Nature does not stand still and wait for us to catch up. It’s a glorious spring after all the winter rains we finally enjoyed after so many drought years. Verdancy is erupting in the garden and the air is abuzz with activity. There are summer veggies to plant and damselflies to admire. The ladybugs areContinue reading “Spring Awe–Buds and Bugs”
Category Archives: Garden Sanctuary
The Solace of the Wildlife Garden
Lately it feels like the garden is taking more care of me than I am of it. The world of humans is so fraught with angst and urgent concerns (which we humans seem apt to self-create) that, again, I find myself in deep appreciation for the respite of the garden and simpler creatures. I’m leaningContinue reading “The Solace of the Wildlife Garden”
Houseplants Have Become My Summer Oasis
The drought and everything else got to me. Something had to give. Gardening in our summer-dry climate of Sonoma County requires adjusting to winters that are usually verdant and soggy with vernal pools, morphing into summers dry enough to burst into flames if you sneeze too hard. It’s like living in two separate ecosystems atContinue reading “Houseplants Have Become My Summer Oasis”
Sun & Sunflowers (and a very dry summer)
I thought I’d start with something cheery. Certain flowers, like daffodils or sunflowers, just brighten the moment — a garden anti-depressant — kissing your face with affectionate optimism and inducing an autonomic smile. I think I’d be going nuts by now if I didn’t have a garden and I wish I had magical powers toContinue reading “Sun & Sunflowers (and a very dry summer)”
Make a weather-resistant garden sanctuary for sitting in the garden year-round
Create a garden sanctuary with a portable greenhouse pod — great for gardening breaks or outdoor meditation space year-round. Gardening blog from Sonoma County, CA. the-compulsive-gardener.com
Happy Valentine’s Day!
An heirloom rose bouquet for Valentine’s Day. Wishing you a peaceful and love-filled day and year!
Escape the pandemic in a virtual tour of the back-roads of Sonoma County, California
Escape lockdown for a moment, into the refuge of a virtual tour of Sonoma County, California back-roads. Can you smell the wet moss and bay leaves? Enjoy the pastoral scenes of West County farms and redwood lined roads, of vineyards and sheep, apple orchards and some local favorites.
Bring the Garden to You — coping with pandemic isolation by creating art from the garden
Is pandemic life of isolation or inclement weather getting you down? Bring the sanctuary and refuge of the garden indoors with calming and creative outlets like painting garden scenes from your photographs.
Bark and Moss Appreciation Day
It’s easy to find yourself waiting for spring–or the end of the pandemic! Find joy where you can, like in the winter interest of the garden–the bark and leaves, the mosses and red twigs. A photo tribute to the winter garden.
Virtual Garden Escape — a photo gallery
Escape from pandemic lock-down into a virtual flower garden tour of daffodils, roses, poppies, and honeysuckle.