Have you ever been so swept away by the anticipation of getting your spring garden planted that you slid down the slippery slope of being overzealous and perhaps just a tad unrealistic about what you can reasonably accomplish in an afternoon? This is the time of year when we’re most apt to take chances by …
Read moreEven in My 70s, There’s Still Joy in Breaking the Rules Sometimes
When we try something new in life OR in our garden and what we’d envisioned doesn’t happen, we might come to the conclusion that we weren’t cut out for what we’d set out to do or that we don’t have what it takes to be a successful gardener. Most of the lessons I’ve learned in …
The quieter months of winter are the ideal time to dream, imagine, and plan for a garden that can contribute to your wellbeing, provide a space for creativity, and an experience that energizes you, while bringing you peace. I began with writing my wish list in my garden journal, sketching my raised beds to scale, …
Read morePlan This Year’s Garden to Maximize Comfort and Enhance Wellbeing
As grocery store shelves become more sparse due to unpredictable food supply being disrupted, gardening is going through a renaissance like we haven’t seen since World War II, when everyone was growing their own Victory Garden. The National Gardening Bureau has dubbed this time Victory Garden 2.0. Now it makes all the sense in the …
Read moreGrowing Hope and Growing Your Own Food With My Online Series
In last month’s blog, I wrote about Finding Joy in Turbulent Times. Little did I know at the time just how turbulent our lives were about to become. A few weeks ago, most of us couldn’t spell pandemic. Now we have a name for the fear and anxiety many of us are experiencing. We’ve moved …
One of the best parts of my work as a garden writer and speaker is sharing with my audiences and community the exquisite beauty I encounter in the gardens I visit and in the gifts that gardening has to added to my life. Why is sharing the beauty of the garden one of my favorite …
Read moreHow About a Virtual Stroll Through Some Stunning Gardens?
1. Our bodies change. That’s life. When we realize we have limitations that stop us from doing what we want to do, we have to learn to “accept what is” first. Then, and only then, we can develop resiliency by looking for other ways to get it done. 2. You deserve a safe and comfortable …
Read moreThe Top 10 Adaptive Gardening Guidelines to Live By
Now! Start where you are. Think about what hurts you when you garden. Decide what chores have become increasingly difficult to do. Then take a hard look at your garden and plan for whatever the future may hold. Let’s face it, we are living in a stressful and complicated world. All the more reason to …
Read moreWhen Should You Start Thinking About Adaptive Gardening?
Rosemarie Rossetti was referred to me by a mutual friend who knew we just had to meet because we speak on the same subject, but from two different angles. We talked for an hour and a half, and only at the end did we realize we are both blessed to be Sicilian! Rosemarie tells an …
While most gardeners focus on the plants in their garden, it’s the non-living, man-made hardscape elements that are most important in a well-thought-out adapted garden—mainly because they are the most expensive aspect to change. Uneven paths can be a tripping hazard, and gaps between flagstones or other surfaces can catch heels or canes, causing falls. …