Coming Soon

We are currently developing practical guides for every month of gardening in zone 7b. Not sure if you’re in Zone 7b? You can look up your USDA Hardiness Zone here. is a preview of the seasonal tasks and focus areas you can expect to find when the full guides launch. Please check back soon or subscribe for updates so you don’t miss out.

In the meantime, explore my seed starting tips guide  and dive into the current Garden Book Club reads to keep your hands and mind engaged in every season.

Questions The Zone 7b Guide Will Answer

Get ready for answers to these essential gardening questions, tailored to Zone 7b’s climate:

• When’s the best time plant garlic for a bountiful summer harvest?
• When should you sow slow-growing seeds like celery, peppers, and rosemary to ensure they’re ready for the season?
• When’s the perfect moment to prune fruit trees and shrubs like lilac and forsythia for healthy growth and stunning blooms?
• When do you plant cool-season crops for vibrant spring and fall harvests in Zone 7b?
• When’s the ideal time to order garlic to grab top varieties before they sell out?
• When do you plant perennials to help them thrive through Zone 7b’s winters and summers?
• And so much more!

Grow Your Best Zone 7b Garden Yet!

This preview is just a taste of our detailed month-by-month guides. Subscribe today for updates and be the first to get our full guides when they launch.

The post Zone 7b Gardening Guide: Year-Round Plan is Coming Soon appeared first on Michelle's Garden Grows.

Dealing with garden pests can feel overwhelming, especially when you’ve put so much time and love into growing your plants. But here’s the good news: with a little preparation and observation, you can protect your garden using natural and organic methods that work with nature, not against it.

How to Identify and Control Common Garden Pests Naturally

Whether you’re just starting out or have been gardening for years, here’s how to stay ahead of pest problems—naturally.

1. Preparation: Know Your Garden Pests

Before planting season begins, take time to research the common garden pests in your area. Understanding which insects are likely to show up (and when) helps you create a plan before problems start.

Also look into natural and organic pest control approaches that align with your gardening values. Prevention is always easier—and more effective—than reacting after an infestation begins.

2. Prevention: Build a Garden That Fights Pests Naturally

Healthy plants are your best defense. Insects are more likely to attack stressed or weak plants, so build a strong foundation.

Here are the foundational ways to prevent pest pressure:

• Build healthy soil: Use compost and natural fertilizers to nourish your soil.
• Grow healthy plants: Remove any weak or diseased seedlings.
• Attract beneficial insects: Plant flowers like calendula, yarrow, alyssum, and herbs such as dill, fennel, and basil to attract ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps.
• Use trap crops: These are sacrificial plants (like nasturtiums) that attract pests away from your main crops.
• Rotate your crops: Don’t plant the same thing in the same spot year after year. Crop rotation confuses pests and improves soil health.

3. Observe Your Plants Daily

Your plants will talk to you—if you pay attention. Look for these early signs of pest problems:

• Holes in leaves
• Sticky or dark brown droppings (frass)
• Flowers or fruit dropping off early
• Unusual wilting or yellowing

Check the underside of leaves, where many pests and eggs like to hide. The earlier you notice a problem, the easier it is to control.

4. Take Action: Organic & Natural Pest Control Methods

Once you’ve spotted a problem, it’s time to act. Here’s a toolbox of safe and effective pest control approaches:

Mechanical Controls

• Remove any diseased leaves and add compost around the plant.
• Hand removal: Pick off bugs and drop them into a jar of soapy water. Here’s the easiest way I’ve found to hand-pick garden pests—this simple tool makes all the difference.
• Tweezers-I like to use these sharp-pointed tweezers to hand-pick pests like squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and caterpillar. Makes hand removal so easy. These are the ones I use from Amazon.
• Duct Tape-Great for squash bug eggs under leaves.
• Water spray: A strong stream can knock aphids off plants.
• Floating row covers: Use mesh to protect seedlings and transplants—removing them once flowering begins for pollination.

Biological Controls

• Introduce beneficial insects: Ladybugs, lacewings, praying mantis, and parasitic wasps are natural predators. You can even order them online!
• Plant companion plants: Certain flowers and herbs naturally repel pests or attract helpful insects.

Organic Sprays & Treatments

While these organic methods are effective against common garden pests, they can also harm beneficial insects if not used carefully. Be sure to apply them properly-timing, placement, and moderation is key to protecting the helpful bugs that support your garden.

• Neem Oil: Effective against many soft-bodied insects. Use in early morning or evening to protect pollinators.
• BT (Bacillus thuringiensis): A naturally occurring bacteria that targets caterpillars. Safe for humans, pets, birds, and fish—but harmful to caterpillars (so avoid using in butterfly gardens).
• Diatomaceous Earth (DE): Made from fossilized algae, this fine powder kills insects with exoskeletons like beetles and slugs. It must be dry to work. Wear a mask when applying.
• Sluggo– An organic slug and snail bait made with iron phosphate, a natural mineral that is safe for pets, people and wildlife. OMRI-listed and stops slugs from feeding. Sprinkle around plants to protect your garden without harming beneficial insects.

New Option: Arber, a plant wellness company, is now available at Walmart. It’s an organic and eco-conscious line for plant care and pest prevention.

DIY Sprays

Always test sprays on a small section of the plant before full application to check for sensitivity. Apply sprays in the early morning or late evening to avoid harming pollinators like bees. Repeat applications regularly and after rain for best results. Combine with other pest management practices such as crop rotation, beneficial insects, and good garden hygiene for a holistic approach.

• Garlic and Chili Pepper Spray
• Soap Spray (Castile Soap Spray)
• Vegetable Oil Spray

5. Common Garden Pests (and How to Deal With Them)

Here are a few pests I’ve personally dealt with in my garden—and what works:

Cabbage Worms

Found on broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. Watch for:

• White butterflies fluttering near plants
• Tiny black droppings
• Small green caterpillars hiding in leaf folds

Control: Handpick and drop in soapy water. One of the best long-term ways to control cabbage worms is by encouraging biodiversity. Attract natural predators like birds and beneficial insects, and plant companions like nasturtiums, dill, thyme, dill, to repel cabbage butterflies. This won’t be a quick fix but will be biodiversity for the future.

Row covers can block cabbage moths, but only if used correctly—check for eggs first and seal edges tightly. Otherwise, you might trap pests inside. Get row covers here.

If handpicking and row covers aren’t enough, consider using Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), a naturally occurring bacteria that’s toxic to caterpillars but safe for humans, pets, and plants. Bt is an organic solution, but it should be used sparingly to minimize harm to other beneficial insects like butterflies and pollinators. Get Bt here.

Cucumber Beetles

Cucumber beetles are easy to spot with their striped or spotted patterns, but they can quickly devastate cucurbit crops and spread incurable diseases like bacterial wilt. For an in-depth guide on identification and management, read this article from the University of Utah Extension.

They completely destroyed my cucumber plants my first few years of gardening despite my best efforts with hand picking and organic products. The best suggestion I have is to hold off until July to plant your cucumbers.

Control: Use row covers early, remove at bloom, plant trap crops, delay planting until mid summer and as a last resort consider treating with Spinosad or Pyrethrum if needed. Both Spinosad and Pyrethrum are organic insecticides derived from natural sources, but they should be used carefully to protect beneficial insects and pollinators.

Here’s more extensive information on Cucumber Beetles

Squash Vine Borers

Adult moths lay eggs on stems. Larvae bore inside, causing plants to wilt suddenly.

Control: Check stems often. Slice open affected stem to remove larva. Replant or mound soil over cut stem to encourage new roots.

Squash Bugs

They look like stink bugs and suck the sap from cucurbit leaves.

Control: Use row covers until bloom. Remove eggs with duct tape. Use these Apply DE at base of plants.

Tomato Hornworms

Large green caterpillars that can destroy tomato plants overnight.

Control: Handpick or leave alone if parasitic wasp cocoons are present—they’re doing the work for you!

6. Garden Pest Pressure: A Holistic Approach

Pest control isn’t a one-time fix. It’s a rhythm of preparation, observation, and action. Here’s how to stay ahead of pest pressure:

• Set up your tools early: Keep mesh row covers, spray bottles, soapy water jars, tweezers, and duct tape in your garden supplies.
• Monitor daily: Adult pests may die quickly, but eggs can hatch over time. Stick with it for a few weeks.
• Support your plants: Prune damaged parts, clear the area, and nourish the plant with compost. Attract natural predators and monitor daily for two weeks before deciding on further steps.

Final Thoughts: Work With Nature

Healthy gardens are alive with activity—including some pests. The goal isn’t perfection, but balance. When you focus on building a resilient garden and responding early, you’ll find fewer frustrations and more success.

When you spend time in your garden each day, you’ll spot problems early. By combining these methods-handpicking, row covers, and using organic products sparingly you can get rid of most pests without damaging your garden’s ecosystem you’re partnering with nature—not fighting against it.

The post Organic Garden Pest Guide appeared first on Michelle's Garden Grows.

The Healing Power of Gardening

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to explore how gardening supports emotional well-being. This month, we’re reading The Well-Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith — a beautiful blend of science, storytelling, and insight into the healing power of nature.

If you’ve ever felt a sense of calm while pulling weeds, peace while planting seeds, or unexpected joy watching something grow, this book puts words — and science — to that experience. Psychiatrist, psychotherapist and gardener Sue Stuart-Smith takes us deep into how tending to the earth can also help us tend to ourselves.

Gardening has long been a source of peace, renewal, and resilience. Stuart-Smith shows how digging in the soil can ease stress, lift depression, and even transform lives — from prisoners and at-risk youth to elderly gardeners who enjoy longer, healthier lives. Her book offers a powerful reminder that reconnecting with the rhythms of growth, decay, and renewal is vital in our fast-paced, tech-driven world.

What makes The Well-Gardened Mind so special is the way it blends hard science with heart. You’ll learn how the brain responds to nature, why our neural networks mimic the growth patterns of trees, and how simple acts like planting or pruning can create space for healing, connection, and hope.

“It is the only time I feel I am good.”
— Kay, a patient who found her sense of worth while reclaiming a garden once left in ruins

As we care for our gardens this month, let’s also nurture our own minds and souls. The Well-Gardened Mind is the perfect companion for this journey — and a reminder that even in seasons of struggle, something beautiful can grow.

Reading Schedule for The Well Gardened Mind

 13 Chapters/288 pages 

Week 1:  Read 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

How The 2025 Garden Book Club Works

 Tuesdays I’ll be chatting about the book over on my Instagram Stories! Each discussion will be saved to the Garden Book Club Highlight so you can catch up anytime. Want the full 2025 book list? Find it here!

How to Participate

•  Get the Book – Check your library or find it on my Amazon store (affiliate link).
•  Follow the Reading Schedule – Posted here and on Instagram Stories.
•  Stay on track! I’ll post weekly reminders so you can follow along at your own pace. No pressure—just join when a book interests you! Even if you’re not reading, you’re welcome to follow along on Instagram Stories.
•  Join me on Instagram Stories every Tuesday for discussions on the book’s themes and key takeaways.
• Join the Discussion – Share your insights via Instagram DMs (written or voice). I’ll share some of your insights throughout the week.

Where to Find The Well Gardened Mind

You can find the book at:

• Your local library
• AbeBooks, ThriftBooks, Audible, or Amazon

You can listen to the author speaking about the transformative positive power of gardening on mental health in the YouTube video below.

The post May Garden Book Club Pick: The Well Gardened Mind appeared first on Michelle's Garden Grows.

Why Leaves, Roots, and Fruit is Perfect for the April 2025 Garden Book Club

Looking for an easier way to plan a thriving garden no matter where you grow? Leaves, Roots, and Fruit  simplifies garden design by grouping plants into three categories of leaves, roots, and fruit.

Author Nicole Johnsey Burke, founder of Gardenary, shares a practical and intuitive system to maximize growth, increase harvests no matter where you grow by matching the plant’s needs with your own resources. She provides step-by-step instructions for the set up, care, and harvest for each plant category. Her method streamlines plant selection and layout, helping you grow more with less effort.

This book is a great pick for our April 2025 Garden Book Club because it’s almost planting season. The book is insightful, easy to follow, and a game-changer for any gardener looking to begin or improve their gardening strategy.

Fun Fact: The author Nicole Johnsey Burke was the one who first inspired me (through her first book Kitchen Garden Revival) to ask my husband to help me build a kitchen garden so I could finally start gardening at the age of 48!

Want A Sneak Peek at Leaves, Roots, and Fruit?

Curious about how this system works? Watch the author explain her gardening philosophy in the YouTube video below!

Reading Schedule for Leaves, Roots, and Fruit

 4 Parts/230 pages

Week 1: Read Preface & Chapter 1 | Discussion: April 1
Week 2: Read Part 2 | Discussion: April 8
Week 3: Read Part3 | Discussion: April 15
Week 4: Read Part 4 | Discussion: April 22

How The 2025 Garden Book Club Works

 Tuesdays I’ll be chatting about the book over on my Instagram Stories! Each discussion will be saved to the Garden Book Club Highlight so you can catch up anytime. Want the full 2025 book list? Find it here!

How to Participate and Where to Find the Book

• Get the Book – Check your library or find it on my Amazon store (affiliate link), or from the author at Gardenary.com . It’s also available on audible, but I recommend the physical book for this one.
• Follow the Reading Schedule – Posted here and on Instagram Stories.
•  Stay on track! I’ll post weekly reminders so you can follow along at your own pace. No pressure—just join when a book interests you! Even if you’re not reading, you’re welcome to follow along on Instagram Stories.
• Join me on Instagram Stories every Tuesday for discussions on the book’s themes, gardening tips, and takeaways. I will post question, poll, and quiz stickers for you to answer based on the weekly reading in my stories every Tuesday. I’ve also been trying to do an instagram live on the book once a month with either a book club participant or the author.
• Join the Discussion – Share your insights with me via Instagram DMs (written or voice). I’ll share some of your insights throughout the week.

Join the April 2025 Garden Book Club Discussion

As part of the April 2025 Garden Book Club, we’ll be discussing how this book can transform our approach to gardening. Whether you’re new to edible gardening or looking to refine your methods, this book offers valuable takeaways that will help you create a thriving, well-planned garden.

Can’t wait to dig into this one with you! I’d love to hear your thoughts! What are you most excited to learn from Leaves, Roots, and Fruit? Share your insights in the comments or join the conversation in our Book Club discussions on my instagram DMs.

Happy gardening!

Here’s another video by the author that will help supplement the information in the book

The post April 2025 Garden Book Club Leaves Roots and Fruit appeared first on Michelle's Garden Grows.

Tea Gardening for Beginners by Julia Dimakos

Have you ever wanted to grow your own tea leaves or create herbal infusions at home? If so, this month’s 2025 Garden Book Club selection, Tea Gardening for Beginners, is the perfect guide to help you get started. Not only does this book teach you how to grow tea, but it also walks you through blending your own unique creations.

In this book, you’ll learn how to plan your garden and cultivate 25 flavorful plants, such as lavender and lemongrass. Additionally, you’ll discover how to create custom tea blends for energy, relaxation, and more. With step-by-step instructions and detailed plant profiles, brewing fresh tea from your own garden becomes simple and enjoyable.

Fun fact: The author, Julia Dimakos, and I were once in the same gardening group on Instagram! Interestingly, Julia lives in Canada and has a massive and beautiful kitchen garden space. Because of her experience growing her own garden and teaching others in her community she is an excellent resource for kitchen gardeners. If you’d like to learn more about her, you can visit her website here.

Want a sneak peek of the book? Watch a discussion in the YouTube video below!

Reading Schedule for Tea Gardening for Beginners

 7Chapters/117 pages 

• Week 1: Read Intro & Chapter 1. The Discussion is March 4
• Week 2: Read Chapters 2–3. The Discussion March 11
• Week 3: Read Chapters 4–5. The Discussion March 18 
• Week 4: Read Chapters 6–7. The Discussion March 25

How The 2025 Garden Book Club Discussion Works

Each Tuesday around 7:00PM EST. I chat about a section of the book we are reading in the 2025 Garden Book Club over on my Instagram Stories. I then save the discussions to a Garden Book Club Highlight on my Instagram page so you can visit them whenever you have time. If you’d like the complete book list for each month of our Garden Book Club you can find it here. 

How to Participate

• Join me every Tuesday at ~7PM EST on Instagram Stories for discussions. I’ll be discussing the book of the month, sharing insights, and diving into the themes, gardening tips, and reflections. I’ll also have polls and question boxes for you to share your thoughts and insights. I also save each story to a Book Club Highlight so you can go back and watch later if you miss it on Tuesdays.
• Engage by sending voice or written messages via Instagram DMs with your thoughts and key takeaways! I’ll share your messages throughout
  the following days, though I won’t be taking questions or comments in real-time.
•   Stay on track: To help you stay on track, I’ll post weekly reminders on Instagram Stories with a book club graphic. This Book Club is super flexible. No pressure to join, just jump in when a book looks interesting to you. Even if your not reading the book you are welcome to follow along in my Instagram Stories every Tuesday .

Where to Find the Book 

You can find Tea Gardening for Beginners at Juliadimakos.com , your local library, Abe Books, Thrift Books, Audible orAmazon.

Book Club Facilitator

Michelle is a self-taught kitchen gardener whose goal is to help everyone find resources, guidance, and inspiration to rediscover or discover for the first time how fun and rewarding gardening can be.

Through her blog and social media, Michelle’s Garden Grows, she encourage others on their own gardening journeys.

With an RN, BSN degree, Michelle blends her faith and nursing background with gardening, showing how the garden can be a place of healing, growth, and renewal. You can learn more about Michelle’s Garden Grows here.

The post March Garden Book Club: Tea Gardening for Beginners appeared first on Michelle's Garden Grows.

 The Language of Flowers 

Just in time for Valentine’s Day is our February Book Selection The Language of Flowers. Fun Fact I rarely read fiction books so this will be a stretch for me. This is even more of a reason I can’t wait to dig into this book with you.

You can hear an overview of the book by the author in the YouTube video here or in the video below:

Reading Schedule for The Language of Flowers

Week 1: Read Part 1 / Thistle (pages 3-87) Discuss Tuesday February 4

Week 2: Read Part 2 /The Heart Unacquainted (pages 91-189) Discuss Tuesday February 11

Week 3: Read Part 3 /Moss ( 193-165) Discuss Tuesday February 18

Week 4: Read Part 4 /New Beginnings (pages 269-308) Discuss Tuesday February 25

*Be sure to read Victoria’s Dictionary of Flowers on pages 311-318

How The 2025 Garden Book Club Discussion Works

Each Tuesday around 7:00PM EST. I chat about a section of the book we are reading in the 2025 Garden Book Club over on my Instagram Stories. I then save the discussions to a Garden Book Club Highlight on my Instagram page so you can visit them whenever you have time. If you’d like the complete book list for each month of our Garden Book Club you can find it here.

How to Participate

• Join me every Tuesday at ~7PM EST on Instagram Stories for discussions. I’ll be discussing the book of the month, sharing insights, and diving into the themes, gardening tips, and reflections. I’ll also have polls and question boxes for you to share your thoughts and insights. I also save each story to a Book Club Highlight so you can go back and watch later if you miss it on Tuesdays.
• Engage by sending voice or written messages via
  Instagram DMs with your thoughts and key takeaways! I’ll share your messages throughout
  the following days, though I won’t be taking questions or comments in real-time.
•   Stay on track: To help you stay on track, I’ll post weekly reminders on Instagram Stories with a book club graphic. This Book Club is super flexible. No pressure to join, just jump in when a book looks interesting to you. Even if your not reading the book you are welcome to follow along in my Instagram Stories every Tuesday.

Where to Find the Book

You can find the Language of Flowers at your local library, Abe Books, Thrift Books, Audible or Amazon.

Inspiration Behind the Book

The author was inspired to write this book from her experience as a foster parent and her reading of Kate Greenaway’s Language of Flowers first published in 1884. The official term for “the language of flowers” is floriography.

Floriography is the practice of assigning symbolic meanings to flowers to convey messages and emotions without words. It was especially popular in the Victorian era, when people used flowers to express feelings that social norms discouraged them from saying aloud.

The Book Behind the Book

The inspiration for The Language of Flowers stemmed from the author’s discovery of an 1800s edition of Language of Flowers by Kate Greenaway, which she found as a teenager in an old bookstore. The book, combined with her experiences mentoring foster children, influenced the creation of her own work​

Book Club Facilitator

Michelle is a self-taught kitchen gardener whose goal is to help everyone find resources, guidance, and inspiration to rediscover or discover for the first time how fun and rewarding gardening can be.

Through her blog and social media, Michelle’s Garden Grows, she offers practical tips, educational content, inspiration and hosts The Garden Book Club to support and encourage others on their gardening journeys.

With an RN, BSN degree, Michelle blends her faith and nursing background with gardening, showing how the garden can be a place of healing, growth, and renewal. You can learn more about Michelle’s Garden Grows here.

The post February Garden Book Club: The Language of Flowers  appeared first on Michelle's Garden Grows.

It’s Time for the January Garden Book Club Selection: The Garden Within by Dr. Anita Phillips

Each Tuesday around 7:15PM EST starting January 14, I’ll be chatting about one section of the book on Instastories and then saving them all to a highlight so you can visit them whenever you’re ready.

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

You can read all about how our 2025 Garden Book Club works in this post and see the full list here for the rest of the month’s selections.

Our January book selection 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. 

I’m excited for you to join me!

Where to find the book

You can find it at your local library, Abe Books, Thrift Books, or Amazon.

How to Participate in The Garden Book Club

• Join me every Tuesday at ~7pm on Instagram Stories for discussions. I’ll save each story to a Book Club Highlight so you can go back and watch later if you miss it on Tuesdays.
• Discussion: Each week I’ll be discussing the book of the month, sharing insights, and diving into the themes, gardening tips, and reflections.
• Engage by sending voice or written messages via Instagram DMs with your thoughts and key takeaways! I’ll share your messages throughout the following days, though I won’t be taking questions or comments in real-time.
• Stay on track: To help you stay on track, I’ll post weekly reminders on Instagram Stories with a book club graphic.

About the Author

Michelle is a self-taught kitchen gardener whose goal is to help everyone find resources, guidance, and inspiration to rediscover or discover for the first time how fun and rewarding gardening can be. 

Through her blog and social media, Michelle’s Garden Grows, she offers practical tips, educational content, and inspiration to support and encourage others on their gardening journeys.

With an RN, BSN degree, Michelle blends her faith and nursing background with gardening, showing how the garden can be a place of healing, growth, and renewal. You can learn more about Michelle’s Garden Grows here.

The post January Garden Book Club: The Garden Within  appeared first on Michelle's Garden Grows.

Welcome to the 2025 Garden Book Club

Join the 2025 Garden Book Club on Instagram Stories

The Book Club is fully online. We meet Tuesdays at 7PM EST on Instagram Stories to discuss a garden-themed book each month—a mix of fiction and nonfiction. Most books are available at libraries, so you can join for free!

How It Works:

 Get the Book – Check your library or find it on my Amazon store (affiliate link).
 Follow the Reading Schedule – Posted here and on Instagram Stories.
 Join the Discussion – Share insights via Instagram DMs (written or voice).

Sharing Your Thoughts:

• Leave a written or voice message in my Instagram Dm’s. Keep voice messages under 1 minute.
• Share one or two things that resonated with you or that you found interesting from the weekly reading.
• I’ll feature messages and comments in Stories!

Book List & Schedule

Find the 12-book list and reading schedule below or in my Amazon store. Let’s make 2025 a year of growth, inspiration, and connection!

The Garden Book Club will meet every Tuesday around 7PM on Instagram Stories. This is the first year of the Garden Book Club. We 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.

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 Part 1/Common Thistle (Pages 3-87) Discuss Tuesday February 4, 2025
• Week 2: Read Part 2/The Heart Unacquainted (pages 91-189) discuss Tuesday February 11
• Week 3: Read Part 3/ Moss (pages 193-165) Discuss Tuesday February 18
• Week 4: Read Part 4/New Beginnings (pages 269-308) Discuss Tuesday February 25.

3. March

Tea Gardening for Beginners by Julia Dimakos 

This 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

Grow Your Soil by Diane Miessler

Soil health is gaining attention, even among casual gardeners, as thriving plants depend on rich, life-filled soil. Certified permaculture designer Diane Miessler shares a no-till, no-fertilizer approach to building healthy soil with minimal inputs. In an engaging, practical style, she explains techniques like cover cropping, constant mulching, and a powerful compost tea recipe—methods she used to turn a barren lot into a garden that stops traffic.

7. July

Monty Don Down to Earth

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.

8. August

Night Magic

New York Times–bestselling nature writer Leigh Ann Henion slips beyond porch lights and street lamps to show how alive our world becomes after sunset. Wandering the Appalachians—from synchronous fireflies in Tennessee and bat watches in Alabama to bioluminescent mushrooms glowing in North Carolina—she teams up with naturalists, biologists, and night‑loving neighbors who thrive under the moon. Henion reminds us that human eyes need hours to reach full night vision and that thousands of firefly species flash like living constellations. At a time of ever‑brighter nights, her lyrical journey invites us to rediscover the dazzling biodiversity waiting right outside our doors. Fans of World of Wonders, Entangled Life, and The Hidden Life of Trees will feel right at home.

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

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!

12. December

Four-Season Food Gardening

Looking for year‑round harvest inspiration? Misilla dela Llana—creator of YouTube’s Learn to Grow—packs Four‑Season Food Gardening with practical, cheerfully delivered guidance on how to keep your backyard beds producing in every month. Organized by spring, summer, fall, and winter, the book pairs crop and task checklists with hands‑on DIY projects (think mini hoop houses, cold frames, and heavy mulches) so you can outsmart frost and heat alike. From hardy vegetables you can pull in February to perennials that give for years, Misilla shows how layering plants, pruning wisely, and using simple season‑extenders turn 365‑day homegrown eating from wishful thinking into a doable plan—perfect fuel for our December dreaming and plotting!

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

Book Club Facilitator

Michelle is a self-taught home gardener whose goal is to help everyone find resources, guidance, and inspiration to rediscover or discover for the first time how rewarding gardening can be. 

Through her blog and social media, Michelle’s Garden Grows, she offers practical tips, educational content, and inspiration to encourage others on their gardening journeys.

With an RN, BSN degree, Michelle blends her faith and nursing background with gardening, showing how the garden can be a place of learning, healing, growth and renewal. You can learn more about Michelle’s  here.

The post The 2025 Garden Book Club List appeared first on Michelle's Garden Grows.

Join The Garden Book Club on Instagram Stories

The Garden Book Club will meets every Tuesday at 7PM on 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 and it’s completely FREE:

• 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

1. 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.
2. Follow the Reading Schedule: I’ll share the schedule for each month in my Instagram Stories and in this blog post.
3. 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 Garden Book Club List

You can find the full 2025 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 and reading schedule can be found in this post. We’ll read one for each month. You can click on the links or photos to read more about the book.

Tips for a Great Experience:

• Try reading the book in smaller chunks—this can help you absorb the material over a few days. Consider I’ve created a reading schedule here that might help you stay on track and pace yourself.
• Have fun! The Garden Book Club is all about learning, growing together, and building community!
• If you have questions you can either send me and email at hello@michellesgardengrows or reach out to me on Instagram DMs.

The post How The Garden Book Club Works appeared first on Michelle's Garden Grows.

Autumn Harvest Salad

This winter harvest salad has become one of my favorite things to make lately—not just because it’s simple and delicious, but because so much of it came from my own backyard! There’s something magical about walking out to the garden, even in the colder months, to gather fresh radishes, kale, and arugula. (If you’re not gardening in the fall and early winter, I can’t recommend it enough—it’s easier than you’d think!)

This salad is bright, crisp, and full of flavor, with just the right mix of tangy citrus, crunchy walnuts, and creamy cheese. It’s the kind of dish that feels fancy enough for a holiday table but easy enough to throw together on a random Tuesday.

The Ingredients

For the Salad:

• 2 cups arugula or kale – I used a mix of both from my winter garden, but any hearty green will work!
• 1 bunch radishes, thinly sliced – Peppery and crisp, these bring such a nice crunch.
• 1 medium orange, peeled and sliced – You can also use grapefruit if you like a little more tartness.
• ½ cup toasted walnuts – Or pecans, if that’s what you have on hand. Toasting them makes all the difference!
• ¼ cup crumbled feta or goat cheese (optional) – If you’re a cheese person, don’t skip this.

For the Dressing:

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar – White wine vinegar works great too.
• 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup – A little sweetness to balance the flavors.
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard – Adds a subtle tangy kick.
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper – Don’t skip these—they make the flavors pop.

How to Make It

Step 1: Gather the greens and slice the radishes.
I can’t tell you how satisfying it is to pull radishes right out of the ground in the middle of winter. (If you’ve never grown them, they’re the ultimate beginner crop!) Give them a rinse, then slice them thinly—I use a mandoline for this, but a sharp knife works fine too. Harvest your arugula or kale (or both!) and give it a quick wash.

Step 2: Toast the walnuts.
Heat a dry skillet over medium heat, toss in the walnuts, and stir them around for 3–5 minutes. They’ll start to smell incredible, and that’s when you know they’re ready. (Keep an eye on them—they can go from toasted to burned in no time!) Set them aside to cool.

Step 3: Make the dressing.
Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl. Add a pinch of salt and a few cracks of black pepper. Taste it and adjust as needed—it should be a little tangy, a little sweet, and just right.

Step 4: Assemble the salad.
Layer the greens in a big bowl, followed by the radishes, orange slices, and toasted walnuts. If you’re adding cheese, crumble it over the top. Drizzle the dressing all over and give everything a gentle toss.

Step 5: Serve and enjoy!
This salad is best when it’s fresh and the greens are crisp, so serve it right away. It’s the perfect light side dish to balance out heartier winter meals or as a refreshing starter for a holiday dinner.

Why This Salad Works

This salad has everything: the peppery bite of arugula, the sweetness of citrus, the nuttiness of toasted walnuts, and the creaminess of feta or goat cheese. Plus, it’s endlessly customizable—swap the arugula for kale, spinach, or mixed greens, the orange for grapefruit, or the walnuts for almonds.

And if you’re a gardener, it’s such a treat to see the fruits (or veggies!) of your labor come together on your plate, even in the middle of winter.

So go ahead—make this salad, enjoy every bite, and let me know if you tweak it to fit your own garden harvest. There’s no wrong way to make it, as long as it’s fresh and delicious.

About the Author 

Michelle is a self-taught home gardener whose goal is to help everyone find resources, guidance, and inspiration to rediscover or discover for the first time how fun and rewarding gardening can be. 

Through her blog and social media, Michelle’s Garden Grows, she offers practical tips, educational content, and inspiration to support and encourage others on their gardening journeys.

With an RN, BSN degree, Michelle blends her faith and nursing background with gardening, showing how the garden can be a place of healing, growth, and renewal. You can learn more about Michelle’s Garden Grows here.

The post Arugula Harvest Salad: A Garden-Fresh Dish Perfect for Your Holiday Table appeared first on Michelle's Garden Grows.