is a perfect backyard ever really finished?

When I look out at my backyard now, with its buzzing beehives, the cool shade garden, and that sturdy new shed, I feel a wave of nostalgia. It reminds me of my parents’ garden—simple, practical, and full of life. Back then, we didn’t worry about pollinator hotels or native plant lists; we just planted what grew best in our corner of North America, and neighbors would swap tips over the fence. But today, gardening feels different. My kids roll their eyes at my hostas and ferns, insisting on wildflowers and vertical planters they saw online. They say it’s about saving the bees and fighting climate change. I wonder if we’re losing the quiet joy of tradition in the rush for the latest eco-trend. Still, I have to admit, the bees seem happier than ever, and the neighbors stop by more often, curious about the new shed and the hum of activity. Yet, there’s a tension here. The HOA frowns at my ‘messy’ pollinator patch, while my old friends praise the tidy rows of tomatoes. Some say a garden should be neat, others say it should be wild. And with the summer heat waves, I worry if any of it will survive. Maybe a backyard is never truly finished—maybe it’s meant to change with us, season after season, argument after argument, memory after memory. #backyarddebate #gardenmemories #beevswildflowers #Gardening