A Little Problem Solved with a Lovely Plant
We had a little indoor air problem because we sleep with too many pets. A certain plant cleaned the air so we could breathe easy.
The Clever Use of Plants in “The Good Place”
My new favorite TV show is The Good Place. Yes, I’m coming to it ridiculously late, but isn’t that the life of a busy mom? I’d read about it years ago and felt intrigued by the premise of a comedic afterlife scenario. While I love Ted Danson and Kristen Bell and especially William Jackson Harper (who our family knew well…
Why I Wrote a Novel About a Tree That Sings: Part One
Hey everyone, I’ve published a short novel called Song of the Tree Hollow. It’s a literary mystery about a young woman who discovers she has a magical touch with plants — and unfortunately, a dark family history. It was fun to write, and one of my warmer, quirkier stories. I thought I’d offer this post on the origins of it.…
Why a Novel About a Flower That Makes You Forget? Part 3
In these last few weeks, I’ve shared the origins of my novel The Forgetting Flower. It’s a story about memories, about a botanically unique plant, about sisterly relationships, and about Paris and Poland. It’s even about an immigrant’s dream of having a better life, which I haven’t touched on that much in these posts but is a driving theme throughout…
Humbly, I Offer a Free Short Story
Several months ago, I read a fascinating article about an enhancement MIT researchers were developing for certain plants. Their prototype had been successful and they were working on more. The enhancement was unlike anything I’d ever come across as a horticulturalist. It wasn’t just a new breed of plant but a technique that could be applied to almost any plant.…
Why I Wrote a Novel About a Weird Apple: Part 1
For years I resisted the idea of writing fictional stories about plants. I had a day job, which entailed helping people design and maintain their gardens, and I had a night vocation, which was writing stories about careers I might have wanted in a different life: professor, antiques dealer, etc. I’d written my MFA thesis story about an ethics professor…
