grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

How to Grow a Clematis Vine (as big as a dinner plate)

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How to Grow Clematis

Y’all, I thought since my clematis flowers are as big as a dinner plate, this would be a good time to talk about growing clematis vines. For the beginner gardener, clematis is a great plant to start with because it’s a pretty undemanding vine. When it bursts into bloom you’ll feel encouraged and believe down deep where you live that your thumb has turned a brighter shade of green. That’s a nice thing to believe.

There’s no reason to make gardening difficult. Grow what works for your area and skip the fussy mussy plants. That’s my motto.

When to plant?

How about today? Continue Reading

Almost Glamping at the Jonquil Festival!

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Glamping at the Jonquil Festival

Jonquil Festival!

A couple of weeks ago I shared a booth at the Jonquil Festival with fellow Delta author, Rhonda G. Williams. This was the first time either of us had sold our books at a craft fair. In fact, it was the first time I’d had a vendor booth at any fair. (I’ve been to book fairs with my publisher, but I wasn’t in charge. Totally different.) I wasn’t sure how this event would turn out. Local books and local crafts? Why not?

Truth: sitting under a canopy for three days subject to wind, cold, heat, humidity, rain—all the crazy Arkansas weather—life begins to feel like camping. And I prefer my camping with a touch of comfort. As in glamping.

Almost Glamping?

glamping at Jonquil Fest

So what’s glamping? It’s inspired camping. Camping with glamour. Glamping is about having fun, being adventurous, stringing up a paper chain and not worrying about making things perfect.

Almost glamping is what Rhonda and I did with our Jonquil Festival booth. While technically we “camped” in town at local hotels, we glamped up our booth.

Are you an author?

I have a theory. While nothing will replace engaging writing, an interesting title, and a compelling cover, a creative vendor booth will bring folks over and allow you to visit with them. Books don’t sell themselves. I’d like to believe someone walking by might glance over to our booth and think, “My, my, aren’t those ladies creative. Their books must be magical!”

See how it works? It makes perfect sense in my mind.Continue Reading

September Eve and all it brings.

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September Eve

Happy September Eve, everyone! I’m always happy to see August come to an end. Are you? Even though we’ll no doubt have more hot, humid days, there’s just something about flipping the calendar to September that makes me wanna dance. I also feel a little melancholy about the things I never got around to doing. That summer bucket list I wrote? Yeah, I didn’t tick off everything, but I suppose technically I still have time to do a few more things.

Do I dare do a fall bucket list?
Of course.
But not yet.
Maybe when fall officially rolls around. Right now, I’m living in those in-between days still savoring the things I love about summer (like nectarines and walking barefoot) yet looking for fall in the dogwood leaves already tinged with orange.Continue Reading

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

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