Cynthia Brian

“Some say the world will end in fire.” Robert Frost A running crown fire came rolling down the hillside toward our Lake County mountain cabin, moving faster than any human could run. All exits were blocked. Trees vaporized. Sixteen civilians trapped in the valley were being gathered in the meadow around our house. This acre of lush green grass would be the safety zone, everyone’s last hope of survival. Ninety firefighters had been spread out along the roads, trails, and hills

by Cynthia Brian “Look for helpers. You will always find those who are helping.” Mister Rogers After sowing seeds of beets, arugula, Swiss Chard, and leeks, I sat on my small white wooden bench to watch. Within minutes a black and white king snake slithered by my foot sending shivers up my spine at the sudden surprise yet joy because I know that king snakes keep rattlers away. A tail-less baby lizard scampered to a rock to bask in the sunshine, and a chorus of frogs croaked t

by Cynthia Brian “The ghostly winter silences have given way to the great spring murmur of awakening life.” Jack London It all began when I witnessed the new growth unfurling on one of my loquat trees. The leaves were a mesmerizing bright green, like the color of lime with a hint of sunshine. Ah, sunshine, I thought! How I longed for warm, sun-drenched days. The darkness, cold, and wet of winter had begun to unravel my soul. The rains throughout the winter, although welcome a

by Cynthia Brian “Blossom by blossom the spring begins.” AC Shinburne Even on the darkest, dreariest, rainiest day, looking out my dining room window to my ever-blooming hillside garden gives me great joy. For the past two months, the daffodils and cyclamen have been in full bloom, now joined by the radiant pink blossoms of the Italian white peach tree, the purple fronds of lavender, and the delicate periwinkle flowers of vinca minor. My Meyer lemon tree is bursting with brig

by Cynthia Brian “Everything is coming up roses!” Ethel Merman When Cupid shoots his arrow of amour on February 14th, more than 51% of the flowers bestowed upon the lovers will be roses. The allure of roses dates back more than 5,000 years when rose cultivation began in China. Evidence in fossils indicates that the wild rose is as ancient as 35 million years. No wonder that the rose has symbolized beauty, love, politics, and war for the past five centuries in our modern world

by Cynthia Brian “Sow a thought, reap a word. Sow a word, reap a deed. Sow a deed, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.” ~Charles Reade Where I grew up there were no pre-schools or kindergartens, so until I started first grade, my days were spent mostly outside in the dirt, playing, or helping my parents with farming and ranching chores. I attribute a great deal of my horticultural acumen to those early years when a child’s brain is li

“Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends, fads, and popular opinion.” Jack Kerouac I’ll never forget how excited my Mother was to play “Vanna” alongside Pat Sajak on the TV hit, Wheel of Fortune. It was the first time in the thirty plus years of the show that anyone stepped into Vanna's beautiful shoes to wave bye-bye, and at 87 years young, my Mom definitely had a reason to gloat. Mom never owned a computer nor even knew what social media was, but a fe

Only those who go where few have gone can see what few have seen. ~ Buddha Did you know that poinsettias grow into trees? Or that mother’s tongue, also known as snake plant, is an excellent fence barrier? Without a thought from whence a plant derives, most of us buy our indoor plants at nurseries, grocery stores, and big-box centers. Our holiday décor includes colorful tropical specimens that thrive inside. On a quest to discover the flora and fauna that bring joy to our worl

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” Marcus Cicero With all of the disasters and tragedies of this year, logic seems to have disappeared. The senseless shootings of innocent people and the devastating California fires have rendered so many of us feeling helpless and hopeless. But in times of turbulence, besides the consolation of close relationships with family and friends, I advise my clients to turn to two things––gardens and books. The smoke