A Writer’s Garden–HL Carpenter shares Green Thumb Moments

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A Writer's Garden, Author Catherine Castle's gardening blog, Green Thumb moments, HL Carpenter, Walled In, young adult novel

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 mother and daughter writing team HL Carpenter sharing some of their favorite Green Thumb Moments. Welcome, HL!

 

Green Thumb Moments

by HL Carpenter

 

 

Our gardening friends are scattered like seeds in the wind. North. South. East. West.

 

 

When we get together, the day feels sunnier as we discuss all things gardening and marvel at each other’s glorious flowers.

 

And we exchange gifts.

The gift might be a stick with a leaf and a root attached. Replanted, the little sprig grows into a healthy plant. We call that experience a green thumb moment.

Last fall a relative arrived with four blueberry bushes and a pear tree. This year tasty treats fresh from the garden grace our table, providing more green thumb moments.

 

 

Other gifts are less practical but no less appreciated, like the whimsical solar paneled turtle we recently received. Not for any special occasion. Just a wonderful surprise from a fellow gardener. The cheerful turtle now resides on a sunny spot of ground near an unruly tangle of flame lilies. By day, Mosey the Turtle smiles as we pass by. At night she lights our way. Occasionally, we tell her about our latest book-in-progress and she winks at us.

 

Okay, the winking part might not be true. Sometimes we’re more fanciful than Mosey the Turtle. But whether she winks or not, each time we see her, we think of the friend who sent her.

Yes, gardeners make the day brighter. They also make us realize we can never have too many flowers or too many gardening friends.

And that’s the best green thumb moment of all.

About the writers/gardeners

Mother/daughter author duo HL Carpenter write family-friendly fiction from their studios in Carpenter Country, a magical place that, like their stories, is unreal but not untrue. When they’re not writing, they enjoy exploring the Land of What-If and practicing the fine art of Curiosity. Visit HLCarpenter.com to enjoy gift reads and excerpts and to find out what’s happening in Carpenter Country.

 Walled In

 A young adult, sweet novel by HL Carpenter.

When her father is accused of fraud, seventeen year old Vandy Spencer discovers her entire life has been built on a heart-shattering deception.

Amazon buy link for Walled In

 

 

 

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The Writer’s Garden–The Accidental Gardener by Cathy Elliott

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A Stitch in Crime by Cathy Elliott, A Writer's Garden, Author Catherine Castle's gardening blog, Author Cathy Elliott, cozy mystery A Stitch in Crime, garden devotional about roses, roses, The Accidental Gardener

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 Cathy Elliott who will be sharing some pictures and stories about her roses and a garden devotional thought. Welcome, Cathy!

 

The Accidental Gardener

By Cathy Elliott

C.Elliott.Red Roses Ground Cover

My mother loved roses more than any other flower. An elegant bouquet received from my dad or the sight of rose bushes along the roadside, laden with blooms, sent her into a state of bliss. Lush roses cut from the garden often decorated our home, casting a sweet aroma to every corner.

Along the way, I caught her love of roses and carried it into my own sphere. While Mother loved deep red, I preferred a softer shade of yellow. Edged with a blush of pink.

Years ago, I was surprised to learn the house I purchased had both Mother’s and my favorite roses in place. A red, climbing rose embraced the Ash tree in my front yard. The bush reached high and bloomed profusely all summer long, its branches covered with lacy blossoms opening wide, displaying pom-pom-yellow centers.

C.Elliott.Red Climbing Roses

Though the red climber exploded with color, I preferred a floribunda rose bush tucked against the house. As if dipped in pink paint, the yellow blossoms turned almost to salmon. With a little research, I came to know it as a Peace rose. The combination of color and calling – peace – made me love it best.

C.Elliott.Pink PEACE Rosebud

Rose-puttering is a great pleasure in the spring. I give both bushes all the attention they deserve: watering, fertilizing, dead-heading flowers past their glory, and spraying the leaves with soapy water I mix myself so aphids will not dare settle in.

But when the punishing summer heat assaults our valley, I no longer want to go outside and pamper my posies. Not in the morning, not in the evening. My watering turns sporadic…until I barely remember. Yet the roses survive and bravely try to flower on, with little help from the gardener to whom they are entrusted.

When the brutal summer ends, I venture out and apologize to my reliable roses. They say nothing. They are too tired to emit their fragrance anymore. Attending to them then is futile. But I do my best. This time I’m sure they won’t come back in the spring. It is my fault. It is what I deserve.

But their roots are deep and they do return, steadfast in spite of my absence when they need me most. Spring after spring, the roses burst forth, anxious to grace my yard with their splendor. When I see this miracle, I’m reminded of the faithfulness of God. Always loving, always providing, always keeping His promises, surrounding me with His beauty, steadfast in all things, though I do not deserve it.

And I give thanks….

Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You have established the earth, and it stands fast.    Psalms 119:90 ESV

About the Writer/Gardener:

Cathy Elliott enjoys touring beautiful gardens, created and maintained by others. But her current interest is planning and producing mini-container-gardens. And adding ideas to her Pinterest boards on the subject. She’s also a cozy mystery author with plot-twisting works including: A Vase of Mistaken Identity, Medals in the Attic, and A Stitch in Crime. She’s a contributing author to Guidepost’s recently released devotional, Every Day with Jesus and the upcoming, All God’s Creatures.

Social Media Link – Visit Cathy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cathyelliottbooks

A Stitch in Crime

by Cathy Elliott 

Assault, larceny, anonymous threats. Who knew quilt shows could be this dangerous?

Check out A Stitch in Crime on Amazon:

 

A Writer’s Garden–Environmental Rewards–Milkweed Plants by Emma J. Lane

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A Writer's Garden, Author Catherine Castle's gardening blog, Emma J. Lane, Environmental Rewards, Milkweed plants, Monarch Butterfly, weeds and their place in the garden

 

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 Emma J. Lane, who will be talking about weeds—and their place in our gardens.

 

Environmental Rewards—Milkweed plants

By Emma J. Lane

Plant Study of Milkweed Asclepias syriaca by Barbara Schuster 2003 Practitioner Training Attendee

A customer of our small plant nursery was wringing her hands over the wild bunnies munching her precious perennials. I had recommended to her several plants bound to repel those hungry cotton-tails, but to no avail. It was a mystery until I rode through her neighborhood of perfectly groomed lawns. Some sort of weed and feed had been liberally applied to the entire block. Deep emerald squares displayed throughout. Poor rabbits had no choice but to nibble her precious perennials. Not even their favorite food, actually.

milkweed in Emma’s yard

Every building lot presents owners a mini-environment in which to create the best interest of the current residents. At my house, I frequently reminded my better half, I was in the business of raising children, not grass, nor a perfect lawn. Dandelions, wild daisies, clover, and milkweed (horseshoe pits, badminton nets, fire pits, etc.) were all welcome and appreciated. Our yard was a playground for children, coincidentally welcome to available wildlife as well. Deer, rabbits, woodchucks, coyotes, fox, chipmunks, skunks, (ugh), etc have all visited at one time or another.

life cycle of a Monarch Butterfly

My present goal is to aid in the preservation and rebirth of abundant Monarch butterflies by trying to preserve their favorite and only food, milkweed. Research assures me there are many available varieties of this precious plant whose leaves feed the small green, yellow, and black Monarch caterpillar. Milkweed grows wild in the Northeast, has prominent leaves, tall stems, and highly fragrant blossoms. It also secretes a bitter milky substance that may irritate the skin, so not a favorite cut flower. A couple of varieties: swamp and regular are easily recognized in roadside colonies. The bitter sap of the leaves is repugnant to prey, consequently the caterpillar and butterfly protected as well. Many catalogs have available seeds. Check your local nurseries for plants. Shelter a milkweed plant; save a Monarch butterfly and enhance your personal corner of the world.

 

About the Gardener/Writer:

Emma Lane is a gifted author who writes under several pen-names. She lives with her patient husband on several acres outside a typical American village in Western New York. Her day job is working with flowers at her son’s plant nursery.

Emma writes under Emma J. Lane: Historical Regency novels. aka Janis Lane: Contemporary Cozy Mysteries.

Visit her at her website https://emmajlane.com/

 

 

 

A Writer’s Garden with Tina Susedik

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A Writer's Garden, Author Catherine Castle's gardening blog, author/gardener Tina Susedik, Catherine Castle, Historical Romance Mystery, Missing My Heart by Tina Susedik, Srping trees in bloom

Welcome to A Writer’s Garden where writers who are gardeners or just love gardens share their garden and flower stories, as well as a bit about their writing gardens—aka their books.

Today’s guest is Tina Susedik. Welcome, Tina!

 

Spring has been slow in coming in Wisconsin this year. Three weeks ago, we were heading into a major, three-day, snowstorm. Some areas of the state received 30” of snow. We only got 18” where I live. Consequently, flowers, trees, and spring are way behind.

Every year our city holds a marathon and half marathon. The race route goes right past our house. It’s fun watching and supporting the runners, one of which is my daughter. We have a gorgeous crab apple tree in our front yard. Last year, at this time the tree, as well as my tulips and daffodils were in full bloom, giving the runners something to look at besides the black pavement. We received a lot of comments from the runners about how beautiful it all was.

 

This year, not so much. If any of the runners remember last year’s tree, they’re going to be disappointed. Not one leaf, not one blossom. Two tulips and one daffodil in bloom. At least the grass has turned green.

Maybe I’m too impatient for things to green up. Maybe I shouldn’t look at my rose bushes and other plants twice (okay, maybe three or four times) a day to see if they have leafed out or are coming up. But, I want to see color. I want to know my plants survived the harsh winter. I want it to warm up enough to plant my annuals and not worry about frost.

 

Anyone else feel this way?

 

About the Gardener/Writer

Tina Susedik has loved flowers and gardening for as long as she can remember. Wherever she has lived, and it’s been many, many places, she has tried to make her surroundings filled with flowers. She is a multi-published, award-winning author in both fiction and non-fiction, covering children, military, history, and romantic mysteries. She also hosts her own radio show with Authors on the Air Global Radio Network. Twice a month, on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 2:00 Central, she interviews authors in all genres. The title of her show – what else – “Your Book Garden.”

You can connect with Tina on her website

 

Missing My Heart

by Tina Susedik

Time: 1975. Place: Bourbonville

After the death of the grandmother Ellie Farrell had lived with since she was sixteen, she is tasked with the job of cleaning out the over-packed house. When Ellie begins to find love notes and money from a Bert to Randi spanning over four decades, she sets out to find out who these people are and what they have to do with her. An unexpected check for $100,000 dollars delivered to her house, ramps up the mystery – especially when death threats begin to arrive.

Patton Trullinger, an investigative reporter, comes to Chandler County to research bootleggers for a book he’s contracted for. As a Vietnam veteran, he’s dealing with PTSD. When he meets Ellie, he finds her mystery too good to pass up.

Who are Bert and Randi? Who is sending death threats? Will Ellie and Patton’s love bloom as the mystery deepens?

 

Want to read more? You can find Tina’s book at  Amazon:  Barnes & Noble: Ibooks: Kobo: and Google Play:

Warning to readers of sweet romance: This book’s heat level is steamy.

A Writer’s Garden with author Becky Lower

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A Writer's Garden, Author Catherine Castle's gardening blog, Becky Lower, historical romance, Monticello gardens, Thomas Jefferson, Winning Violet

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 historical romance author Becky Lower. She’ll be talking about the Gardens at Monticello. Since Becky’s Monticello pictures are locked in an old computer she can’t access, I’ve added one of my own from a September 1998 visit to Thomas Jefferson’s estate. From what I can see on the Monticello website, the gardens have changed quite a bit since I was there. Much more lush. Time for another visit, I think.

The Gardens at Monticello

By Becky Lower

My father, being the enterprising man that he was, planted a vegetable garden every year, in order to help feed his growing family. My mother grew the beautiful flowers that surrounded the vegetables and entered her award-winning irises each year in the township fair. It’s from them and their early instruction on how to care for and grow things that I became familiar with the joy of sinking my hands into the dirt.

I already had a love of roses, having spent several years in Texas and paid annual visits to the Antique Rose Emporium (https://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/). Then, I moved to Virginia and discovered Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello, near Charlottesville, VA. (https://www.monticello.org/site/house-and-gardens/flower-gardens). I especially loved the fact the plantings on Jefferson’s estate produced seeds and cuttings that were available to the public. I took a bit of Thomas Jefferson home with me each year. Over time, my backyard grew into a miniature version of Jefferson’s, with roses, hyacinths and bottlebrush plants, as well as seeds from a myriad of plants. I carefully cultivated each, calling them my “TJ” collection, after Thomas Jefferson. I cried more at leaving my plants than I did at leaving my house, when I moved away.

I’ve just relocated again, this time to balmy North Carolina, and am eager to buy new roses that are heat-tolerant, to brighten the little spit of land surrounding my condo. After eight years of suffering through the harshness of Ohio winters, finding roses that prefer warmth will be a welcome challenge.

My background in writing is American historicals, but I had a notion to write a Regency romance and expand my reader base. However, I couldn’t resist planting an American in England with my first book in the Flower Girl series, Winning Violet. My hero is not only an American, but he’s a landscaper charged with the mission of buying a collection of English roses for Thomas Jefferson’s estate at Monticello. So art does imitate life, to some extent.

About the Writer/Gardener:

Amazon best-selling author Becky Lower has traveled the United States in search of great settings for her novels and picking up a love for plants along the way. At various times, she’s cultivated bonsai plants, cacti, roses and various herbs she’s never found a way to use. She loves to write about two people finding each other and falling in love amid the backdrop of a great setting, be it in America on a covered wagon headed west or in Regency England. Winning Violet is mildly spicy, but what else can be expected when discussing the propagation of roses? Becky loves to hear from her readers at beckylowerauthor@gmail.com. Visit her website at http://www.beckylowerauthor.com/

Winning Violet by Becky Lower

Everything’s coming up roses for an English miss and an American gentleman in this delightful new series from the author of the Cotillion Ball saga!

After British soldiers killed his wife and child during the War of 1812, Parker Sinclair vowed to never set foot on English soil. But as Thomas Jefferson’s landscaper, one must sometimes make the ultimate sacrifice. The last thing Parker expects to find is an educated English beauty who can teach him so much more than how to plant a magnificent garden.

An expert at cross-pollinating roses, Violet Wilson’s dreams of becoming the first woman recognized by the Royal Horticultural Society are fading because she’s afraid to leave the quiet solitude of her family’s nursery. Distrustful of men after a traumatic encounter, she’s not keen on disrupting her routine to help the American landscaper, but she soon blossoms under his kindness and respect.

As they fall in love, can this shrinking Violet take the risk of leaving behind all she knows for a new life with Parker? Or is he considering a different ending altogether?

You can find Winning Violet at Amazon

Warning for readers of sweet romance: this book may contain spicy love scenes.

 

 

A Writer’s Garden with Author Ryan Jo Summers

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A Writer's Garden, Author Catherine Castle's gardening blog, Author Ryan Jo Summers, Coffeecake Chaos, Food and Romance Go Together Anthology Vol. 1, garden pictures, romance with a twist, trees

 

Today’s gardener writer is Ryan Jo Summers, who will be talking about Emma and George—two trees in her garden. Welcome, Ryan Jo.

 

Thanks, Catherine

I have always admired formal yards and gardens, with sweeping terraces of blooms, multiple shades of different sized flowers, and natural rock gardens. Bonus drool for water features and koi ponds. Sigh….one day….

 

old steps with ivy and ferns spotted on one of my dog walks

As I write this now, a gentle rain is falling. The approaching growls of thunder chased me inside from where I was planting today’s shipment: Old-fashioned Bleeding Hearts in white and pink, another rose, and a Goji berry. I got as far as the pink bleeding heart when the approaching storm sent me inside to this instead.

squirrel and Oak leaf hydrangea

Two and a half years ago I bought my very own place here in the south. It’s a half acre, home of a 1920 cottage. I love it! There were already two flower beds installed, flanking the walkway, full of oakleaf hydrangea, forsythia, and endless daylilies. Plus a few odd bits that some I’ve yet to identify and others I’ve yet to decide whether to keep them or move them out.

split rail fence I installed, with ‘established in 2014’ plaque, planted with dwarf burning bushes, roses and black-eyed Susan

Two more beds had been established once upon a time, one held a rotten tree stump and some hostas and another forsythia bush while the other was depressingly empty. They held such promise! In the time I’ve lived here, I’ve added to both those gardens, slowly over each planting season, and added four more flower beds to the yard. (Five if you count the transplanted day lilies moved to flank the garage door).

stone steps alongside house, with assorted flowers slowly growing, just starting to peek over the lattice border

Now, I adore fences and random steps, almost as much as I like water features. For me, rustic is the way. Since I pet sit/ dog walk part time, I see a good bit of landscaping and gardens. I like snapping photos of scenes of stairs and fences that inspire or delight me. They don’t necessarily have to go anywhere, or hold anything in or out. Just simply being in the right place, with the right look, creating the right impression is an art all to itself. Like spotting a random painting in a gallery, not anything specific or unique about it. It just has that right look. It just is. Such is a good garden scene.

Emma — looking upward in the fall after her leaves were gone

Now, at my house are many tall, stately trees. In the courtyard in the back are two trees in particular, that have endured themselves to me in a special way. One, an oak, is right outside my kitchen window. I sense a femininity about it and call her Emma. I often ponder how old dear Emma is, for she is very tall and quite wide. Squirrels delight in racing up and down her weathered trunk.

— Emma’s roots outgrowing her allotted space

Doubtlessly, the courtyard slate stone was installed when Emma was still younger and more slender, as her roots and widening trunk have pushed the stones up and aside over the years. Poor planning on someone’s part.

Emma and her trunk having grown around a hanging hook

There is also a hanging hook attached to Emma’s trunk, about six feet up, for hanging pots, bird feeders, wind chimes or whatever. Unfortunately, and further proof of the lack of consideration people have shown Emma over the years, her trunk has grown over the hook, sealing it like a giant scab over a wound. I wonder how that must have hurt as her trunk grew and now the hook has become a permanent part of her trunk.

Mighty George

A few feet away from Emma stands George, a straight, noble-looking Pine. George is huge, both in height and circumference. He reminds me of royalty, like a king, hence his royal name. Scattered around him, at the height of roughly thirty feet or so are three of his off-spring.

curious wrinkles at the base of George’s trunk

English ivy grows rampant around the courtyard, and encircles George’s trunk like a green robe. Diligence on my part keeps the ivy growing around George, and not up his massive trunk. Unlike Emma, George has no blemishes or human fallacies to mar his noble stature.

Considering how long Emma and George have lived, and the house they saw built, the stories of the people who lived inside, and the relaxed under their branches, I wonder what stories these two trees could tell. As I watch my newly planted flower gardens grow, I also enjoy the richness of two special trees. Once upon a time they were but small saplings, and they have grown to leave an indelible mark in this place and on me. I hope the maple seedlings, plants, and flowers I am planting now will one day leave another mark once Emma, George, and I are gone from this life.

 

About the Gardener/Writer:

 

Ryan Jo Summers is a North Carolina author who specializes in writing romances with a twist. Love stories blended with inspirational, paranormal, suspense or time travel–or several at once. She also writes non-fiction for regional periodicals. Ryan’s dad is a songwriter and his aunt wrote poetry so she claims she came by her writing skill honestly. Apparently it’s in the genes.

Her hobbies include bird-watching, houseplants (50 ish and growing), poetry and yard work. She loves to gather with friends, hike in the forest with her dog, paint ceramics and canvas and work on wiggly word find puzzles. She lives in a 1920 cottage with a menagerie of pets. Living in the mountains, she dreams of the shore and frequently uses the water as scenes for her stories.

WEBSITE: http://www.ryanjosummers.com/

BLOG: http://www.summersrye.wordpress.comm/

FB:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ryan-Jo-Summers-author-page/312875648810797

TWITTER:        https://twitter.com/RyanJoSummers

 Coffecake Chaos

by Ryan Jo Summers

Avianna Goodman and Sawyer Steele had been young lovers. Now she is a caterer, building her own business. Right now she needs cash to help her family. He’s being ordered to stop his wild ways and settle down to take over the family empire. His controlling mother has picked out the perfect heiress for him. Now they need the right caterer to launch the perfect engagement celebration.

 

 

 

 

In A Writer’s Garden with Tina Susedik

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a new garden in the city, A Writer's Garden, Author Catherine Castle's gardening blog, author/gardener Tina Susedik, Gardening blog, lilacs, roses, tulips

Today gardener/writer Tina Susedik is visiting A Writer’s Garden. Let’s see what she’s been up to since her visit last year.

I believe the last time I posted was last summer shortly before my husband and I were ready to move. We are now settled in our house – in the city. This is new for us as we haven’t lived in a city in thirty years. Even though it was an adjustment, I’ve enjoyed the change. It seems nearly everyone on the block enjoys flowers. I love being able to talk with other gardeners and exchange plants and information without having to drive for miles.

Last year we moved in the middle of summer. Before we left, I dug up plants from our old place and got them in the ground at our new place in between trying to get settled. One thing I didn’t think to do in my rush to get my flowers in the ground, was to mark what I planted and where I planted it. Guess what? I have no idea what should be coming up this spring. A friend also gave me plants last fall and – you guessed it – I didn’t mark anything! So, my gardens will be a surprise. I did plant tulips and daffodils, which came up and were easily recognizable.

One thing we inherited with the house was a beautiful flowering crab in our front yard. Last weekend there was a major marathon that ran past our house. So many runners took the time to comment on the tree – and my tulips. That’s how gorgeous it was. Unfortunately, the blooms have run their course, and as I write this, it’s raining pink blossoms outside.

My husband dug up some evergreen bushes that weren’t doing so well. He then planted some bushes that have some color to them other than green. I look forward to seeing them bloom. I finally have a lilac bush, which is blooming. The city I live in is filled with lilac bushes. At times, that’s all you can smell as you go for walks.

I’ve been slowly adding perennials in the flower bed in the back yard, but since I don’t know what I planted last year, I’ve been rather hesitant to plant too much – if there is such a thing as too many flowers. Not in my opinion, anyway.

My neighbor across the street came over one day as I was planting rose bushes to tell me how excited she was that I was planting them. She said she has a black thumb when it comes to roses and hopes to see mine blooming. So do I.

Moving is always an adventure. Seeing what nature has provided and others before me have planted has been fun. I just hope we live here long enough for me to figure out what I planted.

 

About the Gardener/Writer:

Tina Susedik has loved flowers and gardening for as long as she can remember. Wherever she has lived, and it’s been many, many places, she has tried to make her surroundings filled with flowers. She is a multi-published author in both fiction and non-fiction, covering children, military, history, and romantic mysteries. In June, she will begin hosting her own radio show with Authors on the Air Global Radio Network. She will be interviewing authors in all genres. The title of her show – what else – “Your Book Garden.”

Her newest book is a The Trail to Love, which is part of The Soul Mate Tree Collective. The Trail to Love is a medium heat level romance with open door love scenes.

An ancient legend spanning eras, continents, and worlds. To some, it’s nothing more than a dream. To others, a pretty fairy tale handed down through the generations. 

For those in critical need of their own happy ending, a gift.

 Jack Billabard, mourning the loss of his wife and baby in childbirth, vows to never to love again. After their funeral at Fort Laramie, he rides into the Wyoming hills beyond the ranch he built for his wife. Through his grieving tears, an ancient tree appears, giving him the hope he doesn’t believe is possible. For the next four years, he acts as a guide on the Oregon Trail, taking families to a new life while his looms lonely and stagnant.

The night before her abusive husband’s death, an ancient tree appears in Sarah Nickelson’s yard as she agonizes over how to survive her marriage. The tree gives her hope she can’t help but reject. After all, a tree doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. After her husband ‘s death, and with no options as a widow in Independence, Missouri, Sarah decides to travel to Oregon City as a Mail Order Bride.

During their trek west on the Oregon Trail, Jack and Sarah encounter one another, each afraid of being hurt again. Can they survive dogs and puppies, wind and rainstorms, Indians and unfavorable fellow passengers, while their love blossoms? Will the tree fulfill its promise?

Book available at Amazon

 

Connect with Tina at:

http://tinasusedik.wordpress.com./

Twitter: @tinasusedik

Website: TinaSusedik.com

Facebook: Tina Susedik, Author

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1754353.Tina_Susedik

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tinasusedik/

 

 

Through A Writer’s Garden with Gail Kittleson

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A Writer's Garden, Author Catherine Castle's gardening blog, Gail Kittleson, In This Together

Spring Comes Softly

By Gail Kittleson

And then the day came when the risk to remain tight, in a bud, became more painful than the risk it took to blossom. — Elizabeth Appell, writer

Outside our house, this leafing bud reminds me our row of lilacs harbors promise.

 

Inside, my Christmas cactus is up to its second-time-around Easter blooming.

I’ve never been a big fan of kalanchoes, but this particular plant blooms twice a year, and its tiny, cheery blossoms are winning my heart. I move both cactus and kalanchoe outdoors in summer.

Every day now, even if the wind’s blowing like crazy and the thermometer says otherwise, we know Spring is here . . . in spirit, at least. Something like knowing your age, but not acting like it, or feeling young in spite of your birth date.

The row of lilacs I planted about twelve years ago from my mother-in-law’s starts,  originated before the turn of the century, with her grandmother. Such history, even in simple plants. Lilacs seem simple to me, embellishing Spring with their gifts, then taking a back seat the rest of the season.

Their blooms may not last as long as day lilies or petunias, spanning nearly the whole summer. But who could forget lilacs’ intoxicating, heady aroma? In a nearby alley, I slow my steps to sniff the rich dark purple flowers. Positively lush!

Obviously, the photo for this scene lives only in my head. Guess it’s clear—I’m all undone by Spring!

 

About the Author:

Gardener/writer Gail Kittleson has been gardening just about everywhere she and her husband have lived, including Senegal, West Africa. Her favorite thing about gardening is the survival of plants over harsh Iowa winters, the anticipation of new growth, and eating fresh salads. When she’s not gardening she’s writing memoir and women’s historical fiction novels and teaching a creative writing class. Gail writes from northern Iowa, where she and her husband enjoy gardening and grandchildren. In winter, Arizona’s Ponderosa pine forests provide relief from Midwest weather and a whole raft of new people and stories.

Gail’s memoir, Catching Up With Daylight, paved the way for fiction writing, and her debut women’s fiction novel, In This Together (Wild Rose Press/Vintage Line) was released on November 18, 2015.You can learn more about her at http://www.gailkittleson.com.

To read Gail’s other garden posts click here.

A Writer’s Garden–Through the Garden Gates with June McCrary Jacobs

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A Writer's Garden--Through the Garden Gates with June McCrary Jacobs, Author Catherine Castle's gardening blog, growing dahlias in drought, Pompom dahlias

Pompom Dahlia Excitement

 

As far back as I can remember I have always had a deep affection for flowers and plants of all kinds. I think I caught the gardening bug from my Grandma McCrary whose love of all things green and growing was enthusiastic and infectious.

Camellia

We are blessed to have well-established roses,

Pink lily

rose

 

 

 

 

 

Hydrangea

 

camellia bushes, azaleas, and hydrangeas galore in our gardens. We have coreopsis, daisies, rosemary, and lavender blooming each summer.

 

Missing were my favorite flowers, dahlias. Specifically, I love the pompom variety of dahlias.

Magenta Pompom Dahlias

In honor of my book’s release this past spring, my dear friend gave me a bag of pompom dahlia tubers. I was puzzled when I pulled the plastic bag filled with dirt and ugly brown lumps out of the gift bag. “It doesn’t look like much now,” my friend said. Then I read the label on the bag,  ‘Pompom Dahlias—Assorted Colors’. I was thrilled!

Since we had never grown our own dahlias, I was excited and inspired to make a go of cultivating these beauties. The problem was we live in a zone in California which is currently experiencing the fourth year of an ‘Exceptional Drought’. Dahlias need a good amount of water to thrive.

One day in early May we took the plunge. We are on extremely tight landscape watering restrictions in our town. With virtually no precipitation to speak of, the tubers obviously wouldn’t get the water they needed to get off to a healthy start. Besides, we were planting the tubers weeks later than recommended.

As I walked around the gardens each day searching for a sprout, I began to feel disappointed when nothing came up in the time allotments given for dahlias to sprout. The soil was bone dry, and still no rain. Since I’m someone who tries to never say ‘never’, I didn’t give up on our dahlias.

One day when I least expected, I spotted some green poking up in two spots where I’d buried the brown tubers. I told myself to take a deep breath—Be realistic, June; these could be weeds. In the next few days, the green became a stem with leaves and soon I had ten sprouts in various spots in our front and back gardens.

The stems grew quickly once they got started. I became heartened when I saw buds on those first two plants. Then at long last, I had pompom flowers. Magenta pompom blooms—my absolute favorite color of dahlias! As of this final day of September, 2015, my dahlias are still blooming strong. There are lots of buds on the six plants that did come to fruition.

Just about a week ago my husband spotted a surprise underneath our creeping rosemary plant. A brand new dahlia had decided to sprout about ten weeks later than expected. So far the plant is only about a foot high. I can’t wait to see what color the flowers on this late-bloomer will be!

 

 

 

About the Author:

June at the dahlia gardens

Gardener/writer June McCrary Jacobs has been gardening since she planted her first yellow and violet pansies at the age of ten. Her favorite thing about gardening is enjoying the profusion of color during all four seasons of the year. When she’s not gardening, she’s writing inspirational contemporary and historical romance. You can learn more about June at http://www.junemccraryjacobs.com.

 

 

 

 

 

JMJ:9/30/15

 

A Writer’s Garden–Through the Garden Gates with Becke Martin Davis

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A Writer's Garden--Through the Garden Gates with Becke Martin Davis, Author Catherine Castle's gardening blog, Becke Martin Davis, garden ghosts, garden pictures, Garden writer, Redbud trees

My Garden Ghosts

By Becke Martin Davis

I have lived and gardened in a number of houses in places with very different soils and climates. In the process, I not only learned about the plants that thrived, but also those that died before their time. At first, I was sure I had a black thumb and that I’d never get the knack of keeping plants alive and happy. It took awhile, but I finally realized even the most skilled gardeners lose plants occasionally.

I wasn’t a born gardener, by any means. Both of my grandfathers enjoyed their gardens, and some of their enthusiasm rubbed off on me. We didn’t live close enough to either of them for me to pick up their day-to-day habits, though. My mom liked gardens well enough, but with five young kids she didn’t have time to garden on a regular basis. I do remember planting zinnia and morning glory seeds when I was young, and both of those plants are still favorites.

I learned about four o’clocks early on, but more as a commodity than as a thing of beauty. One of our neighbors grew masses of four-o’clocks, and she would let us kids pick through the plants and fill envelopes with the chunky little seeds. We would go up and down the street, selling seeds for a few cents. I don’t remember planting any – our yard was probably too sunny for them – but as an adult I’ve always tried to include them in my gardens.

   Zinnias, morning glories and four o’clocks are easy – give them a little soil, water and sun (filtered sun or part shade for the four o’clocks, full sun for the others) and you’ll be rewarded with blooms. And the seeds are inexpensive. The plants I kill are invariably expensive.

When I sold my first garden book many years ago, I rewarded myself by using my first check to purchase three beautiful Serbian spruces (Picea omorika) – a narrow, elegant evergreen that won’t take over your yard. We were living in Cincinnati, Ohio at the time, where winters are usually pretty mild. I planted one in back, within view of our bay window, and two in the sunny front yard. Later I added a beautiful Chanticleer pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’) in the front yard, too. Within a year, all the front yard trees had died. I called a nursery owner for his advice, and he discovered water was pooling under the lawn where the pear had been planted. The tree had basically drowned.

The autopsy on the spruces was trickier. He suspected they’d been planted deeper than they’d initially been planted at the nursery where they were grown. I’ve since found that’s a common explanation for the death of trees. The spruce in the back had been mounded up higher, and that tree is still alive fifteen years on.

One of my favorite trees is the ‘Forest Pansy’ redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’). It’s not as hardy as some hybrids and cultivars, but it was hardy enough to survive normal winters in Cincinnati. The magenta flowers were as beautiful as any redbud, but the foliage was stunning. The heart-shaped leaves started out burgundy-red and gradually changed to green. For a good ten or twelve years, it was the showpiece of my garden. Sadly, two years of summer drought followed by exceptionally cold winters brought it down.

Gardening is a risky business, and, for the most part, I’ve learned from my mistakes. And in my memory those ghostly trees are as beautiful as the day I planted them.

 

 

 

 

About the author

Gardener/writer Becke Davis has been gardening for over 40 years, in Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey and in London, England. Her favorite thing about gardening is enjoying the colors, textures and scents of the garden. When she’s not gardening she’s reading,  babysitting for her young granddaughters and/or struggling to write romance novels. You can learn more about her at www.beckemartin.com