A Writer’s Garden–Garden Upheaval by Tina Susedik

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A Writer's Garden, author/gardener Tina Susedik, Darlings of Deadwood series, flowers, gardens, historical romance, The Balcony Girl, The School Marm

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.

Today’s writer/gardener guest is Tina Susedik. Tina will be sharing about all the upheaval in this year’s garden. Welcome, Tina!

It’s nearly the end of the growing season, and this one has been interesting. I’ve written in past blogs about how much I’ve moved in my life and had to start new gardens all the time. Well, this year we didn’t move but . . . we had a new driveway and a larger front porch put in. What did that mean? Well, it meant digging up plants once again. Tulips, bushes, crocuses, etc. etc.

The work started in April when things were just starting to come up. 

 

 

 

 

 

I had to move the plants and bulbs to a different garden. When the work was done, I had to move them back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple of my poor bushes were then moved once more when I didn’t like where I’d put them.

 

I only lost one of them, but took all summer for it to give up the ghost. I’m hopeful it may decide to surprise me and return in the spring. My tulips were rather sad and my crocuses, well, let’s just say, next year.

I also started a new flower bed in the front yard. It is in an area where grass doesn’t want to grow, so digging it up wasn’t hard at all. I planted lots of flowers which thrived – along with tons of grass. I’m not sure why grass grew when none had before. Weird

 I got a lot of compliments from walkers as they passed our house. Then the deer hit this fall. Chewed down my giant marigolds. Took out my black-eyed susans and I don’t know what else. I’m going to have to do something for next year.

My tomato plants were huge this year, growing as tall as the garage roof. Good old cow manure did the trick. I have tons of cherry tomatoes now and hope they all ripen before the cold hits. I’ve had to cover them a couple of times already.

I love my new porch and driveway. This winter I’ll be dreaming of how much better my gardens will look last year and research how to keep out the deer. Have a wonderful year. I’ll see you all next growing season.

 

About the Writer/Gardener:

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.”

Connect with Tina on her Website and Blog,  Amazon Author Page, Facebook, or Twitter @tinasusedik

The School Marm, book 2 in Tina’s Darlings of Deadwood series, is set to release November 23rd. Look for it on Amazon. In the meantime, check out book one of the series: The Balcony Girl

Can a secret tear them apart, or bring them together?

When Julia Lindstrom and her sister, Suzanna move to Deadwood, South Dakota in 1879, she never expects to meet her future husband, secretly befriend the madame of a brothel, and help in a disaster.

Daniel Iverson followed the gold rush to Deadwood only to find out he hated it. Now working as a lawyer, he defends ladies of the evening and investigates why men are getting sick. Meeting Julia Lindstrom was an added bonus. But can a secret to she holds tear them apart?

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.

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/

 

 

A Writer’s Garden–Through the Garden Gates with Tina Susedik

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A Writer's Garden--Through the Garden Gates with Tina Susedik, author/gardener Tina Susedik, daylily, fields of daisies, lupines, romantic mysteries

One of the things I remember about both my grandmother’s was their love of flowers. They both grew vegetables for the table, but their passion was their flowers. My maternal grandmother’s bridal wreaths were so large and hung so far over her sidewalks, you nearly had to crawl to get between them, something that was an adventure for young children.

 

lupines

I believe this love of flowers skipped a generation or two. My mother never had an interest. We always had huge vegetable gardens to feed our large family, but never flowers. I love flowers, but my daughter could care less. I see my grandchildren enjoy helping me plant flowers, and they are always asking me what they are. Last year my five-year-old grandson planted a planter full of blue flowers, “Just for you,” he said.

 

One summer, when I was a teenager and making my own money, I spent my precious coin on flower seeds. I diligently dug up the weeds around the house, planted and watered the seeds, and was excited when the first sprouts showed their faces. Two days later our dog, Heidi’s, pups, found the freshly dug garden and decided to use it as their playground. I cried.

My foray into gardening was interrupted with college, marriage, and many moves. It seemed every time I got flowers started and a garden developed, we moved. When I could, I dug up plants to take with me. At one of the places we lived, I found some daisies. Not too many, but when they seeded out, I pulled the tops off and spread the seeds. The following year, I was happy to see more plants. This went on for a few years, and when I knew we were going to move again, I collected the seeds and took them with me. I felt like Johnny Appleseed, only I was Tina Daisyseed.

 

We finally lived at one place long enough for me to create fields of daisies. I loved it. Now we’ve moved again and I’ve started over. It’s only been four years since I began this project at our current home, and I look forward to seeing them this year.

 

 

Gardener/writer Tina Susedik has been gardening all her life in pots, plots and wherever she can find dirt. Her favorite thing about gardening is watching the brilliant colors as the flowers bloom.  When she’s not gardening, she writes sensual romantic mysteries and has developed one that involves flowers – of course. You can learn more about her at tinasusedik.com