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I have been influenced by gardens and plants since childhood. My earliest memories include a white picket fence with a flower garden. That garden was my grandparents' and from it grew roses, irises, lily of the valley, and peonies.
The peonies were favorites, and now, decades later, my grandparents' peony is in my own garden.
Throughout my life, my mother has been my greatest gardening influence. Watching her, she has helped me appreciate gardening and all of the joy that a garden can provide. As an outdoor enthusiast, she taught me to watch clouds, smell rain, crunch leaves in Autumn, and walk in the woods.....
And here I am now.... I live in the northern Shenandoah Valley, in the country. I am married with three sons (only one son lives at home now) and a young Golden Retriever named "Jake". Our property is predominantly a wooded area of mature Oak with a stream, but several acres are cultivated with gardens and lawn. We enjoy wildlife and provide a bird feeding station to attract Finches and the Downy, Pileated, and Red-Headed Woodpeckers. We are currently involved in several projects on the property. We are continuing to cut trails to hike the woods, we are planting a 200-foot flower and vine border to attract more wildlife (mostly Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds and a variety of butterflies), we are beginning a raised garden-bed for shade-loving perennials, and we are involved with our new greenhouse.
My husband and I enjoy vegetable gardening together, too. Our harvest provides ample food to eat or preserve (canning, freezing, or drying). We also enjoy foraging for foods and believe the nourishment and satisfaction of foraging will serve the soul as well as the palate.
My hobbies are numerous and I pursue them with a passion. My favorite hobbies are quilting and gardening. Other hobbies include kayaking, photography, cooking, writing, website design, and scrap-booking. One hobby that I share with my husband involves travel....we shoot competitively in a sport known as "Benchrest" shooting.
My personal website offers a better glimpse into my hobbies.
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