Take a Tour of Ree Drummond's Colorful Garden
I had the time of my life tending to these glorious beds. Let me show you around!
When my new house was finally done last year and my yard was free of construction equipment, I knew I was ready to plant a garden. As a recent empty nester, I had a little extra time, and this was just what I needed. The last time I had a big garden was ten years ago, before life got busy with the kids, football, The Merc and everything else!
From the start, this garden was therapy for me. It gave me a reason to step away from the kitchen and office. I'd listen to audiobooks and podcasts and get dirty. I was surprised by how much time I spent there every morning and evening. I want to share what I learned with you. I hope it inspires you to get that garden going!
Know Your Climate
We had such a rainy, mild spring, I was in denial about how brutal the Oklahoma summer was going to be. Sure enough, we hit 102 degrees in July, and I didn't have enough of a plan for misting and keeping my dahlias cool. They bounced back, but I lost them again in a September storm. Mother Nature is a diva!
Try Something New
This is a stock image of chives because I never got a good shot of mine, and I'm hoping mine come in this strong this year! Until last summer, chives weren't part of my regular herb routine: I could usually find basil and thyme at the grocery store but never chives, so I didn't use them very often. But once I could grab them from my garden, I started putting them in everything! They're great in dressings, and I love them with scrambled eggs!
Beware the Zucchini
I love zucchini, but watch out: You can have medium-size ones when you go to bed and when you wake up, it's attack of the killer zucchini! At one point I had five zucchini plants going and it was a lot. This year, I'm only growing two!
Mix Things Up
I put flowers with herbs in some beds and veggies and herbs in others. I was going for a wild vibe: I love the look of a big basil bush alongside a couple of tomato plants and marigolds. Some people call this chaos gardening—no neat rows, just clusters of random stuff. But I think it's gorgeous.
Be Committed
Your success as a gardener is directly related to the time you spend. When Ladd and I went to Vail for a week, I asked Alex to come up from Dallas and garden-sit! I couldn't bear to step away from it for that long without knowing it would be nurtured the way it needed to be!
Have a Plan
Before you do anything else, decide what you want to grow and get to know everything you're planting. Find out what kind of sun they need and sketch out where you'll put them in the beds. The more you plan, the better! That said, don't be afraid of trial and error and just throwing things in.
Have Fun With Labels
I labeled my dahlia tubers after I planted them because when the flowers came up, I wanted to know which ones I loved the most. But labeling all the vegetables and herbs turned out to be fun too, even thoughI know exactly what basil and parsley look like!
Take a Moment!
One great thing about a big garden is that every day brings a new surprise, and you have to stop to take note of all the little changes. The anticipation and excitement of seeing what's coming up—it's a constant thrill and I've learned to appreciate every development.
My Garden
Here's a handy chart of everything that grows in my garden!
Ree Drummond is the founder of The Pioneer Woman and a lover of butter, basset hounds and life on the ranch! Ree started her blog in 2006, and now millions visit ThePioneerWoman.com every month for her trusted recipes and fun family stories. Here’s what she has been up to since it all began:
New York Times Bestselling Author
Ree has written two memoirs (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and Frontier Follies) plus nine bestselling cookbooks:
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl (2009)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier (2012)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays (2013)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime (2015)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! (2017)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier (2019)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Super Easy (2021)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinner’s Ready! (2023)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes (2025)
Food Network Host
Since 2011, Ree has been sharing simple, family-friendly recipes—and the occasional kitchen prank!—on her award-winning show The Pioneer Woman, filmed right on Drummond Ranch. Ree is also a regular judge on Food Network competitions, including Christmas Cookie Challenge.
Founder, The Pioneer Woman Collection
Ree has been creating and selling kitchen and home products at Walmart since 2015 and she’s involved in designing every piece and pattern. The line now includes best-selling appliances (you have to see the floral blender!), plus hundreds of pieces of cookware, tableware, and more. Ree doesn’t like to play favorites but the Agatha print has a special place in her heart.
Restaurant and Hotel Owner
Together with her husband Ladd, Ree has opened several bustling businesses in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, including The Pioneer Woman Mercantile—a bakery, restaurant, and general store that draws visitors from across the country (many come for the biscuits alone!), P-Town Pizza, Charlie’s Ice Cream Shop, and The Boarding House, a charming hotel with eight different rooms decorated by Ree and Ladd.
Media Personality
Ree appears regularly on national TV shows like Today, Good Morning America and more—all while managing to keep flour off her shirt.
Wife, Mom and…Grandma!
Ree’s kids (daughters Alex and Paige and sons Bryce and Todd) are all grown up, and as of December 2024, Ree is the proud grandma of the cutest baby ever, Sofia Scott, born to Alex and her husband Mauricio. Ree still cooks for Ladd (and the kids when they’re home), and she also looks after a few mischievous ranch dogs.
Baby Sofia Facetimes Ree to Show Off Her New Smile
Alex Shares Cute Photo of Sofia's New Baby Teeth
Watch Paige's Horse Follow Her Every Move
Ree Drummond Didn't Wear These Until She Met Ladd
