Story by Joanna Gaines
Photography by Lucy Diaz
This story has been adapted from the spring 2025 issue of Magnolia Journal.
the beauty in planting something new
Close your eyes and think of a place that anchors you.
Think of a spot that quiets distractions and puts you at ease. A space you know will leave you better than you were before. For me, that place has always been the garden, especially in the morning. If I wake up feeling hurried or anxious, the fresh air settles me. If I feel sluggish or unmotivated, the movement of all the life taking place stirs me awake. I think I’m influenced in this way because the garden is a place of evolution. It is always changing, always the perfect metaphor for life unfolding—especially when I’m willing to encourage variation in what I’m planting season over season.
This year, the fresh experiment was ranunculus. I haven’t had much experience growing these delicate, ruffled blooms, but I’ve always loved their look and color options and was intrigued enough to give them center stage in the garden. What I didn’t expect was how they completely won me over. Out of everything we planted, the ranunculus were the first flowers to bloom after winter—the first sign that warmth and light were on the way. And once they reached peak height and fullness, their petals burst in endless layers and depth of color that truly took my breath away. I enjoyed them so much, I asked our garden team to plant them all over the Silos grounds so our guests might fall in love with them too.
All spring long, those ranunculus have been a reminder to me that even our most familiar places can, and should, change and evolve—and that branching out is a really beautiful way to grow.
more blooms from my spring garden
Anemones
Sweet Peas
Weeping Cherry Tree
Wild Aster
Scabiosa
Linaria
Lavender
Boxwood Topiaries
Orlaya
See the full story and more spring inspiration in the latest issue of Magnolia Journal.
