There's a particular kind of energy that takes over in the days before opening your garden to the public. It's equal parts excitement, mild panic, and the deeply satisfying urge to fix every single thing you've been meaning to fix for months. This weekend, that energy has fully taken over Wild Joy Gardens as I prepare for this weekend’s OCCNPS garden tour! Mulch, mulch, mulch. It's amazing what a fresh layer of mulch does for a garden bed — it's like a haircut before a job interview....

Starting seeds makes me so happy. Planting a garden is a very hopeful experience. Seed starting advice is everywhere, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by conflicting methods and timelines. After years of starting seeds at home, these are the materials I use—and the one I recommend to all new seed starters. For the detailed guidance on how to start seeds - I highly recommend Orta Gardens advice as well as Homestead and Chill. And remember, no advice is better than your lived experience, so...

This article was originally published in Immortal Perfume's first edition Scent Strip, a quarterly publication dedicated to the artistry,...