Lisa Eubank has spent about seven years working on her gardens.
And there are several.
At her Jefferson City home on Hunters Run, the front yard sends an invitation to enjoy the scenery, with two comfortable looking patio chairs surrounded by greenery. It's hard not to feel welcome.
But it's when you get to the back of the property, behind the comfortable patio with a fire pit and gated pool, that you see why this particular home has been recognized by the Bittersweet Garden Club as the Garden of the Month.
Eubank has several individual gardens, spaced out and featuring more than just a variety of flowers and greenery. She includes accents like small stone statues, art fixtures, solar lights and even a vintage looking red bench that sits perfectly surrounded by tall plants. The stone animals, gnomes and angels help add personality to her space, Eubank said.
Looking out over the collection of gardens from her elevated spot along the pool is one of her favorite things about her garden, she said.
"It's kind of refreshing to watch something grow that you put in the ground," Eubank said.
Gardening is always a learning process, she said. From the right plants for your soil to determining whether they need more sun or more shade, there's always something new to learn as you continue to garden. Some plants make it, while others don't, and you figure out what will work best for you, she said.
And while enjoying the garden once it blooms is always relaxing, the act of gardening itself helps provide that as well, Eubank said. When she is working in her gardens, she can disconnect and no one will bother her, she said.
"That's the fun of the gardens," Eubank said.
Her garden always has a few ferns, which are prominent in her front yard. Along the side of her home, as you head toward the back, is a display of hydrangeas. She noted even if you purchase a specific color of hydrangea, it's the nutrients in the soil that will determine the actual color.
Eubank said she has good soil around her home - not too rocky, a feat in Mid-Missouri. She said she plans to continue working on her gardens, even pointing out one more garden area at the edge of their property that has yet to bloom. The variety of plants she uses allows her to have many moments of full bloom.
"Everything seems to bloom at different times," Eubank said.
The back space includes a variety of spaces to sit and relax, usually with a colorful outdoor rug, an accent Eubank said she loves to incorporate. The space allows Eubank and her husband the perfect area for relaxing without having to take a trip and leave home, something she acknowledged they've never been big on.
But why leave home when you've got such a perfect spot to enjoy cool mornings and evenings? Eubank said they've got a great community of neighbors around them, helping to elevate the atmosphere with friendly smiles and conversation.
There's not much better than that.