When Timber Press alerted me to a new book they were publishing about gardening and fitness I was immediately interested, as you might imagine, having written about the marriage of gardening and yoga. But I was not prepared for just how much I would utterly LOVE Garden Your Way to Health and Fitness by UK’s famed and admired gardening guru, Bunny Guinness and her co-author, English physiotherapist, Jacqueline Knox. Now, just for my European and Australian readers, please note that the cover is different for you. And here it is so you can find on your local bookshelves:

Do you suppose the British are having more fun than we are here in the US? Could be. I’ll tell you this, as you might well already know, the British REALLY know how to create a garden. As my friend Marsha observed, “They’ve been doing it for a lot longer.” Maybe. Or maybe it’s a cultural thing. I don’t know. But, oh, my! This book is worth just the many inspirational photos of Brit gardens. Just take a gander:

I love the use of the box to fence in the perennials. This practice of using natural, creative ways to enclose or encase one species with another is a theme in the English garden. One of my other favs was a wonderful handwoven willow fencing about a vege patch. And here is this marvelous, yet simple patchwork affair for individual herbs and veges. Beats traditional raised beds, does it not?

Ironically, in spite of the focus and excellent instruction on how to ergonomically lift, hoe, prune, and move about your wheelbarrow without ruining yourself, one of the most inspirational sections for me personally was the emphasis on Good Tools. As a result of reading this book I have purchased in the last week a much broader rake, a long handled pruner that does not come baggaged with any sort of complicating strings or ropes, a hula hoe and a Dutch hoe (highly recommended by the authors), a nifty edging iron, and a new digging tool that is so fierce it could double as a weapon, God forbid you should ever need it. Next on the list are an apron (moi!) and a pair of Wellington boots, apparently, known affectionately as Wellies. I can wear them with my Children of the Forest wool-lined oilcloth raincoat, a personal favorite item, which reads “made in the Royal Forest of Dean, England.” Sigh. But I digress.

Here’s a wonderfully inspiring, charmingly instructional photo of what the authors recommend as basic gardening gear:

I am all atwitter just thinking about it.

I would be remiss if I did not emphasize that the primary focus of Garden Your Way to Health and Fitness is bringing our attention to the importance of warming up our bodies prior to gardening, learning to move our bodies as we work in ways that prevent injuries, and incorporate stretches and exercises into our gardening practices. The book is rich with lush photos that show us the way. Here is a lovely photo of Bunny stopping for a stretch against a handy tree while working:

And, obviously a woman who understands the importance of balance, here is a splendidly seductive suggestion (and I want one!):

Again, while the primary intention of Bunny and Jacqueline’s book is to raise our awareness of how we might use our bodies more consciously and effectively in the garden, which it does brilliantly, it is ever so much more than that, my dear readers. I have to say this is probably one of my all-time favorite gardening books, and I can readily imagine taking it into my garden as a new Garden Bible to refer to again and again, the ideas therein are so rich and abundant. Well done, ladies, and highly recommended!

Love and garden blessings,
Kathryn xox

Posted on June 3rd, 2008 by Kathryn
Filed under: Book Notes | 13 Comments »

Shhhh. This is kind of a secret. I almost never tell anyone this. I think only one or two of my neighbors know. But I’m sure you won’t tell. I’m rather bonded to a group of scrubjays. I think it’s dreadful that scrubjays don’t have the word “blue” in their name, don’t you? So maybe I could say I’m bonded to a family of blue scrubjays. There. That would make me feel a lot better. They need to be fully honored. I’m quite close to them, as they would tell you.

It all started three years ago, and, in fact, my very first post on Plant Whatever Brings You Joy was about these very birds, so some of you might actually recall that that first year I came here they (blessedly) built a nest just outside my kitchen window, which my daughter noticed and brought to my attention. One of the things I never mentioned, that in retrospect was one of the very most endearing things that happened that year, was that one of the parents came back after the babies were fully fledged and cleaned out the nest. How dear is that?

The next year for some divine reason I was standing at that very kitchen window when a pair of them returned and I could actually see that one was animatedly showing the other the old nest and was picking at it, clearly attempting a good sales job on where they might start another family. The idea, I learned, was rejected, and I noticed instead that they wisely chose a thicker tree in the back yard which provided not only better protection in terms of the nest not being as readily seen by predators (think meow–but not Maine Coon or Siamese meow, oh, NO!) but also meant that fledgling babies landing on the ground prior to learning to fly would most likely land on this side of the fence, not in the alley. No guarantee, mind you, but much more likely. And there are so many places to hide once in the back yard! The first year, much to my horror, while the babies fledged on this side of the fence, they were immediately exposed to the front street, as they did not have the safety of the big back yard. Indeed, I came out and found a young woman excitedly talking on her cell to a friend, “You won’t believe what I found! There’s a baby bird on the sidewalk!” Enter at rapid speed your trusty blogger, scoop up baby in hands and rush him back to the side of the house. Put up puppy fencing and cover with blankets and hope for the best. Oh, it was hysteria, let me tell you.

So last year it was SOOO much better. I only saw one bright-eyed baby on the ground. Oh, the innocence was enough to take your breath away. And did. And I ran in the house for my camera but he was instantly gone. I can only hope that had a happy ending.

And that brings us to May 2008. I knew they’d chosen that same thick tree. And, oh, dear readers, I have to confess and apologize that in spite of my best efforts, you will have to apply your own imaginations as my photos of this event are, well, lacking. Yes, they are. However with the slightest efforts of your most creative minds, you will follow along and get the picture, so to speak. Right? I thought so. Thank you for your forbearance.

So here is the tree they chose for the nest the last two years:

I don’t even think it is a tree, do you? I think it’s a bush gone wild. Does anyone know what it is?

Anyway, believe it or not, in March I saw a blue scrubjay in the nest outside the kitchen window with a mate in tow, trying the sales job again, and again the wisdom of the second mate won out for the second time. Whew! In fact the nest was so hidden this time I missed almost all of the activity until suddenly I heard the unmistakable sound of fledglings begging for food back in the quince bushes way in the back of the garden. Animal alert. The doggies were clearly informed that the scrubjays reigned for at least a week and all their outdoor activities were going to have to be monitored closely until I knew the babies had their wings developed. I alerted the neighbors to please watch their Jack Russell terriers and their cats. They respectfully agreed. (They are getting used to my ways at last.)

Imagine my horror when I caught a grey squirrel trying his best to eat one of the babies! A mama jay was squawking loudly, rushing at him, warning him to stay away. I engaged Conner to bark at the squirrel, who happily obliged and after being harrassed for a couple of loud and harrowing minutes by an angry mother jay, an alarmed blonde and an obliging Border Collie he finally surrendered and left the scene.

It’s tough being a fledgling, I’ll tell you.

Next day I found one of them back in the fig tree looking stronger than I might have expected. I watched, enchanted. One of the parents spotted me and half heartedly sounded an alarm, but these birds know me well and trust me and her alarms were soon interrupted by a stash of ants she found climbing a branch, which she began to nibble, only to sound a call once or twice just to keep me on my toes that she was watching. Yes, I know. I watched the baby for awhile, comforting myself that flying looked intact.

In the days that followed I found two in the fig tree and simultaneously heard a third being fed in the tree that holds their old nest. Three babies is a good thing. This very much warmed my heart.

Knowing that the parents have so many mouths to feed I resumed putting peanuts on the sidewalk next to the camelia tree where they had their original nest. It’s Our Spot, and they know it. If I whistle for them (we have a special call) they land on the fence to see if there are peanuts. I did this yesterday, and sure enough, both parents came almost immediately. They will teach their offspring about this little feeding ground and the cycle of life and love will continue.

Love and garden blessings,
Kathryn xox

Posted on May 20th, 2008 by Kathryn
Filed under: Animals | 28 Comments »