What’s happening here?
We’re hanging out, talking plants, gardening, gardens, natural history, and whatever I happen to fancy (maybe art, books, the occasional recipe). This is a place to share ways in which we can be creative when it comes to tending and restoring our gardens and outdoor spaces—reusing and repurposing, infusing art and quirk, encouraging biodiversity, incorporating sustainable practices, adjusting to a changing climate, and other things botany and horticulture.
Café Botanica is a place to share ideas. I hope you’ll join me and enjoy your time here, however long … or fleeting!
What’s not happening here.
Although I will be talking about my garden and others throughout the year, this won’t be a space where I explain how to prune a hydrangea, when to start your Brussels sprouts, or how to deal with black spot on your roses. There are other places where you can find that info, hosted by gardeners much more skilled than me.
Who’s the barista at this café?
Someone who’s been known to take her seedlings on road trips.
Someone who, after being away for a few days, must consciously play nice and make sure to greet her family before she goes to see what’s happened in the garden. (I do love them so. My family and my garden.)
Other than that, I write articles and books for both adults and children. In the past, I was managing editor of two magazines: KNOW: The Science Magazine for Curious Kids, and Hakai Magazine, which explored science and society in coastal ecosystems. Related to Café Botanica and some of the things I want to explore here, you can read a few articles I’ve written on sustainable floristry: Bringing Back the Alberta Bouquet and Are You Giving Flowers with a Side of Plastic?
You can learn more about me and my work on my website. If you’re still on Instagram you can find me there, or over on Bluesky, where the cool kids seem to be hanging out now. I garden on the west coast of Vancouver Island where we get over three metres of rain a year. The name of my old (old) blog, Wet Coast Gardens, reflected that reality! (The garden has changed a lot since then.) I volunteer with our community’s school garden and help with community programming that encourages growing, seed saving, and food security. I’ll share some of that journey here.)
For now, coffee is on the house
Café Botanica is free for all as I settle into a routine. If you do feel like throwing in a bit of cash — about the cost of a packet of seeds — every once in a while I’d appreciate it. (I’ll insert a “Buy me a coffee” button here and there.) Whatever you decide, everyone is welcome. Just reading and commenting with your thoughts and ideas means a lot. This is a time for connections, community, and kindness — especially online.
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