Description

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A collection of essays from the long running column and blog, A Gardener's Notebook. What is there about a garden? Gardens can be beautiful or productive and are often both at the same time. Every gardener brings their own energies, their own attitudes, their own wants, needs and desires to their garden, making each one a unique statement on their creators. Whether you are growing vegetables, flowers for cutting or the world's largest pumpkin, gardens can hold a special place in your heart. Gardens can tell us a lot about ourselves, but we also end up communicating who we are to others through our gardens. One visit to my garden and you will see that I like things a little wild and not too tidy. You'll notice that I garden with benign neglect -- reveling in those things that survive and not worrying too much about those that don't. My garden is a window into the very core of who I am. Sure there will be more to learn, but sometimes I think my garden is the best introduction anyone can have of me. Join me in my garden.

About the Author

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Born in the epitome of small town America -- New London, Ohio, -- Douglas E. Welch spent many summers digging and planting vegetables in his grandmother's garden or driving tractor on his family's small soybean farm. Computer work called him to the big city of Los Angeles but he managed to take a piece of Ohio with him. When he and his wife bought their first home they inherited an overgrown 10 year old garden. He has spent his years renovating what was a meticulous Japanese garden into a small piece of woodland among the urban cement. This double life illustrates his strong belief that balance in this modern world requires a combination of high-tech and high-touch living. Douglas' gardening column and podcast, A Gardener's Notebook, began in 1996 and is available at DouglasEWelch.com/agn/