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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...

“Life is just a bowl of cherries. So live and laugh at it all.” Lyrics by Lew Brown, Sung by Rudy Vallée, 1931 The birds are flocking to...

“All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first warm day of Spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can...

“When a flower opens, the whole world appears.” Zen Saying Unless you are a member of an Indigenous tribe, you are a part of the great...

“I went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown. For going out, I found, was really going in.” ~ John Muir Walking...

Hope and faith flower from the cheerful seeds of the old year to the sprouting garden of the new year's dawn. ~Terri Guillemets By...

Sometimes in the winds of change, we find our true direction. ~ Source Unknown Thus far, January has indeed been a windy month. Optimism...

AUG 17, 2023 “My parents told me I’d point to a bed of flowers and say ‘Pink. Pretty’ before I could say any other words!” Joni Mitchell ...

“I rejoice when I see anyone, and especially children, inquiring about flowers, and wanting gardens of their own, and carefully working...

By Cynthia Brian "Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as paint, and the soil and sky as canvas." Elizabeth Murray The...

By Cynthia Brian “I should like to enjoy this summer flower by flower, as if it were to be the last one for me.” Andre Gide Summer is...

“Stop, look, and listen. Nature is what you may be missing.” Cynthia Brian StarStyle® Empowerment is a reader-supported publication. To...