Hello Reader,

I'm building a temporary garden I call Rabbit Run while we build our house on Sugar Hill. It's called Rabbit Run because that's the name of our street.

This temporary garden will be my laboratory. A place to experiment, learn, and imagine.

We moved to Kentucky from Michigan at the beginning of June 2025. All the seeds I started last year stayed in my Michigan garden.

I'm thrilled to start growing plants from seed again. I'm using my temporary garden to:

• Grow native plants for Sugar Hill
• Learn how to grow in this Kentucky clay soil
• Experiment with color schemes

I can get carried away dreaming up color schemes. It's deciding that seems almost impossible some days. But isn't that the point?

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A Hot Border
Inspiration from Sissinghurst Castle

This year, I’m trying a bold, hot color scheme inspired by the famous Sissinghurst Castle gardens. I want a border filled with energy — reds, oranges, and yellows that will attract pollinators and lift my spirit.

• Butterfly flower (a Kentucky native) — chosen for its adaptability and bright presence.
• Golden marguerite — a discovery from Beth Chatto’s book; I am eager to see how its golden blooms contrast with the other fiery tones.
• Zinnias in bright hot colors — a personal tribute: these were the last seeds my mom selected to grow before she died. Every time I see the first shoots, I will feel her excitement about the coming garden season.
• Bronze fennel — a plant that once attracted swallowtail butterflies in my Michigan garden; a reminder that pollinators will respond when a garden is alive with thoughtful choices.

My Weak Will on Full Display

I lost all control scrolling through the Burpee Seed website. This time of year I have no will power. Especially when there's pretty flower pictures involved.

I'm not convinced these colors will work together, but there's only one way to find out, right?

I think the Lobelia and Double Zahara Salmon zinnia work together. It's the Queeny Red Lime zinnia that's the outlier. I'm not convinced it's the right tone. What do you think?

White, Silver, and Pink
A Soft Corner in the Pollinator Garden

Alongside the bold colors, I’m experimenting with a lighter, ethereal palette: whites, silvers, and pale pinks. Winter sowing allows me to start these plants early.

• Echinacea ‘White Swan’ — a native plant with delicate, refined blooms to anchor the palette.
• Mullein ‘Wedding Candles’ — tall, architectural, soft white flowers that contrast the low-growing companion plants.
• Dusty miller and ornamental oregano — silvery foliage to soften and unify the area.
• White and pink cosmos, white lupines — gentle bursts of color that will sway in summer breezes.

A Color Scheme to Dream About

Finally, I want to combine colors I don't see often like maroon and lavender blue. I think this is a bold combination. The key is to find plants that support this color scheme all season long.

• Queen of the Night Tulip — a moody, deep maroon tulip that is still one of my all time favorites.
• Helleborus ‘Madame Lemonnier' — gorgeous maroon hellebore with large flowers and strong foliage that I grew in my Michigan garden.
• Asperula orientalis (Blue Woodruff) — lavender flowers, like clusters on tiny trumpets, that bloom all summer.
• Veronica 'Skywalker' — lavender blue spikes on top of deep green foliage.
• Amaranth 'Pigmy Torch' — a compact heirloom variety that is great for drying and crafts.
• Heuchera 'Purple Palace' — purple leaves with dainty white flowers, but it's the foliage I love.

Reflections from
Rabbit Run

Even in this small, temporary space, I can already feel the potential of this garden. The seeds aren't just plants. They're stories, memory, and hope. Every tray, every sprout is an experiment in faith.

I'm thinking about the pollinators visiting these flowers and the seasons unfolding. This isn't just a garden — it's a studio and a canvas. And it is only just beginning.

Which palettes or plants are inspiring you this winter? I’d love to hear what you’re growing, experimenting with, and dreaming about.

Thanks for being here. Happy gardening!
Sue