Keeping a garden diary that documents the trial-and-error process is key to ensuring future improvement. Make note of the crops that were duds (and how they met their demise!), pest issues, and other side notes, like the time of day when the sun is most intense. “You think you will remember, but you will not,” “The previous season’s notes will jog all sorts of memories and inspire good ideas so you can grow on your successes each season.”
Real Life of an MSW 
so true that we don’t remember as much as we think we will! no way…. and so the garden journal is a great idea.
I just found an old folder I have where I kept many of my plant tags and labels (the plastic ones that come with the plants) – I am not sure why I kept them in a folder – but I am getting ready to take some photos and toss them – the folder contents show the plants I had from 2007ish to 2012ish – and it was nice to skim the folder –
anyhow- not quite the journal notes you mentioned here – but was a nice memory thing to have
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I love that! I take those little plastic tags, date them, and stick them in my pots once I repot the plants. It helps me remember how old the plants are, and the directions on the tab include helpful information. I also take my seeds packages and do the same, but I do toss the old packages at the end of the season if the plant is dud, now if I can just remember to write down the plant/seeds were a dud…lol
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Well you journal looks like it can help to remember the duds
I finally realized that mandevilla do NOT do well for me! Stunted growth or dead. And a journal would have helped with that.
Side note – did I tell you that I am working on a garden analogy devotional – sigh – it has been in the works for more than a decade (well not active – but slowly adding to it) it started because in my regular daily journal I would quickly jot down a garden analogy that came to me
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Anyhow – I mention that because a garden journal could also be used for writing reflections and experiences out there -…
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A garden anthology sounds like a wonderful idea. I am currently reading, The Well Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith. I think you might enjoy it. Here is an excerpt
https://www.seattletimes.com/explore/at-home/why-gardening-offers-a-psychological-lifeline-in-times-of-crisis/
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Thanks fo the link!
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Wow – good article and her books sounds like a lot of well rounded research went into it
Tw favorite parts from the article were 1) Gardening is empowering, and it’s also disempowering. and 2) the relationship and give and take process of working with nature
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In spring 2020, I did a mindful Monday presentation about gardening and referenced a few studies relating to attention and wellness – but it sounds like this book has pages and pages to soak up and absorb and grow with –
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I might refrain from reading it right now because it could interfere with my current content unfolding – but I added it to my read list!
Thanks I much again- I am super excited to tackle a book that looks amazing
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I love that you have an extensive range of books for each plant type 🙂
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It’s a must for a good plant owner, as each plant has its own needs.
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This is another thing that I wish I could do but not really. I can’t imagine my fingers in dirt. It’s seem worst then putting my fingers in ground beef.
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Everything is not for everybody. However, if you are interested, they make some beautiful and stylish machine washable gardening gloves.
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Lmbo
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