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“Every plant is a teacher, and every gift is a lesson in love.” unknown The holidays bring joy, celebration, and gifts. If we are fortunate, many of those gifts are plants that offer us the opportunity to engage with nature and admire the beauty and wisdom of the botanical world. When the holidays are over, what do we do with that stunning poinsettia, Christmas cactus, bromeliad, or anthurium? With just a little care, these holiday plants will continue to brighten our spaces

“The best Christmas trees come very close to exceeding nature.” Andy Rooney It’s the most magical time of the year! As I drive through neighborhoods, the outdoor whimsical displays with twinkling lights bring a smile to my face and fill my heart with joy. No matter what traditions we celebrate, we can’t help but be delighted by the sparkling Christmas trees framed in windows, glowing snowmen playing on lawns, and glittering reindeer poised for flight. On our farm growing up,

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” Marcus Cicero Gifts and Grifts in the Garden: A Holiday Guide As autumn paints our world in fiery hues, it's time to gear up for the holidays! Let's dive into thoughtful gifts for your plant-loving pals and how to spot those pesky garden grifts. This season, let’s make sure our gardens—and wallets—stay safe and sound! Nature-Connected Gifts: My Top Picks Over the years, the most memorable gifts I've received

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird, I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” George Elliot Frogs and crickets. Crickets and frogs. Growing up on our farm in the boondocks, the croaks and chirps were the melodies of the night. In the spring, the frogs sing as they search for mates. With the warm temperatures of autumn, the crickets increase their chirping to attract mates as they search for safety and food before winter ar

“By all these lovely tokens, September days are here, with summer’s best of weather and autumn’s best of cheer.” Helen Hunt Jackson As...

Share “Failure is fertilizer. Throw your mistakes on the compost pile and grow a new garden.” Cynthia Brian Summer can be a challenging...

Share “These boots are made for walkin’ And that’s just what they’ll do.” Nancy Sinatra Growing up on the ranch, cowboy boots were...

“… with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar...

By Cynthia Brian “After women, flowers are the loveliest thing God has given the world.”– Christian Dior Springtime in California is...

More photos at https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/fruits-of-our-labor ? “ It is wonderful to have a piece of land on which one can...

By Cynthia Brian   “As you sit on the hillside, or lie prone under the trees of the forest, or sprawl wet-legged by a mountain stream,...

“It’s the time you spend on your rose that makes it so important… You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed. You’re...

“ The time to relax is when you don't have time for it.” ~ Sydney J. Harris     January, the month of winter sleep, offers gardeners the...

https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/all-i-want-for-christmas “Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon...

Digging Deep with Goddess Gardener, Cynthia Brian Waiting for Rain By Cynthia Brian   “You’ll never find rainbows if you are looking...

“I go to visit the chrysanthemums. They are indeed, the most universal, the most diverse of flowers.” Comte Maurice Maeterlinck, Nobel...

By Cynthia Brian   “Magnificent Autumn… It is the funeral anthem of the dying year.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow   When I was young, I was...

"We are part of the earth, and it is part of us… the deer, the horse, the great eagle: these are our brothers.” – Chief Seattle.     Now...

Digging Deep with Goddess Gardener, Cynthia Brian   Prescription to Plant By Cynthia Brian   “Gardening is a way of showing that you...

“Nature loves to hide.” Heraclitus In the winter, these ladies are wrapped in lush green manteaus that glisten in the rain. When warmer...