I’ve always liked beautiful, exciting “gardens” or should I say landscapes. Somehow, the word “garden” is more familiar, comfortable, …personal. I don’t mean the ones that were drawn by architects or designers, but the ones created with love by the homeowner. People with a passion for mixing flower colors, leaf textures, and scents to express their own personality have always intrigued me. I’m drawn to them I suppose, because of a mutual understanding…the love of getting your hands in the soil, or pruning just enough, but not too much, or the play of creation through gardening. In some respect, we gardeners are artists, or authors- we both tell a story and paint a picture with plants.

Aside from the creative aspect, I’ve often heard that gardening is good therapy. I whole-heartedly agree! It feels good and definitely will lift your spirits. It can take your mind off your problems, or they’re magically dissolved or resolved in the midst of digging, clipping and trimming. It gets you outside in the fresh air and is great exercise for mind, and body, while it feeds the soul! Plus, the sense of satisfaction from a pleasing looking garden is remarkable…but fleeting. Just when we think it’s done, we think of a new path to explore, or we visit a nursery and get excited over new plants to try, we might even flip through a magazine and fall in love with a whole new look. So…happily, it’s a constantly evolving endeavor.

It occurred to me that you might like to meet fellow gardeners as well. So, I’ve embarked on a journey of meeting some and sharing their stories with you. I hope you find them enjoyable.

- Visit with Diane Von Gerichten
- Meet Charleen Mullen