The Colombo's Garden
Upstate NY

Growing up, we lived in a suburban home with a wonderful wooded backyard. Long before there were housing developments that backed to our property line, we had, what seemed to be, miles and miles of un-chartered, unexplored territory. The backyard has been many things – the Wild West, the Amazon jungle, our “campground” complete with fire pit and tents, a place to watch fireflies, possum and deer.

Over the last several years, the landscape has changed again. Children grown, grandchildren growing, my mother wanted to finally make this backyard her own. And has she ever! She has transformed this upstate NY yard into a gardener’s paradise – a paradise for young and old, flower buffs and non alike.

This transformation continues to take shape each year, as we return to see what has come back, what has grown, over grown, passed and moved. The walkway has wound its way through the greens, pinks, purples, whites and lavender. The stone edging done by hand, stone by stone too grows year over year.

By Amy Orr