Blog

January 2026

Pursuing a Dream

For the past 15 years I have been writing blogs and newsletters about gardening in Virginia. I have loved sharing what I know about being a home gardener after operating Christie’s Fine Gardening for 30 years.

I have been thinking about stories for a book for a ling time.  The subject I think is most important for me now is to speak to disabled youth.  My past has included getting a Masters of Education and  teaching Special Education English in Middle and High schools .  I have also taught or been a counselor at surrounding facilities like Elk Hill Farm, United Methodist Service and Barrett Correctional Center (now closed).

I use a wheelchair chair now and have had a hard time coping with life, grief and sad feelings. At the age of 69, I have been sad, embarrassed, lonely and exhausted  in having to use a wheelchair to get around. Imagine what a 12 year old must feel like having the same experiences as I do?  I think all this qualifies me to address some needs of ‘disabled’ youth and help kids cope with hard times

When I taught English I remember older youth who could not read well and their need for ‘ High Interest, Low vocabulary’ books. A fifteen year old student reading “Run Spot Run“ just doesn’t cut it . I have researched some publishing companies and there are quite a few that are looking for easy to read exciting  books for disabled kids.

So, my book will be called,  “Adventures on the Meadow”.

The heroine is a 12 year old girl named Hettie. She uses a wheelchair. When she goes to visit her grandparents in Virginia for the summer, she experiences new friendships and rides a golf cart through meadows and along the James River.  She experiences Nature in a whole new way.

She also has her grandmother’s 2 young labs who run beside the golf cart while she has lots of outdoor adventures. She saves the day on more than one occasion despite her disability.  She feels good about herself!

Change is a good thing for me now in my life, so I will be pursuing writing the book and finding an illustrator for the next year or so instead of writing blogs.

I will think of you as I look at my garden. Please go back to my past blogs for a lot of information you may enjoy. I have an index for this purpose and will get it so it is more obvious in finding subject matters.

The fragrant wintersweet and camellias are blooming now. You can see daffodils poking up their leaves testing the weather.  Gardens are Nature’s magic. I hope yours brings you great joy.

Wish me luck and all the best to you,

Christie

Christie lives in Manakin Sabot , Virginia where she manages a 3 acre garden. Her blogs are written from her 35 years as a personal and professional gardener.