Welcome to the 2025 Garden Book Club!
Join the 2025 Garden Book Club on Instagram Stories
Starting January 14, 2025, the Garden Book Club will meet every Tuesday at 7PM on my Instagram Stories. This is the first year of the Garden Book Club, and I’m so excited to share it with you! We’ll read one book per month, with a mix of garden-themed fiction and non-fiction. Most of the books are easy to find at local libraries, so you can join without spending much.
What to Expect
The Garden Book Club is fully online:
- Every Tuesday, I’ll discuss the week’s reading on Instagram Stories, highlighting insights, comments, and voice messages from participants.
- I’ll wrap up each session with a post on my Instagram feed where you can share your thoughts.
- Throughout the week, I’ll continue to share your comments, notes, and voice messages in my Stories.
Whether you’re reading the book or listening to the audiobook, I’d love for you to join the conversation!
How to Participate
- Get the Book: Check your local library for a physical copy or audiobook on apps like Libby or Hoopla. If unavailable, consider purchasing from my [Amazon store (affiliate link)](insert link), Audible, or secondhand shops like AbeBooks or ThriftBooks.
- Follow the Reading Schedule: I’ll share the schedule for each month in my Instagram Stories and in this blog post.
- Share Your Insights: Leave a written or voice message in my Instagram DMs with your thoughts on the weekly reading.
Sharing Your Thoughts
Prepare your message in advance and keep it under 1 minute. Include:
- A brief introduction (your name or Instagram handle and where you’re from).
- What stood out to you this week?
- How did it inspire or challenge you?
- One takeaway you want to apply to your garden or life.
How to Send a Message:
- Open Instagram DMs by tapping the paper airplane icon at the top right of your feed.
- Find our message thread or go to my profile.
- Tap the microphone icon, record your message, and send it. If you mess up after recording you can hit the trash can icon and record again before sending.
The 2025 Garden Book Club List
You can find the full book list here in my Amazon store (affiliate link). Try your local library first, but if needed, you can also purchase from the links provided.
The 12 books we’ll be reading, one for each month are listed below. You can click on the links or photos to read more about the book.
You can find the reading schedule for each book below in this blog and I’ll share in Instagram Stories as well. Let’s make 2025 a year of growth, inspiration, and connection through the Garden Book Club!
The 2025 Garden Book Club List
1. January
The Garden Within by Dr. Anita Phillips
This book shows how embracing your emotions can unlock your most powerful life in this transformative book by trauma therapist Dr. Anita Phillips. Combining faith, neurobiology, and practical tools, Dr. Phillips reveals how emotional well-being heals trauma, calms anxiety, and renews the mind. Just as gardens thrive in good soil, your heart flourishes when nurtured. DISCLAIMER: this book blends faith through a Christian lens with neurobiology, gardening, and the author’s research as a therapist. While the faith aspect isn’t overt, it includes Bible verses and mentions the Creator and Jesus in a respectful way. Some people may not prefer those topics & wanted to ensure everyone is aware!
Book Club Schedule
15 Chapters/198 pages
- Week 1: Read Chapters 1–4
- Week 2: Read Chapters 5–8: Discuss chapters 1-8 Tuesday January 14
- Week 3: Read Chapters 9–12 Discuss Tuesday January 21
- Week 4: Read Chapters 13–15 Tuesday January 28
2. February
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Victoria Jones uses the Victorian art of flower symbolism to communicate emotions she can’t express, shaped by a childhood in the foster-care system. Now 18 and on her own, she discovers a gift for helping others through her floral choices, but an unexpected encounter forces her to confront a painful secret and consider risking everything for a second chance at happiness.
7 Chapters/308 pages
- Week 1: Read Chapters 1–2 Discuss Tuesday February 4
- Week 2: Read Chapters 3–4 Discuss Tuesday February 11
- Week 3: Read Chapters 5–6 Discuss Tuesday February 18
- Week 4: Read Chapter 7 Discuss Tuesday February 25
3. March
Tea Gardening for Beginners by Julia Dimakos
is your guide to growing and blending your own tea. Learn to plan your garden, cultivate 25 flavorful plants like lavender and lemongrass, and create custom blends for energy, relaxation, and more. With step-by-step instructions and plant profiles, this book makes it easy to brew tea straight from your garden!
7Chapters/117 pages
- Week 1: Read Intro & Chapter 1 Discussion March 4
- Week 2: Read Chapters 2–3 Discussion March 11
- Week 3: Read Chapters 4–5 Discussion March 18
- Week 4: Read Chapters 6–7 Discussion March 25
4. April
Leaves, Roots, and Fruit by Nicole Johnsey Burke
Do you dream of harvesting fresh, organic food from your own kitchen garden but feel limited by space, time, or experience? Nicole Johnsey Burke, founder of Gardenary, Inc., and author of Kitchen Garden Revival, shows how to match plants’ needs to your resources for year-round gardening success. With her intuitive system—leaves for quick harvests, roots for longevity, and fruits for sweet rewards—Burke provides step-by-step guidance for every level of gardener. No matter where you grow, there’s always a plant you can cultivate right away!
4 Parts/230 pages 4
- Week 1: Read Preface & Part 1 Discuss April 1
- Week 2: Read Part 2 Discuss April 8
- Week 3: Read Part 3 Discuss April 15
- Week 4: Read Part 4 Discuss April 22
5. May
The Well-Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart Smith
Gardening connects us to the cycles of life—where decay gives way to renewal—and offers a powerful refuge for the mind. In The Well-Gardened Mind, Sue Stuart-Smith explores the transformative relationship between mental health and gardening, drawing on personal stories, psychoanalytic insights, and groundbreaking research. This thoughtful and inspiring book reminds us how tending a garden can nurture both the soil and the soul.
13 Chapters/288 pages
- Week 1: Read Intro & Chapters 1–3 Discussion May 6
- Week 2: Read Chapters 4–6 Discussion May 13
- Week 3:Read Chapters 7–9 May 20
- Week 4: Read Chapters 10–13 Discussion May 27
6. June
The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman
This “quirky, funny, and deeply thoughtful book” follows widowed single mom Lilian Girvan as she navigates life after loss with her two daughters, supportive sister, and a job illustrating textbooks—complete with odd assignments like drawing whale genitalia. When her boss enrolls her in a vegetable gardening class, Lilian reluctantly attends, but what begins as an awkward Saturday at the Los Angeles botanical garden transforms into a journey of growth and healing, proving that even in the darkest times, a little sunshine can make all the difference.
7. July
The Food Lover’s Garden by Jenni Blackmore
This beginner-friendly guide takes foodies and novice gardeners from planting to plate. Learn to grow and cook 20+ popular vegetables and herbs with step-by-step instructions for any space, from balconies to backyards. Includes easy recipes, meal ideas, and preserving tips, all beautifully illustrated for a celebration of fresh, high-quality food. Perfect for urban homesteaders and sustainable living enthusiasts!
8. August
I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong
Pulitzer Prize winner Ed Yong takes readers on a fascinating journey into the microbial world, revealing how bacteria and microbes shape life on Earth. From aiding immune systems to granting animals incredible abilities, microbes transform how we see ourselves—not as individuals, but as interconnected multitudes. This groundbreaking book offers a humorous and insightful look at the hidden partners that build our bodies, protect our health, and redefine life itself.
9. September
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver
This modern classic blends memoir and investigative journalism, chronicling Kingsolver’s family’s year of eating locally in rural Appalachia. Updated with new essays from the Kingsolver family, the book reflects on how their commitment to sustainable food has evolved, including a farm-to-table restaurant, training for young farmers, and personal stories of living in harmony with food and nature. A thoughtful exploration of food culture’s impact on health, environment, and community.
10. October
Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life by Marta McDowell
Few books are as beloved as The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and few authors as iconic as Beatrix Potter. In Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life, Marta McDowell explores how Potter’s love of gardening shaped her work, featuring a gardener’s biography, a season-by-season look at her gardens, and a traveler’s guide to visiting them today.
11. November
Down to Earth by Monty Don
Monty Don shares 50 years of gardening wisdom in this practical and lyrical guide. Covering nature, seasons, design, pests, and more, he offers month-by-month advice from his own garden, alongside rarely seen photos. Perfect for gardeners seeking inspiration and expert tips for thriving gardens and fulfilling lives.
12. December
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Rediscover this timeless classic with Tasha Tudor’s iconic illustrations, an extended author biography, and fun activities. Follow orphan Mary Lennox as she uncovers the mysteries of her uncle’s estate and transforms a hidden garden into a place of healing and hope. A perfect gift for young readers and collectors alike!
I can’t wait to see how this club grows throughout the year and look forward to hearing from you! Be sure to grab your copy of the book ahead of time so we can get started.
Happy reading—and gardening!
~Michelle
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