You’d think gardening in Florida in May is outright crazy, as the humidity, mosquitos and overall heat increases make even the most avid Florida lovers hate the weather. But this past week saw some cooler weather with a gentle and refreshing breeze, and I couldn’t pass on this last burst of nice weather before the unbearable heat finally sets in.

Last weekend I dedicated many hours to gardening. I have focused on the front garden so far, pulling weeds and many, many ferns. Never did I realize just how quickly ferns can grow and how easy it is for them to spread. I raked leaves and trimmed dead stems and leaves from existing plants. Essentially, my work in the garden began with some of the harder and more boring aspects. The results were astonishing, though!

While pulling weeds can be strangely satisfying, I most looked forward to planting. My mother and I had gone to a local nursery to buy some more plants for the flower beds. Much of the front garden sits in the shade under a great magnolia tree, so finding pretty-colored plants that would thrive in the shade left us with some limited options. Nevertheless, we came upon some great finds.

We purchased some bromeliads in various colors to fill some beautiful pots. I took a liking to an orangey-pink one, and my mother grabbed a magenta one. We also found some plants that, although they didn’t have any flowers on them, featured many different shades of greens, whites and yellows, to add variety in the garden.

By Sunday, I stood back and admired the garden and the work I had done so far. While I still have a long way to go to achieve the image I have in my mind, this weekend allowed me to get much done.

— Aoife O’Riordan, associate editor