Never never give up, I had my share of not winning too when I first joined but after a while you get into a swing of your own where you BAM at the last second BAM win!
If your garden looks good and it looks really lovely on Earth Day I'd say you had "made it" my dear! I don't even have my gardens in, it's been to cold up here in CO. and my son and husband are building me a "Castle Garden" in my front yard so I have to wait for that one to be finished first...my house is overflowing with plant babies...help! lol
They are laying grayish castle looking brick into a castle wall w/ramparts at 2 ends and in the center a slightly larger one to hold even more flowers. It's kind of hard to explain really but it is going to be very cool...and unique.
I do not like to bragg..., my neighbors do that for me..., I think I have over 600 tulips, several years digging up the front yard, started with a few herbs..., every year I try to add something new. ..
I did that for 10 years at my house in Texas. 1/2 acre full of flowers/trees/bushes/you name it and I most likely had it. I pushed zone 9 & 10 and got some real beauties to grow. Once we retired and moved up here to CO. we knew we were back to nothing so it's really fun to start over and do something different!
Darlin' I think it's all about how you look at things, you can say yes that part of my life is finished BUT look at all the new stuff your going to do (and you really do have to go and DO some stuff!!!) and build new memories that are even more special because you have a second chance at them!