Spanish needle (Bidens pilosa) is probably growing somewhere near you right now, quietly offering its medicine while most people walk right past it. (Today I planted some in a container in my backyard…yay!! For someone who had no real interest in gardening, can you believe that I now have 10 plants in my backyard container…
Creating with my hands has always been part of how I slow down, reflect, and bring intention into my living space. This week, my focus has been on crochet pieces designed to support plants and small spaces; items that are both functional and beautiful, without feeling cluttered or complicated. I am continuing to explore how…
When people hear the words backyard garden, they often imagine rows of neat beds, overflowing harvest baskets. They also imagine someone who has clearly been doing this for years. That isn’t my reality, though. Well, at least not yet. My backyard garden is made up of containers, small experiments, lessons learned the hard way, and…
As a woman in my 50s, self-care has shifted from chasing results to embracing maintenance, presence, and deep listening. This week, I am studying Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller), a plant I have relied on for years for hair and skin care, but only recently began growing myself. When my neighbour (who knows I have…
If you live in a small space, rent your home, or garden in containers as I do, you learn very quickly that every choice has to be intentional. Space matters. Light matters. And how we support our plants matters more than we often realize. This golden crochet plant hanger came out of a simple, practical…
Green mint has been growing quietly in a pot near me for a while now, and with it, something else has been unfolding: a slow, intentional reintroduction to a plant I avoided for nearly half a century. This is not a story about instant healing or dramatic transformation. It’s about attention. About maturity. About what…
Thyme has become one of my most-reached-for herbs, both in the kitchen and in my personal wellness routine. This week, I’m studying Jamaican thyme as part of my Plant of the Week series, a small but steady presence in my container garden and in my daily rituals. I am still new to gardening, so this…
As someone learning to care for my respiratory health, I’m discovering something beautiful: the plants I’m bringing into my home and container garden aren’t just decoration. They are quietly working to help me breathe better. And the snake plant has become one of my favorite green companions on this wellness journey. Right now, I have…
Self-awareness after 50 feels very different from what it did in my younger years. It’s quieter now. Less urgent. Less performative. It’s no longer something I read about in books or aspire to master one day. It’s something I live with daily, imperfectly, and honestly. At this stage of my life, self-awareness isn’t about fixing…
Container gardening for beginners is transforming my small backyard into a thriving green space, and it can do the same for you, even if you’re starting with just one pot on a balcony. I won’t pretend I’ve always been a gardener. In fact, just a few months ago, the idea of growing my own food…