Hi GPODers!

We’ve been seeing a lot of delicate spring blooms on the blog so far this season, but today we’re heading to Surprise, Arizona to see a very different kind of spring garden. Dawn Fountain first started sharing her southwestern garden with the blog earlier this year (see her previous submissions here: Dawn’s Backyard Garden in Arizona and Indoor Growing in Arizona). Despite her desert climate, Dawn has a productive kitchen garden and pairs her edible beds with vibrant flowers. Today we’re getting an update on how things are growing this spring.

Its going to start getting into the 100+ degree temps – but my garden is just loving it!

I am getting my cactus flowers, which I didn’t get last year. Must be a happy cactus this year. (? lol)

My sunflowers, the birds are loving them but so am I. I can see them from my dining room window.

I have Blueberries, blackberries and strawberries in my main garden. I am saving all them so I can make jam for the State Fair competition in September. I entered into my county fair in April (8 entries). Mint infused honey, apple butter, herbed bread, lavender honey, pickled carrots, pickled beets…… I got 6 first place ribbons and 2 second place ribbons.

Dawn’s blackberries, covered in berries and blooms! As a northern gardener who just recently transplanted seedlings into her raised beds, it’s incredible to see someone already enjoying their harvest this early in the season.

My garden is my calm, happy place when I have a stressful day. I love working out in it and I love when my family supports it. The best part is when I can grow something that helps feeds my family.

My corn is already taller than me. I have counted over 20 green strawberries, and I have already picked 25 this month. I have also counted at least 20 green tomatoes. So happy!!!!!

While not everyone is vegetable gardening in a desert climate like Dawn, her garden is a great example of how accessible edible growing can be for anyone. No matter your space or ability to grown in-ground, a bountiful harvest can be produced from small beds and/or containers.

Thank you so much for sharing your incredible garden with us again, Dawn! We, unfortunately, do not get many submissions from your corner of the country, and your plantings are always a beautiful and interesting insight.

While we mainly feature ornamental gardens on Garden Photo of the Day, I hope Dawn’s submission reminds everyone that all gardens are welcome! No matter what you grow or how you grow it, we would love to hear from you and see your plantings. To have your garden featured on Garden Photo of the Day, follow the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.

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, 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.

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

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