a rainbow garden: tradition meets youthful creativity

When I first saw my younger sibling’s rainbow garden, I was swept back to my own childhood, helping my grandmother plant rows of marigolds and zinnias in neat, orderly beds. Back then, gardens were about symmetry and practicality—vegetables in straight lines, flowers grouped by color. But now, here was my sibling, just 13, boldly mixing every color under the sun, creating a wild, joyful patchwork that seemed to defy all the old rules. Their pride was infectious. As I watched them point out each vibrant bloom, I felt a pang of nostalgia for the days when gardening was a family affair, passed down from one generation to the next. Yet, I couldn’t help but notice how different their approach was from what I’d learned. In our North American neighborhood, some older folks still frown at anything that strays from the traditional look—orderly lawns, tidy hedges, nothing too loud or unruly. My sibling’s garden, bursting with color and freeform design, has already sparked some gentle debates at the community garden club: Is this creative chaos a breath of fresh air, or is it disrespectful to the old ways? There’s another layer to this, too. With our region’s unpredictable weather—late frosts, sudden heatwaves—some neighbors argue that planting for beauty alone is risky. Shouldn’t we focus on native plants and climate resilience, rather than chasing rainbows? Yet, seeing my sibling’s garden thrive, I wonder if maybe we need a little more color and courage in our lives, even if it means breaking a few unwritten rules. Looking at their garden, I feel hope and a bit of tension. Are we clinging too tightly to tradition, or are we ready to let the next generation paint their own vision of beauty? I’d love to hear your thoughts—does your garden follow the old ways, or do you embrace new ideas, even if they ruffle a few feathers? #rainbowgarden #familytradition #gardeningdebate #Gardening