| Tending to the garden is just one aspect of | | | | writing down your feelings in the journal, you can |
| gardening. Another aspect that can be focused on | | | | form a relationship with your vegetable or flower |
| is the garden journal. Here are six tips to help | | | | garden. You may be able to notice things to help |
| your garden journaling. | | | | you out in the garden like when you most feel like |
| 1. Find the Right Journal | | | | gardening, whether gardening helps you out when |
| The right garden journal makes a difference. If | | | | you are stressed and other such notions. |
| you spend a lot of time in your garden journal, | | | | 4. Work Out Those Creative Muscles |
| you might want something that appeals to you. It | | | | Just let the words be. Unless you are going to |
| can be just a blank notebook, or it can be | | | | publish the journal, there doesn't have to be |
| something grand such as a sketch pad. You can | | | | perfect grammar and perfect descriptions. Let the |
| use a three-ringed binder to make your own | | | | thoughts flow out. You can add creativity like |
| garden journal. Add graph paper, blank copy paper | | | | drawing pictures to go along with the journal |
| and/or lined paper. You could decorate the covers | | | | entry. You can write poems that are inspired by |
| to express your artistic or garden tastes. You | | | | the garden. You can add anything you like. Just let |
| could buy a journal that has a floral or garden | | | | the creativity flow. |
| design on it. The options are limited only by your | | | | 5. Don't Forget the Adjectives |
| imagination. | | | | Description is important. It isn't necessarily the |
| 2. Date and Label Everything | | | | number one important aspect of journaling but it |
| Do you want to find out how something grew in | | | | helps. Use strong descriptions. Use active verbs |
| your vegetable or flower garden last year or the | | | | instead of passive. Draw a picture with words. |
| previous years? The best way to keep track of | | | | The more description you add, the more |
| that sort of information is by labeling and dating | | | | rewarding the garden journal will be. |
| everything. Keep records of when, where and | | | | 6. Forget the Pens! Go for Color |
| even what time you planted something. Be as | | | | Instead of using pen or pencil, try colored pencils |
| specific as you can so that you will have a | | | | or markers. These add a sense of reality. The |
| complete record to look back on for reference in | | | | garden is usually a place of color. Why not reflect |
| later months or years. | | | | that color in your garden journal! |
| 3. Go Personal | | | | It's Your Garden Journal |
| A garden journal isn't just for technical results | | | | Make your own journal. It should be a place to |
| such as when and how something was planted. | | | | reflect you and your garden. You ultimately decide |
| It's also for personal thoughts and feelings. By | | | | what to put or not put into it. |