By Cara Spilsbury
When Lisa Nahil bought her home on Byron Street in Bradford two years ago, she went right to work renovating the inside.
Then as the first spring in her new home arrived, she noticed the unsightly patch of dirt behind the house.
"I thought, 'I have to do something with this,' " Nahil remembered.
She started buying plants and experimenting with their placements. A year later, her garden was named June's Garden of the Month by the Haverhill Garden Club.
Gardening has quickly become Nahil's favorite activity. She's out in the garden almost every weekend, tending to her flowers, shrubs and vegetables.
"It calms me down. I love it," said Nahil. "I call it digging in the dirt."
She learns as she goes, moving plants from shade to sun, hoping to find a place they will thrive in her garden.
"It's kind of hit or miss," she said.
The first year, Nahil bought more than 100 plants and this season, she bought an additional 25, so the hobby is not a cheap one.
She has more plans for a walking path in her yard, and other gardening projects, which will cost even more.
"It's expensive, it really is," she said.
The only other downside for Nahil is the recent dreary weather.
With all the rain, some of her plants haven't flowered and she hasn't been able to get out and enjoy her creation as much as she'd like.
Mostly the hobby is pure enjoyment for Nahil, who has an elder law practice in Groveland. For Nahill, the spring thaw brings on Christmas Eve-like excitement as the snow melts to reveal the life beneath it.
"Right after the snow goes, I'm always looking," she said, "and I'll yell out 'I think I see green!'"
Nahil said she's far from being an expert gardener, but it doesn't make gardening any less fun.
She recommended that, regardless of experience, anyone can garden if they want to.
"Dive into it," she said. "What's the worst thing that can happen?"
