Gardening Ideas 21 Gardens That Have Us Itching for Spring By Southern Living Editors Updated on March 28, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Ralph Anderson The official start of spring is March 20, but these gardens allow us to admire the beauty of the season now. 01 of 22 An Azalea Affair Hector Manuel Sanchez It's hard to imagine spring in the South without the iconic evergreen bushes. 02 of 22 Spring Showstopper Alison Miksch Self-taught gardener Linda Vater grows over 800 tulips every spring. 03 of 22 Illuminating Daffodils Photo: Art Maripol Each spring at Moss Mountain Farm in Roland, Arkansas, the stars come out twice—once at night, like everywhere else, and again in the daytime, when innumerable daffodils illuminate hills and meadows from horizon to horizon. 04 of 22 Endless Hydrangeas French hydrangeas are favorite plants that Southerners love to clip and share with friends and family members. 05 of 22 Iconic Image Ralph Anderson Azaleas, flowering dogwoods, and live oaks laden with Spanish moss create an iconic picture of spring in the South. 06 of 22 Talk of the Neighborhood Photo: Alison Miksch Garden designer David Morello went rogue and replaced his ho-hum lawn with a collage of flowers and shrubs 07 of 22 Bounty of Blooms Photo: Alison Miksch Stalwart annuals and perennials such as purple coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, angelonias, Persian shields, SunPatiens, coreopsis, lamb's ears, mandevillas, and Shasta daisies offer nonstop color throughout the hot summer. 08 of 22 Step Inside Photo: Ralph Lee Anderson For an inviting entrance into a cottage garden, plant a basket with caladiums, angelonias, Madagascar periwinkles, and million bells. 09 of 22 Start a Collection Alison Miksch At Burnside Farms in Virginia, you can harvest fresh bouquets right from the field. Visitors are encouraged to pick tulips with the bulbs attached. 10 of 22 Spring Lawn Care with the Grumpy Gardener At the beginning of spring, we start to see lawns around the South turn from the dingy brown of winter into the fresh, bright greens of the season. This transition is absolutely gorgeous, and we want to help you make the most of your spring gardening. Grumpy Gardener Steve Bender is here to get your lawn in tip-top shape, so you can outshine all of your neighbors. Who doesn't want to win the 'Best Lawn' award from the neighborhood HOA? These three easy lawn care tips from our resident garden pro are simple to follow, and they'll make a huge impact on the look of your home. Follow along to ensure that you're all set for garden parties in the outdoor months. 11 of 22 Room in Bloom Alison Miksch Gardener and desiger Henry Johnson used plants and structures to give garden rooms floors, walls, and ceilings. 12 of 22 Framed with Flowers Photo: Hector Sanchez This house's symmetrical facade is paired with a welcoming, neat-as-a-pin front garden for tremendous curb appeal. 13 of 22 Hollyhock Show Photo: Ralph Lee Anderson These spectacular perennials regularly reach 8 feet— and taller! 14 of 22 Glowing Tulips Photo: Roger Foley Elegant tulip blooms grace spring gardens with a variety of colors and forms. 15 of 22 Pretty in Pink Photo: Roger Foley Climbing 'New Dawn' roses atop shade-giving pergolas explode into bloom. 16 of 22 Welcoming Daffodils Photo: Roger Foley No bulbs are easier for container growing in the South than beloved daffodils. 17 of 22 Blooming Courtyard Photo: Ralph Lee Anderson Loose borders such as these appear more dramatic when sandwiched between hedged and tree-form evergreens. 18 of 22 Inviting Roses Photo: Jean Allsopp Adding height, dimension, and color, climbing roses fill voids more gracefully than most other plants. 19 of 22 Blooming Borders Matthew Benson, Robbie Caponetto Blooms surround this backyard coop. 20 of 22 Framed with Flowers Hector Manuel Sanchez Climbing roses accentuate the architectural details of this Atlanta garden. 21 of 22 Hidden Retreat Photo: Hector Sanchez When Ron Ernst bought this 1891 two-story town house in Thomasville, Georgia, the house came with a bonus—a beautiful little walled garden out back that he could share with his customers. 22 of 22 Curving Flowerbeds Even though there's plenty of room for kids to play, it doesn't look like a soccer field. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit