10 Most-Pinned Gardening Ideas

These reader-favorite container gardens, Midwest plant picks and yard designs will inspire your gardening plans.

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Sitting pretty

A long planter chock-full of flowers and foliage substitutes for a window box on a porch railing. ‘Goldilocks' creeping Jenny, ‘Burlesque' pigeon berry, Madagascar dragon tree, calibrochoa and coleus create a lush mix of upright and trailing plants.

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See more container gardens with pizzazz

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Backyard water feature

Invoking beach getaways and lounging by the seashore, water in motion adds an aural sense of escape to a backyard. Reflective and soothing, it can veil the sounds of nearby traffic or too-close neighbors. You can install waterfalls to bring the benefits of water to your yard or use a self-contained fountain for a similar effect at less cost

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See how to make your backyard a vacation oasis

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The right path

A garden path issues an enticing invitation to backyard visitors-or just a convenient route for plant maintenance. Large stones set in mulch are a good solution for a path that gets moderate use.

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See 9 ways to create a garden path

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Butterfly weed

Though it has the word weed in its common name, don't let that scare you away from butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). Sometimes called milkweed, it's as easy to grow as a weed but much prettier, plus hummingbirds and butterflies (especially monarchs) adore it. Clusters of orange, yellow, pink or vermillion flowers appear in mid- to late summer, followed by thin, ornamental seedpods.

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See more top Midwest perennial flowers

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Mini lily water garden

Place hardy miniature waterlilies, such as these Nymphaea pygmaea 'Helvola', in a yellowware bowl for an easy, striking container water garden.

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See more easy container water gardens

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Lilacs: Spring’s favorite perfume

When lilacs bloom, it's suddenly spring. With their sweet scent, pastel blooms and delicate, heart-shape leaves, they're the perfect bouquet. These flowers were photographed at Ewing Park lilac arboretum in Des Moines.

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See more about Midwest lilacs

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Blanket flower

Give these red or orange daisylike flowers full sun, and they'll bloom from summer deep into fall. Another plus: These drought-tolerant flowers attract butterflies, not deer.

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See more top easy-care plants for Midwest gardens

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Window box beauty

Variegated trailers dangle over the edge of this box filled to brimming with cottage favorites, including hibiscus, impatiens, pansies and periwinkle.

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See more window box planters

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Dramatic grasses

Containers with ornamental grasses provide easy-care drama. For greater impact, combine different textures, heights, colors and plumes. These tough plants will still look great at the end of the season. In containers such as this one, the flowers hide the base of the grass and can be switched out as blooms fade.

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See more beautiful container gardens

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Great gate

Set the tone to your yard with a gate that reflects your style. Pretty flowering plants frame this garden gate, creating a lovely doorway from the yard.

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See more garden gate ideas

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10 Most-Pinned Gardening Ideas

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Sitting pretty

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Backyard water feature

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The right path

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Butterfly weed

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Mini lily water garden

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Lilacs: Spring’s favorite perfume

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Blanket flower

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Window box beauty

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Dramatic grasses

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Great gate

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10 Most-Pinned Gardening Ideas

1 of 10

Sitting pretty

1 of 10

2 of 10

Backyard water feature

2 of 10

3 of 10

The right path

3 of 10

4 of 10

Butterfly weed

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5 of 10

Mini lily water garden

5 of 10

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Lilacs: Spring’s favorite perfume

6 of 10

7 of 10

Blanket flower

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Window box beauty

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Dramatic grasses

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Great gate

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