My dear friend gave me this book. I have been enjoying reading it- not only for the gardening advice but also for the life lessons.

Are you a gardener? Do you like to feel the warm earth in your hands? The smell of soil and mulch? Revel in the warmth of the sun on your shoulders and face?

While the contractors still have a punch list for finishing the house remodel, we have finally moved in most of our items, unpacked the boxes and have put away our things. It is now time to turn my attention to the outside of the house: the side and front yards. I have so many ideas in my head but I know that I need to edit them down. So, I’ve tried to make a list of what flowers I like, what flowers will do well in our location and what would look appropriate/in keeping with our older home. I also want to reduce as much of the grass/lawn as possible, add wildflowers for the pollinators and perhaps try my hand at vegetables.

Over the years I have read a plethora of gardening books, magazines and articles. There is nothing more satisfying than turning the glossy pages containing brightly colored, beautifully photographed lush gardens. I am a sucker for cottage gardens. Probably due to watching too many English murder/dramas in my youth, but I absolutely love the look of cut wild flowers overflowing in a ceramic jug- bringing that wildness indoors.

Regardless of the style, the “experts” recommend that one starts with a plan and a garden design. While I would love to have a plan, I am really a what-the-heck, just-plop it-in, type of gardener. When I have tried to design a garden, I start with the intention of beautifully drawn, recognizable plants, all set in an easy to follow garden plan but alas, I generally end up with a page of scribbles.

What I like about gardening is that there are so many life lessons. One learns how to: be patient, be creative, stop and witness wonder, share, nurture a living thing, stay optimistic, foster hope. In addition, there are so many physical and mental benefits of being outside and working “the land” even if that land is a small terracotta pot: reduce stress, improve immune system, lower blood pressure, improve mental clarity, among other things.

What about you? Any gardening plans this spring/summer? Have you ever designed a written plan? What are your favorite plants? Favorite style?

If you have never grown anything or think you cannot grow anything- give it a try. If I can grow plants, you can. Years ago my husband made a cold frame for me so that I could overwinter some plants and get a head start on the spring seeds. Our boys referred to it as “the death chamber”. Need I say more? Gardening produces persistence.

NEWS: Just received my copies of Guideposts, Angels On Earth, May/June 2023 containing my article-“The Fun Starts Now”.