Season 13

This week we had the opportunity to admire a worm supermoon. According to Native American tradition, each full moon reflects the changing seasons. It’s interesting how for many of us those seasonal shifts are no longer tied to nature, but instead the turning of a calendar page.

As we turn the calendar page to April, we can use this monthly ritual as a reminder to take time to notice what changes are happening outside.

(*If you see an asterisk next to a link, it links to a video with sound. Just a heads up in case you need to turn the volume down or pop on your headphones.)

HOME

I’m simplifying my to-do list with this Wooden Magnetic Letter Board Kit from The Grommet (and saving the Earth by using fewer post-its!) I love the tactile process of adding the magnetic letters the evening before and then taking off lettered tasks as I complete them. The board has a finite amount of space which causes me to only add tasks I am able to complete in a day rather than one long list I’ll never actually tackle!

I’m keeping my Easter decor simple this year with a few nods to spring around the house. For us, Easter means spending time enjoying spring outside, indulging in a leisurely brunch (we’re treating ourselves to eggs Benedict this year, but also looking for additional inspiration on Pati Jinich's site), and ending our day with some egg hunting just for fun!

This week I came across these mugs and dishware after reading a Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club newsletter. This set of tableware just feels like spring with all those wildflowers!

GARDEN

New growth is happening all over the garden. Each day when I go outside to water, weed, or add new transplants to the garden beds (here are a few good tips on transplanting seedlings outside), I notice tiny leaves forming on a branch, a bud beginning to emerge, or leafy growth bursting out of what was only a brown twig a day before. It is amazing to see what can happen in just 24 hours or with a little rain or sunshine.

I’m also filling in a few missing pieces around the garden. We lost a blueberry plant last year and we needed a partner for the remaining plant. We found its mate on Etsy and should be receiving it soon. Blueberries need two different varieties near each other to pollinate and produce fruit. We are pretty sure we’ve lost our rosemary, citrus and at least one of our olive trees after the storm, but we’re crossing our fingers that they will surprise us before May by making a comeback. Just in case the rosemary plant doesn’t bounce back, we bought some trailing rosemary to add behind our current rosemary.

We have a trough in the front of the house that only receives dappled sunlight at best, and we decided to fill in the container with a few shade loving plants like maidenhair fern, white hyacinth bean, blue giant hyssop, and white tropical sage. If you’re looking for a few ideas for plants that do well in the shade, here’s a shade plant list to help out.

We visited Arnosky Farms and Solstice Gardens this weekend and came home with a cardoon (or artichoke thistle) plant for our garden container filled with artichoke, asparagus, and snapdragons. Cardoon is an artichoke variety that forms beautiful purple blossoms. While we were at the farm we also grabbed a few lavender plants to fill in around our roses. I love the combination of roses and lavender.

In case you haven’t had a chance to prune your roses, now is the time. It’s best to prune your roses before the blooms have set or when you begin to see little leaf buds forming along the canes. I found this helpful rose pruning guide online to help you get started.

I discovered a wonderful shop on Etsy called EshCollection.($) I picked up a few seeds from their shop like these strawberry blonde sunflower seeds ($) and some herbal Epsom salts to try. Show your support for this and other Black-owned Etsy shops. ($)

*Daisy’s Garden Adventures -I love her enthusiasm and energy!

2021 Garden Tool Guide

This week I’m sharing favorite tools in my gardening toolbox.

My favorite garden hat from San Diego Hat Company keeps me cool in the hot Texas sun, and I have my eye on this one just for fun by the pool this summer - You can also check out their Top 10 Gardening Hats

I use a dibber ($) for planting as well as the trowel, narrow trowel, and snips for more delicate cuttings from Bridgetown Heirloom Garden Tools (a gift from my husband and son) and the hori hori (a gift from my sister).

For pruning and keeping rose thorns out of my fingers, I love my Barebones bypass pruners and gardening gloves (these gloves are also great!) I have a set of gloves for gardening and a set of Wells Lamont work gloves for moving around anything with the potential for splinters or cuts. You can even have a pair of gloves fit exactly to your hands from Vermont Glove.

Looks like it might be time to clean and sharpen my tools for spring and summer!

For big jobs hauling soil or transplants, I use my son’s Gorilla garden cart from Lowe’s.

My garden apron I mentioned in last week’s post is an essential part of my toolbox so that I don’t feel like I need to switch out of my regular clothes into gardening clothes mid-day.

WELLNESS

In my workshop you’ll find one of my favorite paintings called Cozy Beneath the Garden. It reminds me of myself in the winter months. I feel like the spring pulls me out of my hibernation with renewed energy.

Just this past weekend we were driving along Barton Spring Road here in Austin when I spotted a lady walking her dog with a shirt that read “Introverted, but willing to discuss plants.” I couldn’t help but crack up at how true that is for me! I did a quick search on Etsy to find similar shirts to the one she was wearing. I’m partial to the gardening shirt, of course, but it’s a tough choice between “Introverted but willing to discuss gardening” ($) and “Introverted but willing to discuss plants”. ($)

I’ve been thinking a lot about introversion vs extroversion during the pandemic and what it looks like for each of us as we transition back to a full schedule (or not). I know that many of us introverts might need a little adjustment period transitioning back into a very full and often overstimulating world from one that was possibly slower and quieter over the last year. Introverts and highly sensitive people often need a slower pace when it comes to change. This need is exactly why spending time in the garden is helping me to get out more, albeit at a slower pace, by connecting with neighbors, friends, and family, and enjoying all that nature has to offer while at the same time being reminded that nature takes its time.

“To sum up, your personality as an introvert or extravert isn't the only factor that affects your ability to cope with life's vicissitudes. What appears to matter more for your fulfillment is the way you regulate your emotions when those vicissitudes stress your resources.” Source: Psychology Today

There is a misconception out there that someone who is quiet, values time alone, is sensitive to stimulation and overwhelm or chooses to live a quiet life is either unhappy, anti-social, or “missing out on life”. Read 18 Things that Fill Highly Sensitive People With Joy to see if you or someone you know might be finding joy in different ways. If you’re not sure if you might be a highly sensitive person, read this.

I know that flowers make people happy, but in the Aesthetics of Joy newsletter, Ingrid Fetell-Lee pondered why this seems to be true. Sure, they are beautiful and connect us with nature, but what if there is an evolutionary reason at play? What if fruit meant life to our ancestors? When we look at flowers, it may just remind us of possibilities, hope, nourishment, and beauty. The next time you buy yourself or someone you love a bouquet, it may be just the wellness boost they need to bring hope and life into their home.

CREATIVITY

Butterflies drinking nectar from zinnia flowers in our garden last fall.

Butterflies have started making their appearance in our garden. We’re working hard to make sure they have as many flowers blooming as possible, but it’s taking longer than usual for the plants to bounce back because of the winter storm this year. The monarchs arrived last year to find abundant milkweed and butterfly weed, but this year the butterfly weed is just now beginning to grow back. The swallowtails, however, have stopped by and spent time laying their eggs on the rue and fennel in our garden. Swallowtails tend to prefer laying their eggs on plants in the carrot family such as carrots, celery, dill, fennel, parsley, and Queen Anne’s lace. When the caterpillar emerges, you’ll often see those plants nibbled down to the stems by hungry caterpillars. I’ve found that the plants always rebound and watching the butterflies emerge later is well worth the short period of losing some leaves.

Last spring’s swallowtail caterpillars

I couldn’t help but admire this amazing piece of artwork: Butterfly Specimen Case Murals

BOOKSHELF

April is National Poetry Month!

Visit the poetry section of my 52 Seasons Book Shop on Bookshop.org ($) for poetry book recommendations.

Looking for a little bookish spring decor? Check out Book Riot’s picks for bringing a little spring to your bookshelf.

What poetry books would you add to the list? Share in the comments below.

In case you are looking for book recommendations for kids (or yourself!), gift ideas for all ages or want to peek into my TBR List for 2021, head over to the 52 Seasons Book Shop on Bookshop.org. ($)

COMMUNITY

A beautiful carton of colorful eggs from our neighbors. These beauties were given to us as a thank you for the volunteer blackberry plant we shared from our garden.

Support local farmers this spring and bring springtime to your table!

Here in Austin, Texas, our favorite markets are Texas Farmers Market and SFC Farmers Market.

If you can’t make it out to a market, have farm fresh produce delivered to you from Farmhouse Delivery - When you order, just enter my name, Sommer Maxwell, in the “How Did You Hear About Us” section when you register and receive $10 off your first order.

Re-Plant Texas - Help Texas Farmers Recover from the devastating winter storm in Texas

If you’re looking to become a backyard farmer, watch Jamila Norman of Patchwork City Farms on her new show “Homegrown” on Magnolia Network. You’ll be inspired to create your own backyard farm. You can find Magnolia Network on the Discovery Plus app.

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." - Desmond Tutu

Thank you for taking time out of your day to read 52 Seasons. I’d love to hear your feedback and ideas so that we can grow together.

Check out some of my favorite resources here.

If you’d like to receive the 52 Seasons blog post each week, be sure to subscribe to the blog. I’ll see you next week in your inbox!