I personally feel that if your garden makes you happy, no matter if you have a section of poison ivy, then you are a successful gardener.
Everyone I know who has formal gardens have plenty of help and /or plenty of time to work on them. One of my friends here on ATP works her heart out in her garden and that makes her happy. That is the name of the game. I get a great deal of pleasure mowing the grass in the baby tree fields. Here are pics of my work. LOL
Can you see the yellow patch on he left of the picture? That is the "Old Stump" in all her glory.
