennessee. Photo: Michelle Gervais
Herbs in containers – Variegated society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea ‘Variegata’, Zones 7–10) and purple garden sage (Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurascens’, Zones 4–10) make up a charming container planting in the herb garden at the Toledo Botanical Garden in Toledo, Ohio. Photo: Michelle Gervais
Reflections of a garden – Reflection is a powerful tool in a garden design. In this garden at Chanticleer, a public garden in Wayne, Pennsylvania, the still surface of the water doubles your vision, reflecting the sky and the surrounding plants and structures, a view that is ever-changing as you walk through the space. Photo: Michelle Gervais
Giant horsetail – Giant horsetail (Equisetum giganteum, Zones 8–10) is a South and Central American native plant that thrives in moist soil. It spreads vigorously and should be contained if grown in warm climates. Its prehistoric-looking stems and stacked whorls of branchlets may leave you expecting a pterodactyl to fly by.
Photo taken in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. Photo: Michelle Gervais
Clematis mix-up – The next time you plant a clematis, consider adding a second, contrasting variety for a striking combination of colors and forms. In this vignette designed by Eve Thyrum in Wilmington, Delaware, the iridescent floating balls both harmonize with and reflect the beautiful blooms of the clematis vines. Photo: Michelle Gervais
I hope you enjoyed our trip back to January 2010! I’m curious what you guys think about what GPOD started as vs. what it is now. Do you enjoy a single garden photo, or do you prefer multiple images? I love a garden story and a deeper look at someone’s hard work, but I don’t mind the single posts either! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. (:
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.
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