Gardens experience trends just like any other area where style is key. A particularly poignant example emerged in the years just after September 11, 2001, when many people spontaneously planted gardens featuring red, white and blue flowers.

What's trendy today? It's sort of "everything old is new again," according to Karyn Smith, a certified horticulturist who volunteers at the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants. The Center collects, preserves and distributes historic plant varieties centered on Jefferson's own horticultural interests at Monticello.

"Historic gardens are very popular," Smith continues. "I think people are trying to get close to their roots." Many of the seeds and plants Smith works with date back to Colonial times. Just a few examples are Spiny Bear's Breeches, Thread Leaf Amsonia, Wild Ginger and Butterfly Weed – the last referred to as Pleurisy Root in Jefferson's own listing of local native plants. There is more information on the Monticello website.

Hydrangeas, which you may recall from your grandmother's garden, have had a resurgence of popularity the last few years and Smith praises their charms. Fresh-cut blossoms are appealing in vases and the dried blossoms are attractive on their own.  "Limelight is a wonderful new variety," she declares. "The blossoms are white to lime green when they first open, then change to pink." In autumn, the foliage turns a striking red. 

Another trend is to search out plants which attract butterflies and birds – especially hummingbirds. The Old Farmer's Almanac has a lengthy list – bee balm, buddleia (called butterfly bush), lavender and hollyhock are just a few. In fact, many nurseries group such plants and flowers in a specially marked section.

Low-maintenance gardens are yet another increasingly popular idea. These often incorporate native plants that already thrive in the area. Visit a local nursery to learn what natives grow well in your region.

Another easy-care tactic is to employ perennials which come up faithfully year after year. Some must be thinned or divided every few years, but they don't need to be planted anew each spring. Select reliable perennials depending on the composition of your soil, climate and the amount of full sun or shade. Candidates include bulbs and corms like daffodils, tulips, lily of the valley, iris, and gladiolus. Other popular perennials are asters, foxglove, phlox, violets, bee balm, hyssop, verbena, coneflower, columbine and many more.

Edible gardens are very "now" with many gardeners planting mixed beds of flowers and veggies in "potager" gardens. This French word describes historical ornamental vegetable plots where flowers (often, but not always including edible blossoms like nasturtiums or pansies), were planted with herbs and vegetables to make a lovelier garden. Attractive edibles include artichokes, chard, kale, lettuce, and other vegetables

You might also consider fresh herbs – in pots, or as part of a flowerbed. Local nurseries and farmer's markets are often good sources of young plants. The 1966 Simon and Garfunkel album about "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" offers an excellent starting cast, although omitting basil seems like a conspicuous oversight. Other easy-to-grow herbs include chives, dill, tarragon, marjoram, oregano, and, of course, mint for summer iced teas.

Finally, there is a trend to plant specially developed shrubs and flowers that bloom for a longer period of time or have a second blossoming.  One example is "Bloomerang," a hybrid lilac which often blooms twice in a season. The tree is smaller than the traditional lilac and seldom grows more than five feet high – a plus in a small yard. Another example is the "Encore" azalea. It comes in various colors and blooms again with a somewhat smaller display in the fall.

The bottom line is that a lovely garden enhances any home and one planted with the flowers, herbs and veggies you love can be a year-around joy.

When Lynn Pribus and her husband moved to a new home six years ago, she replaced a thriving patch of poison ivy (not all native plants are good guys!) with a butterfly garden in shades of pink, lavender and purple.

Meet Lynn