Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens

 

The Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens is located about ten miles southwest of downtown Savannah, Georgia. It's a fifty acre garden which is part of the University of Georgia.

The garden's collections began in 1890 when Mrs. H. B. Miller planted three huge Japanese timber bamboo plants. They had become a substantial grove in 1915, which got the attention of botanist, David Fairchild. His friend, Barbour Lathrop, purchased the site and added to the collection. In 1983 it was deeded to the University of Georgia and is part of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Today the garden has over 100 kinds of bamboo, making it the largest collection open to the public in North America.

While the gardens are noted for the remarkable bamboo collection (and bamboo maze), there are plenty of other flowers here.  There's a Mediterranean garden, a water garden which showcases a nine-foot waterfall, an orchid greenhouse, and a cottage garden with a white gazebo which is a popular site for weddings.

The gardens are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday from 10:00 - 5:00, and Sunday from 12:00 - 5:00.  Admission is free.

Today's IWSG question is, "Is there anything you'd like to change about the publishing industry?"

I'd like to change the trend of short picture books with simple language. Kids need more complex words to help build their vocabulary. Look at Make Way for Ducklings. Now that's a classic with some substance! What would you like to change?   

Tips for "Senior" Gardeners

 

Gardening is one of the most common leisure activities for older adults. The benefits are numerous:  stress relief, exercise, and regulation of emotions. However, with aging, seniors may develop mobility, functional, and physical limitations. Here are some tips that can help older folks enjoy their time in the garden:

1. Protect your skin. Wear long sleeves, gloves, and pants. And of course, use sunscreen.

2. Limit bending over by using a garden bench or seat and long tools for weeding.

3. Keep tools handy on a garden belt or rolling cart. 

4. Mulch in order to prevent weeds.

5. Break down gardening tasks into 20-30 minute increments.

6. Counter the effects of gardening with swimming or yoga.

7. Use raised garden beds.

8. Recruit help if you're not able to complete a task.

9. Take breaks to stretch.

10. Change your body position and grip during longer activities.

You are never too old to enjoy gardening and having the satisfaction of watching plants grow. These tips should help you enjoy gardening all through your senior years. 

This month's IWSG question is, "Do you get your story ideas from one place, or all over the place?"

I get mine from life, which for me, tends to be "all over the place." Many of my picture book ideas came from being a parent. My middle-grade Bubba and Squirt Adventure books came from my travels around the world.  Some ideas come from what I see or what I read. Living brings all sorts of inspiration! Where do you get your ideas?

One more thing today—My book Happy Birthday to US! is in All Author's Cover of the month contest. If you like it, please consider voting for it. (You can vote anonymously.) Here's the link.

 

 Thank you!

 

Tips for Getting Kids Interested in Gardening

 

Gardening is a fun way to engage kids in hands-on learning and teach them important life skills. Gardening provides a comprehensive experience that fosters a love for nature, curiosity, and responsibility. Here are a few tips that can engage kids in gardening and make it an exciting, educational journey:

Plant Easy-to-Grow Plants:  I'd recommend sunflowers, marigolds, or zinnias. They are vibrant and grow quickly. In the vegetable department, check out tomatoes, beans, carrots, or lettuce. These grow quickly, allowing kids to harvest them in a few weeks. Let kids participate by digging, planting, watering, and caring for the plants. A plus is that kids tend to be more interested in eating vegetables that they've planted. 

Make it Fun and Creative: Have themed gardens. My kids loved fairy gardens with miniature decorations. Plant a pizza garden with tomatoes, basil and peppers. Create colorful plant markers to label the plants. Make a seed bomb by mixing clay, compost, and wildflower seeds into small balls which kids can leave in various areas of the garden. Let the rain wash the clay away and see the flowers grow and blossom!

Make it Educational: Explain how plants need sunlight, water, and soil to thrive. Introduce concepts like photosynthesis, pollination, and composting. Teach kids about insects like bees, butterflies, and ladybugs and how they help plants.

Gardening allows kids to learn how to care for plants and gives them a greater appreciation for the world around them.

Today's Insecure Writer's Support Group question of the month is, "What was the most inspiring feedback you've received from readers?" Well, I've gotten a lot of great reviews for my work. I appreciate every single one of them! But the biggest and most helpful feedback I got was from a publisher when I was submitting Bubba and Squirt's Big Dig to China. He said it was good, but that I should change the point of view to make it first person, alternating between the two protagonists.  It was originally a third person point of view. I took his advice to heart and rewrote everything. It made it a lot better! Not long after that, it was published!

What about you? Any inspiring feedback from readers?

A couple more things before I go...   

Happy Birthday to US! is on tour, and there's a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card (and signed copies of the book). If you'd like to enter, go here:  https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/happy-birthday-to-us-by-sherry-ellis-awareness-tour/

And I just performed Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody arranged for Viola and Orchestra with the Gwinnett Symphony. If you'd like to see the performance, go here.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoralI5HD6o

Garden Scents for Every Season

 

We often think of gardens as sensory experiences for our eyes. But gardens can also be sensory experiences for our sense of smell. Here are a few flowers that you can incorporate in your garden to enjoy their beautiful fragrances throughout the year. 

Winter 

Daphne Odera pictured above, is a real treat. It flowers in January and February when the weather is dreary and cold. It has fragrant, white to pink flower clusters and grows on an evergreen woody shrub. It likes part sun and part shade. 

Spring

Star Jasmine is an intensely fragrant, evergreen vine with white flowers, opening in late spring. It is excellent on trellises or fences. It prefers four hours of morning sun.

Summer

Gardenia comes in a variety of sizes and is perfect for the front of a border or along a sidewalk or pathway. All are evergreen and have white flowers that come in a variety of shapes with a recognizable aroma. An added bonus is that deer don't like the smell. I have found that gardenia are terrific for planting around hydrangeas (that deer like). It helps keep those oversized rodents away. 

Fall

Sweet Autumn Clematis is a vigorous vine with masses of small, white fragrant flowers. It's perfect on a trellis or fence.

Of course, depending on where you live, you can find many more fragrant flowers to enjoy throughout the year. Do you have any favorites?

And now for the ISWG question of the month: If you have a playlist that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what songs are on it?  Well, I honestly don't write to music. I prefer silence so I can hear the voices in my head. (Does this mean I'm crazy?) But, if I were to have songs, I'd listen to Sia music. Like Titanium and Unstoppable.  What about you? Do you have a writing play list?

 

Lotusland

 

If you want to see a rather eclectic garden, visit Lotusland in Santa Barbara, California.  This 37 acre garden was created by Madame Gann Walska, a polish opera singer and socialite.  She started the garden in 1941 and worked on it for the next 43 years.  The garden was open to the public in 1993.

Visitors will see all kinds of interesting things, such as a forest of dragon trees, avenues of succulents, weird little garden gnomes , a huge clock made of flowers, and a lotus pond.

The two-hour tour of the garden is by appointment only.  These are given Wednesday through Saturday between 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM.  Admission for adults is $35.00.  If you would like to schedule a tour, call 805-969-9990.

Today's IWSG question of the month is, "What elements  do you include in a book launch?" I always do a social media (and email) promotion which includes a cover-reveal and a countdown. Sometimes, I'll have a cover vote to spark interest. I also do an online book tour. I've used Silver Dagger Tours and The Children's Book Review Awareness Tour. The first is inexpensive. The second is expensive, but more effective in getting the word out and getting reviews. I also contact reviewers to try to get pre-publication reviews. I've been doing Authors in Grocery Stores book signings at Kroger. That's been a great way to get my books out there and make sales.

What do you do for a book launch?

Where Did Those Flower Names Come From?

 Dogwood. Bee balm. Fox Glove. Forget-me-not. Did you ever wonder where those names came from? Well, let me enlighten you.

Dogwood: What in the world does Dogwood have to do with dogs? Most likely, this naming has to do with the hardness of the wood. There is an old English word, "Dagwood." The slender stems from the tree were used as "dags." Daggers, skewers, and arrows. Sometime in the early 1600s, dagwood was changed to dogwood.

  Bee balm: Sounds like it's something for the bees themselves. But if you notice, this plant doesn't attract bees at all! There is a resin derived from the plant which can be used for soothing bee stings.

Foxglove: This one actually comes from a fun story—a fox was having a hard time sneaking into the henhouse to grab a quick meal. A naughty fairy decided to help him out by slipping his paws into the glove-like blooms so he could silently sneak up on the chickens. (Look at the flowers, and you will see the fox's paw prints.)

 Forget-me-not: This is from a rather sad story. A lover trying to cross a river to reach his sweetheart gets swept away by the currrent, but manages to grasp some flowers on the bank to throw to her as he calls, "Forget me not!" 

What do you think of these names? Are there any other flower names you're wondering about?

Today's IWSG question is, "Have you ever read one of your books a long time after it's been published? What was the experience like?"

I read my picture books all the time. I think overall, I'm happy with all of them. There are a couple of things on the first one I might do differently. I actually have not read my Bubba and Squirt books carefully since they've been published. I've made teacher guides for all of them, and I've skimmed over them while producing those. I should really read them all in a row and see how the story flows, especially since they were written over a long period of time. What about you? Have you read stories you published long ago? What did you think about them?

 

Villa d'Esta

 

If you like fountains, the gardens at the Villa d'Este, in Tivoli, Italy, are a must-see.  The gardens are on the grounds of the former residence of Cardinal Ippolito d'Este.  They were built in 1572.  Today, this garden is part of the UNESCO world heritage list.

The garden is organized in terraces and steps.  Visitors will see numerous fountains, grottos, and ponds.  The Neptune fountain, pictured at the top, is the largest and most spectacular fountain.  There's also an organ fountain, which, yes, plays organ music with the sounds of the falling water.  If you'd like to hear it, the first playing is at 10:30 every day, and then it occurs every two hours.

The garden is open daily from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM.  Admission is 10 euros for adults.

January 7 question:  Is there anything in your writing plans for 2026 that you are going to do that you couldn't get done in 2025?

I honestly didn't do much writing in 2025. Mostly it was because of the grieving due to the death of my son. I wrote some in a memoir. Maybe I'll finish that. I will continue marketing my newest book, Happy Birthday to US! which I wrote in 2023 and was published in December. I have a picture book manuscript that I might clean up and see about getting published. I also have some ideas I came up with in 2024. Maybe I'll work on those. This is the year of recovery. To rest and to feel I'm on my feet and can keep marching. 

What about you? What are your writing plans for 2026? Anything you need to finish from 2025?

 Speaking of Happy Birthday to US! there's a tour going on. If you'd like to have a chance to win an Amazon gift card, visit one of the stops and enter the drawing. 

 

How to Attract Birds to Your Winter Garden

 

Temperatures drop and many plants go dormant in winter, but that doesn't mean your garden has to be quiet and lifeless. If you intentionally create a haven for birds, it can by a time of surprising vibrancy.

Here's what to do:

• Plant with purpose. Select plants with blooms or berries in the winter to privide much-needed food for birds. In the southeastern United States, some plants that grow well are junipers, holly, Blackhaw Viburnum, Wild Indigo, Beauty Berry, Golden Rod, and Partidge Pea.  
• Provide shelter. Leave some brush piles or stacked logs in a corner of the garden. Avoid cutting back dried perennials and ornamental grasses , add bird houses, try to have a quarter of your trees and shrubs be evergreen (like junipers and holly).
• Provide water:  Heated birdbaths (change water daily), shallow dishes with stones, slow-dripping containers all provide water. Remember to keep them elevated so cats and other predators can't get the birds.    

By incorporating these things into your winter garden, you'll create a welcoming haven for birds. 

Today's IWSG question is:  As a writer, what was the coolest gift I've ever received?  When my daughter visited Paris, she took a trip to see Monet's gardens. While there, she visited a gift shop and got me a blank writing book with one of Monet's paintings on the cover. This put together two things I really enjoy—writing and gardening. 

What about you? Have you ever received a cool writing gift?

Speaking of writing:  I'm excited to announce I have a new picture book out. Just in time for America's 250th birthday in 2026! 

    Here's the Amazon link:  https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Birthday-US-Sherry-Ellis/dp/196210124X/

And the last thing:  My book, Bubba and Squirt's Adventure's Around the World, published by Dancing Lemur Press, is in All Author's Cover of the Month Contest. If you like it, please consider voting for it.

Here's the link:  https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/20230/  Thank you!

Wishing you all a very Happy Holiday season!

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park

 

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, located in Hamilton, Ohio, is a unique place to visit.  I took my kids here when they were little, and they had a great time exploring the huge sculptures.  The underground pyramid-shaped house, which is now a museum, is set in 265 acres of park-like grounds featuring 37 contemporary sculputures, gardens, 7 lakes, and quite a few hiking trails.  The museum contains displays of Roman, Egyptian, and Greek sculptures that are thousands of years old.  In fact, the goal of the museum is to have a collection which will demonstrate the complete history of sculpture by mankind.

 

The grounds are open year-round from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  The museum is open daily, from 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM.  Admission is $8.00 for adults, and $2.00 for children.

This month's IWSG question is, "How has life as a writer been? Is it what you expected?"

I didn't go into writing with any expectations. My daughter, when she was 3, convinced me to publish a story that was in my head. 20 years later, here I am, with 11 published books, and a new picture book coming out soon. (Happy Birthday to US!) I think I'd have to say I've found it to be a lot of work. And not much money compensation in return. I keep hoping, though, that one day my books will hit it big. I've spent hours writing, rewriting, and marketing my books. I've been out and about at author events and schools selling and signing them. I think the best thing, aside from the creative process, is when I get feedback from readers that they really enjoy my work.  Their support and enthusiasm  keeps me going. What about you? If you're a writer, how has your experience been?   

Cheekwood Botanical Gardens

 

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Cheekwood was formerly the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek. It's a gorgeous 1930s estate with a 30,000 square foot mansion and 55 acres of cultivated gardens. Today it serves as a botanical garden, arboretum, and museum. Also on the grounds is a 1.5-mile woodland trail featuring monumental outdoor sculputures. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

My personal favorite is the children's garden with the miniature trains. So fun!

The mansion and gardens are open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM. The cost of admission to see the mansion and gardens is $30. 

This month's IWSG question is:  What is my favorite thing I've written? This is a tough one. I think my book, Don't Feed the Elephant is pretty funny.  I had to imagine what an elephant could do with food beginning with every letter of the alphabet! I also like Bubba and Squirt's Big Dig to China because I think it would be cool to dig a hole and end up in Xi'an China where the Terraccotta Warriors are.

What about you? What's your favorite thing you've written?  Have you ever been to Cheekwood? 

Agatha Christie Gardens

 

We know Agatha Christie for her murder mysteries. But did you know the Queen of Crime was a garden lover? As a child growing up at Ashfield House, her favorite spots were among the trees, plants, and woodland paths. After her success as an author, she was able to afford her own country house and gardens at Greenway, in Devon, England where she restored more than 30 acres of gardens. 

  

The property includes several distinct garden areas including two walled gardens, a vinery, a kitchen garden, and a fern garden restored with a central water fountain. 

Two of Christie’s most famous mysteries, Five Little Pigs and Dead Man's Folly are clearly set at Greenway, under fictional names. These stories include many scenes in the gardens. (The murder weapon in Five Little Pigs is local spotted hemlock.)

Christie’s use of poisonous, plant-based chemicals as the “murder weapon” in so many of her mysteries reveals her gardening expertise. Many of the poisons in her stories come from plants that she knew well because they were growing in her own garden beds and in the surrounding woodland areas at Greenway.

The cost to see the house and gardens is 36 British pounds per car. The gardens are open daily from 10:30 AM-5:00 PM.

And now for the IWSG question of the month:  What are my thoughts about using AI like ChatGP? Would I use it for research, creating outlines...?

Well, I haven't used AI for regular writing jobs that apply to writing the actual book. I like going down my own rabbit holes for research and creating outlines and writing. That's part of the fun. What I have been doing, is using AI for marketing:  coming up with keywords for search optimization, coming up with ideas for YouTube posts. I find it very helpful for those things. If you let it, ChatGP would do all the thinking about these things. And maybe that's good. Less time for me to think about it, and more time to write what I want. What are your thoughts?   

A Guide to Pruning Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are popular ornamental bushes known for their large, showy blooms and lush foilage. Proper pruning is essential for maintaining their health, shape, and blooming potential. 

In order to prune correctly, you need to know the different types of hydrangeas.

Big Leaf:  shown above. These set their flowers in late summer or early fall for the following year. Prune immediately after flowering.

Panicle: shown below. These produce coneshaped flowers on new wood. These can be pruned in late winter or early spring before the new growth begins.

  
 Oak Leaf:  shown below. These feature distinctive, oak-shaped leaves. Like the big leaf, they grow on old wood and should be pruned immediately after blooming.

General guidelines:  Remove dead or damaged wood. Shape the plant to create a balanced silhouette while preserving the plant's natural form. Selectively thin out interior branches which provides better light penetration. Deadhead spent blooms by cutting the flower stalks back to a pair of healthy buds or lateral branches. 

Do you have hydrangeas? If so, did you know the proper time to prune them?

Now it's time for the IWSG question of the month:  What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry? I'd say plagiarism.  Stealing someone else's work. What about you? What do you think is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry? 

Water Gardens

 

Water gardens can be beautiful additions to any outdoor space. Whether you have a large, inground pond or a small container on your patio, the right aquatic plants can transform your garden into a welcoming oasis. 

Aquatic plants are essential to the health and beauty of a water garden. They not only add color and texture, but are instrumental in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Floating and submerged plants help oxygenate and filter the water, providing a healthier environment for fish and frogs. They also help control algae growth by absorbing nutrients and blocking sunlight.

Here are some various pond plants:

Those that like moisture but don't need to be submerged. These can be used to create a lush backdrop around the edges of the pond. (Pitcher plants—yes, the carnivorous ones) 

Marginal plants grow with their roots underwater and foliage above. (Cattails which should be planted in pots to avoid spreading, Pickerelweed)

Floating plants float on the water's surface. These absorb nutrients directly from the water and don't need soil. These however, usually need to be brought indoors during colder months.(Lotus, water lilies)

Submerged plants grow entirely underwater. 

If you are unsure about plant selection or pond maintenance, consult a landscape professional. They can help you choose plants that compliment each other in color and texture and assist with installation and maintenance to ensure your water garden remains beautiful and balanced. 

Do you have a water garden, or have you thought about making one?

Today's IWSG question is, "Is there a genre you would like to try writing that you haven't tried yet?" Mystery. I loved Nancy Drew Mysteries growing up, but I have never written a true mystery book of my own. Maybe I will some day. What about you?

And an announcement:  I am very happy to share that all of my Bubba and Squirt books have been compiled into a boxed set. Right now, it's available as an ebook. Here's an universal Amazon link if you'd like to check it out:  Bubba and Squirt's Adventures around the World