The snow has melted, the air is starting to warm up, and the smell of springtime is in the air. It might be time to start getting your garden ready for the glorious spring and summer that are to come. And if you're sick of your backyard garden, it also might be the perfect time for a clean start. We asked readers to submit pictures and descriptions of their "theme" backyard gardens and patios. Here are our top picks - maybe they will inspire you!

1. Butterfly Garden: Rosemary Willis has designed this gorgeous garden just to attract butterflies. Featuring bright colors and sweet scents, this garden is irresistible to these fluttering insects, not to mention a joy to behold by humans as well. Rosemary's butterfly garden is beautiful, aromatic, and full of life, giving the butterflies and their observers a wonderful place to visit.

The traditional English garden theme is that of half-wild and half-cultivated plants that are allowed to sprawl and ramble as they will. Joshua Rakham designed his first backyard gardens in the classic form with magnificent recumbent plants, short hedgerows to keep the plants where they belong, and pathways - and then added garden globes, plaster gnomes, and fairies for a touch of whimsy.

3. Cat Garden: Sissy Nye-Robison has done the unthinkable - she has designed an entire garden around her beloved cats! She's planted plenty of stands of catnip and cat grass, as well as installed birdhouses and butterfly-attracting plants to give her kitties some excitement. Hardy wisteria plants and small trees are designed to allow the cats to climb or perch. Sissy notes that cat lovers should make sure to check that everything they plant is non-poisonous for pets.

Black and White Garden: There are backyard gardens by Pilar Sota designed to be both striking and beautiful day and at night. During the day, the garden is covered with dark, rich, violets and sparking whites to create beautiful patterns. At night, the white plants reflect moonlight, creating an almost ethereal quality.

5. Tea Garden: Janice LaRoux is the creator of this aromatic garden, in which she has planted over 50 different types of plants that can be used for tea! When walking in her garden, the smells of peppermint and jasmine and cinnamon create a riot of flavors. To complete her garden, Janice has placed large, decorative teapots among the plants and leading up to her backyard patio.

The snow has melted, the air is starting to warm up, and the smell of springtime is in the air. It might be time to start getting your garden ready for the glorious spring and summer that are to come. And if you're sick of your backyard garden, it also might be the perfect time for a clean start. We asked readers to submit pictures and descriptions of their "theme" backyard gardens and patios. Here are our top picks - maybe they will inspire you! Imagine the experiences every time you walk out to your backyard patio.