By Staff
I bought a small hardbound journal. It was only a dollar. You can find them anywhere.
Depending on the amount of time you have to give it will determine what you will want to put in it. It's as simple as that.
In mine I list plant purchases (where I bought it, how much I paid for the item, how healthy it was, how many they had, what they had), descriptions of how well a plant did that year, successful container combos, plans or ideas for particular areas in my garden for the upcoming year, where I bought or found end-of-year clearances (what I bought there, what they had and how many), flops in my garden, what perished, things I couldn't grow because of my zone area and things I would like to get more of next year.
Also, weather records (how much rain, sunrise and sunset, if it stormed, how bad the insects were and what kind on what plant), seed packets, tags from the perennials I bought, addresses and phone numbers of plant companies, garden tour information, what's new and what's happening at local nurseries and garden clubs, names and phone numbers of new gardeners I meet, questions various people ask me, types of insects or birds I saw in my garden that day, taking the time to sit and watch the "dots," how many and what they did that day, when the "dots" arrived in my area and when I saw the last one of the season.
And, questions my grandson Ethan asked me, what we experienced in the garden together, sometimes something as simple as me showing Ethan how to pick a green pepper, how to hold the branch and where to twist the pepper, eating a carrot freshly picked from the garden with a "little" dirt on it and the face he made when I did.
And, drawings I drew for future plans of garden structures I would like George to make for me (arbors, tuteurs, copper trellises, benches, a scarecrow) and pictures I cut out of magazines and paste in.
You can make your journal very simple or very elaborate.
You don't have to be a Van Gogh or a rocket scientist.
Most gardeners who keep a journal find it to be one of the handiest tools they own.
I really enjoy looking through my journal in the winter.
Like me, memories will come flooding back from the time you spent in your garden that year.
The kiss of the sun for pardon
The song of the birds for mirth
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.