Hi, it’s me.
I can’t promise that I’ll be here long or when I’ll be back again, but man, it’s good to be back.
I’ve missed posting here and the interactions that came with those posts. Unfortunately, life got in the way. I’m a coach with my daughter’s travel softball team and that consumed my spring and summer the past few years. We started up again at the end of June and we finish our season in two weeks.
And then we’re done for good. It’s been a fun run packed with dad/daughter memories I’ll cherish for a lifetime but we’re both ready to move on. She to high school (and whatever that entails) and me to not coaching.
My son will be starting at the University of Pittsburgh in January (again, whatever that entails), majoring in Communications with a lean towards Sports Journalism. The college decision process was a wild ride and I’m thrilled he ended up in a city we all fell in love with last summer.
And the truth is, the reason I stopped posting here was that I caught a new bug: writing fiction, specifically thriller/mystery. I released my first novel in March and just finished the next one, hoping to release it in October.
I’ve loved the process from day one and in a way, treated it like I did with gardening. I have multiple spreadsheets to help me plan and stay on track and obsess over every little plot/character detail. We’ll see where it goes from here.
As for gardening, I’ve been knee deep in the dirt since the Pandemic started. I’ve never worked harder, sweated more, had more available time and complained louder about lower back pain. But it’s been awesome. I’ve had to make up for two years of neglect and while there’s still a ways to go to get it to where I want it (of course we never get it where we want it), I’m thrilled with the results to date. I’ve sold myself on a two-year plan so ideally, by next summer, I want to sit back, relish in my work and do little more than tweak at that point (Did you buy that last sentence? I didn’t).
So here is the fruit (Are the fruits? Should’ve used a better metaphor) of my labor as of yesterday. Yes, I’m still hiding the ugly but promise to share some killer before and after galleries once the after looks like a solid after.
Until next time …
looks gorgeous over there! Glad to see you posting! Can’t believe you’ve got a college kid now!
Looking good! You are a busy man!
So very glad to hear from you. Hope you’re (or soon to be) back for good. Mysteries/Thrillers are my favorite genre, so I’ll be checking Amazon for your books.
Missed you! Your garden looks great
I love the picture. I think your garden looks beautiful. Don’t ever stop. I’ve missed your posts and look forward to more.
Linda
Georgia
Your gardens are beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing! May I askwhere, in general, you live? Much of your planting looks like my part of the world (Northern Virginia).
Thank you! I also will be getting your book! Congratulations!
Love the garden photos. Best of luck to your kids.
Beautiful! Looking forward to future posts. I love Before and Afters!
So glad to have this pop up in my inbox! And happy you’re still doing garden therapy! Congrats on the book, I’m going to go buy it. Your pics are as beautiful as ever…… Don’t be gone for so long next time, please? 😊
Your post made me cry and I think that’s because I’m yout Mom! I have so missed your posts and your flowers are absolutely beautiful. You make me feel so proud and I am loving your book! Love you John!
congratulations on your books, garden and most of all your awesome kids.I’ll be on the lookout for your books.
Hello again! A new book, how exciting! Was that a Clethra Joe Pye combo? I love your groupings, they never disappoint. All the best to you, your family and your endeavors
Missed your posts John! They are always so inspiring. Congratulations on the books, wish you the best.
All your photos are great but my favorite is the 2nd one. Beautiful composition.
Now to get to my own partially neglected garden!
Glad you’re back! Congratulations on the new career. Good luck with the new novel.
What’s the plant in front of the Joe Pye in the photo at the top of your post? I like it. I’ve missed your posts.
Thank you.
John,
You’re always so busy and it doesn’t surprise me to hear that your juggling a thousand things! What’s amazing is that your garden looks absolutely gorgeous! I think it looks better than it ever has. Well, I can’t say that in my neck of the woods. We had about two to three weeks of pounding heat with no rain. Then, we went from a drought to a tropical storm pouring down buckets of water. In any event, the plants took a beat down. My Baby Joe Pye Weed that you recommended held it’s own and is a survivor. What are the purple spiked flowers in a couple of your pics? I’m jealous of your Bee Balm as mine caught some disease and died.
Congratulations on the book!
It was great hearing from y
Thanks for the update. Family comes first of course. Looking forward to more gardening updates soon.
I was so happy to see you post again! We have similar growing environments and garden style. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked for inspiration and stumbled onto one of your posts or articles in FineGardening. Your garden is beautiful. Congrats on the new books. Hope to see more posts this year as the seasons progress.
hi & just found your blog— what a beautiful garden— must be humming & thrumming w bees & butterflies!