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A Writer's Garden, aggressive groundcovers, Author Catherine Castle's garden blog, overgrown oasis garden, Sally Brandle, The Hitman's Mistake
Welcome to A Writer’s Garden where writers who are gardeners or just love gardens will be sharing their garden and flower stories, as well as a bit about their writing gardens—aka their books.
Today’s guest is Sally Brandle. She’ll be talking about the overgrown oasis she calls her garden.
Welcome, Sally.
Sunrise comes to the bottom of Sally’s garden
The best garden plants are those with stories. Many of my flowers are tender reminders of loved ones who have passed—whether they gave me the starts, or enjoyed sitting beside them on a shady patio.
A flat half-acre provides a palette. A sloped half-acre provides complications, back aches, and an attitude adjustment of perfection. Eight years ago I toted seventy or eighty wheel barrow loads of plants, slate, and stones from a home we’d lived in for fourteen years, to the new abode five houses away. We gained lakefront, and downsized by half. I write with a view of the top terrace of flowers and vegetables, trees, and lake—an inspiring and calming landscape. Bees and hummingbirds flit during summertime. Year round we enjoy bald eagles, cormorants, osprey, and countless birds. Neighbors on either side prefer manicured grass, we enjoy watching our feathered friends feast on seeds from the overgrown oasis I call my garden.
The four photos above present ground covers which mind their manners. Top left is Oxalis redwood sorrel, top right low orange ground cover. Bottom left is creeping thyme, bottom right Lilly of the Valley. I’ve waved a thankful farewell to homes with invasive plants: lemon balm, veronica, and the dreaded snow on the mountain. The aggressive battle continues on the below specimens. Left: Vinca minor, right two other aggressive plants.
This bush below blooms in time for Easter.
This plot of ground wore me out. At present, I hire a helper to do a big pruning/weeding session in the spring. None of my family picked up the gardening genes I received from my mom and grandfather. The next best thing was to create a character who provides plants to downtown Seattle skyscrapers for a living. Greenery became her ally in The Hitman’s Mistake.
I hope all your gardening projects provide joy and a sense of accomplishment. A master gardener visiting once told me, “A little bit of grass is okay, relax and enjoy the beautiful flowers.”
About the Writer/Gardener:
Multiple award-winning author Sally Brandle writes clean, contemporary, romantic suspense stories hoping to empower her readers to connect with their inner gifts.
Growing up in a tightly knit, multi-generational community, Sally’s core values reflect those of the village where she was raised.
When she gets time away from her functional engineer husband and spirited sons, Sally hunkers down in her office. Her trusty Aussie, Tallulah, waits patiently at her feet for belly rubs as adventures unfold. For a head-clearing ride in fresh air, Sally saddles her Quarter Horse, Lance, and trots along wooded trails in the Pacific Northwest.
Sally holds a BA in Special Education from MSU and a Fine Arts Minor. She left a career as an industrial baking instructor so she could bring to life her stories of courageous women supporting one another, while they discover men who deserve their love. A member of Romance Writers of America, Greater Seattle RWA, Eastside RWA, and She Writes, Sally’s current series, Love Thrives in Emma Springs, is set in rural Montana. The first story, The Hitman’s Revenge, will be released by Soul Mate Publishing. Her newest series is Double Vision, romance with a scientific twist.
Warning: While there are no intimate scenes, Sally’s stories do contain sensual elements, mild swear words.
The Hitman’s Mistake
By Sally Brandle
She needs his trust. After Miranda Whitley stops crooked cops from assassinating a 
prominent Seattle judge, she’s next on the hit list, and her survival depends on the man she’s had one awkward encounter with—buff FBI Agent, Grant Morley. But can she find him in time?
He needs the truth. The last person Grant expects to discover on his annual horseback trip delivering supplies to a Montana mountain hermit is alluring Miranda Whitley, nearly dead from a bullet wound in her side. An accidental witness or the cold-blooded accomplice to would-be assassins?
Miranda must convince Grant of her innocence, evade the killers intent on preventing her testimony, and fight her unwanted attraction for the agent…an attraction which seems to be mutual. Fortunately, love thrives in Emma Springs. If you love sizzling chemistry, determined assassins, and Montana scenery, then you’ll love Sally Brandle’s galloping thriller.
The Hitman’s Mistake, a clean romantic suspense novel, will release on June 27th from Soul Mate Publishing. You can order the book at Amazon
Visit http://www.sallybrandle.com/ for a chance to receive the epilogue and a free novella
Catherine Castle 
Thank you, Catherine for the opportunity to be on your blog. I want to give a shout out to Ken and Cole, my garden helpers.
You are most welcome, Sally. I enjoyed reading about your garden.
beautifully written – you know I love your garden! .
Thank you. I love yours, too!
Sally, Ken and I enjoy being at your home and enjoying the gorgeous view.
Thank you. Mutual admiration!
Love a garden with a wild flair. Sounds lovely. Great blog.
Emma
Thank you! If you live south of Seattle, let me know. I invite writer’s or readers to share the wonderful space. I posted photos of the flowers from this morning on my website.
I love the first picture. I, too, love to write outside and watch (when I’m supposed to be writing) the birds, butterflies, etc. Nice blog.
Thank you. There are more photos on my website. Morning is peaceful. The boats begin at 9, but end at 6. If you’re near Seattle, stop by!
Wow, I’d like to see this garden in person…and good for you, using gardening in your plot!
Throw me a line if you travel to Seattle! I’m due to pick a first round of raspberries today.