Garden Memories
I read and reread this passage in Alice Taylor’s book, The Gift of a Garden. Why does it resonate with me so much? Alice is describing an old apple tree that had been planted by her uncle. It is a meaningful tree with a familial history. Memories have been made and kept under this tree. It is a personally important tree, and one that gives something back to Alice.
In that place, under the apple tree, Alice feels the cares of the world disappear. The way that she tells the story makes you feel as though you are there with her, as the ‘calming branches’ alleviate her stress. The writing takes you to that time and place and makes you feel the feelings that she is describing.
I have often felt a kinship with trees, especially old ones, or ones to which I am personally connected. To some people that might seem an alien concept, but just think of it like a relationship with a treasured pet.
You tend and care for the tree/pet, but the relationship is beneficial to both entities. We, as humans, tend to disassociate ourselves from the plants around us, or to treat them as less than us, but I am hearing more people talk about how much nature, including trees and other plants, are an important part of their lives.
You knew that there was a soapbox moment coming – well, here it is. In this piece of writing, Alice connected with the tree and shared her feelings. Writing draws out feelings and emotions that may lie hidden until we use the process of writing to analyze these ideas and thoughts, and permanently record them for others to read. The reader can then think about them and re-read them, just as I did. It is a connection – one human to another. What happens when we outsource our brains and thoughts to a computer to do its faux “AI thinking”? I may be a Luddite, but I still want a physical book that expresses real human pleasures and human emotions. Let me know what you think? Am I a stick in the mud? One thing you do know for sure is that I wrote this myself!
Before You Garden
This month is the Garden Wedding update with photos of the flower arrangements and all the lowdown on what we learned in the process of hosting a garden reception.
This article and more are on my blog – BeforeYouGarden.com
Check out all of the articles here gardens, gardening, books, flowers, and more.
NEW: A Year of Beautiful Bulbs Webinar
I’m delighted to be joining Garden Design for a live webinar, A Year of Beautiful Bulbs: Designing Gardens and Containers for Season-Long Color.
We’ll explore how to choose bulbs for your climate, create flowers from late winter through fall, combine bulbs naturally with perennials, shrubs, and ornamental grasses, and build layered containers. I’ll also share practical tips for planting, aftercare, pollinators, and avoiding common bulb-growing mistakes.
I hope you’ll join me and the Garden Design team for an hour of practical ideas and inspiration for getting more from bulbs throughout the year.
Thursday, November 19th
6 PM ET / 3 PM PT
$20 USD
Plant of the Month: Apple Trees
I grew up in Kent, the county known as the Garden of England. Our little village was surrounded by farms, including apple orchards, strawberry fields, and hop gardens (for making beer). The soil and climate are great for fruit trees. Some gardens also had their own apple tree or trees. In the spring, we would get in our tiny car (four of us in the back seat with no seat belts) and drive around the “Blossom Route.” Such a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon in spring.
When I moved here to Northview, I planted apple trees, which were unfortunately broken off by deer. I tried again, and now my apple trees are planted inside a fence to protect them. I chose a few old-fashioned cultivars that were good for this climate. Planting compatible cultivars with overlapping bloom times helps ensure good cross-pollination and fruit set. I do not spray or do anything to my apples. I chose those that were listed as disease-resistant.
In the spring, the simple rose-family flowers come out of their buds pink and turn white as they open. The distinctive floral scent is most obvious on a day with gentle warm air. This sensory treat is paired with the delightful hum of pollinators.
In autumn, my apple harvest varies from year to year, but the pleasure of those apples straight off the tree is immense. The juice runs down your forearm as you crunch through the skin into the flesh beneath. The smell of acidity mixed with sweetness tingles in your nostrils.
If you don’t grow your own apples, then a trip to your local farmers’ market might be in order. There are so many different apple cultivars, each with their own taste and coloring. It is fun to cut up a few and do a taste test with your friends or family.
If you have the space and the right climate, a gnarled old apple tree is a wonderful centerpiece. They are typically found in cottage gardens paired with other edible plants like blackberries. Pair the berries and the apples to make a great pie, crumble, or cobbler. Maybe, you can plant your own apple tree or even two. Just make sure to protect them from the deer for a few years.
Book of the Month:
The Gift of a Garden
Alice Taylor is an Irish writer who finds being in gardens and with trees rejuvenating. She is a storyteller in the best of ways, interspersing memories and current events to create a page-turning narrative. Each chapter is a mini-essay with enticing titles like “Tea in the Garden”, and “The Garden Shed.” You can read the whole book or dip into a chapter.
The title of Alice’s book, The Gift of a Garden, is about the relationship that the author has with the garden in Ireland that she inherited from her Uncle Jacky. An old apple tree is planted in the center of the garden. Her uncle and aunt would sit under the tree and “enjoy the delights of the garden. This was their favorite corner. In spring, it sprouted daffodils around their seat, and in summer it was smothered in roses.” She continues, “The planting of an apple tree is a great investment in the future.” I would agree with that statement. If not an apple tree, then another tree of your choice that will bring delight in the future.
Inspiring words are scattered like petals throughout the book. The chapter called “A Jug of Flowers” begins, “One of the best things about gardening is the inducement to wander around aimlessly.” Oh, how I identify with this. We need more time to be aimless in this goal-driven world.
For me, this book is full of inspirational and thoughtful ideas, and quotes, alongside some garden photos by Emma Byrne that accompany the text. It is a gentle book that allows you to escape from the traumatic space that is social media or the news to a more peaceful place. Ahhh – just what I need.
In Case You Were Gardening…
American Summer Flower Gardens – Roses, Dahlias, Hydrangeas, and More, published September 9, 2026
Growing Flowers for a Garden Wedding Reception, published August 3, 2026
In The Pink – Flowers Version, published May 19, 2026
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Want More? Check Out My Books!
While shady areas can be a challenging area for gardeners, Glorious Shade shows you how to make the most of it by helping you chose the right plants for the space and sharing key designing and maintenance tips.
The Ultimate Flower Gardener’s Guide gives gardeners the confidence needed to create the flower-filled garden of their dreams. Instead of concentrating primarily on color, it brings flower shape and texture to the fore, helping homeowners to create cohesive, yet unique, flower gardens.
The Essential Guide to Bulbs is a gorgeously photographed, comprehensive, and inviting resource. While many gardeners may be familiar with the early show of spring bulbs, there are so many more to choose from that provide three-season color, drama, and spontaneity in the garden.
Not only are these books an excellent addition to your gardening book collection, I personally sign every book purchased directly from my website as a special thank you.
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