It just so happened that the year I was nudged and inspired to begin this gardening blog about my twenty-year old Northern California garden, was during the first year of the pandemic–a year with so many changes and challenges. One good change — one of the few bright spots in it all — was the tremendous surge of pandemic gardening that happened, among both beginning and seasoned gardeners.
As I said in my welcome post, the garden has for decades been an important source of sanctuary for me, of de-stressing, of nourishment, exercise, inspiration, enjoyment and connection. I wish that for everyone, especially during these continued difficult times!
So I hope this helps fertilize the inspiration — that as many of you as possible can find continued sustenance and peace in your potagers or local parks, your windowsill greenery or indoor oasis, your allotment or balcony gardens.
And if you cannot go outside right now, I hope you will find some measure of relief and feeling of nature’s connection here and with other gardeners sharing what they do online — and that you have a nearby window filled with open sky and visiting birds and the waft of fresh air carrying the scents of nature to you.
Below are gardening-specific posts. To meander through all the posts of The Compulsive Gardener, including ones on upcycling and garden-inspired creativity, visit the blog page here. I hope you will enjoy them and write in to chat — over the garden fence, as it were. Check back often for more posts on all things gardening!
Upcycling in the Garden: Creating a Rustic Stone Wall From an Old Sidewalk
The update on “The Rockery” — a redesigned entrance garden featuring a rustic dry-stacked stone wall made from a repurposed concrete sidewalk. We chose plant selections for shade and deer resistance. Bask a bit in the healing power of nature amidst challenging times.
Finding Peace in the Garden During Dark Days
To immerse myself in the healing garden, I’ve started a new project–reviving a neglected front garden, using repurposed cement “stones” from an old sidewalk to build a rockery and creating a more welcoming entry. I’m also connecting with fellow gardeners around the world as we share six garden elements, including daffodils and rosemary.
Scented Garden Plants for Mediterranean, Summer-dry Climate Zones
Take a calming moment to envelop yourself in the scented garden. Get recommendations for aromatic plants that do well in summer-dry, Mediterranean climate zones. Cleveland sage and rockroses for example. Learn which aromatic, drought tolerant plants have done well in our Sonoma County, California garden over the years. American garden blogs
Hot Gardeners (the literal kind) and Hoof Prints In the Veg Patch—a summer update
Be safe while gardening in the heat! Heat illness can be serious, so please take steps to prevent danger to your health while working in the garden or outdoors. Plus, an update from the organic garden in summer and the inter-planted vegetable beds–with deer netting! California garden blogs
Grow Shade for Heatwaves–a review of the hardiest trees in our garden
Shade trees are a great relief during a heatwave. Plant a shade tree to cool the air around your house or city. Learn the benefits of trees to you, your community and the environment. Plus, which trees are the hardiest in my Sonoma County, California garden. They support wildlife, help stop climate change, relieve stress,…
A Palette of Spring Colors
It’s a odd dance, doing garden blogs–the season when you have the most to share is exactly when you have the least time to share it. Let me try, TRY, to do a short flit through the spring blossoms, joining in this time with the Six-On-Saturday gardeners from around the world, who post six things…
Why Going Peat-free In the Garden Is So Important
Gardeners—did you know that the peat moss we are using in our soil amendments comes from peatlands which, when undisturbed, store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests?! Join the peat-free garden movement and help preserve the unique, diverse, and important carbon-storing peatlands around the world.
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Peruse all the blog topics, like creating habitat, upcycling, creating a garden sanctuary
