Coloring is a timeless way to slow down, relax, and reconnect with your creativity. Whether you’re five or fifty-five, picking up your favorite colors can help you nurture calm and focus—just like tending to a garden helps things grow. Our free Foxtastic Coloring Kit  is designed especially for gardeners of all ages, featuring pages that bloom with joy, mindfulness, and creativity. Each sheet offers a chance to pause, breathe, and bring a little more color into your day. Download your free Foxtastic Coloring Kit 🖍️  and let your colors—and calm—bloom! Scroll down to collect your Gardening Tool Badge! Why Coloring is a Gardening Tool 🖍️ Coloring is a gardening tool because it helps us grow calm, creativity, and focus. When you color, you’re not just filling in a page—you’re tending to your inner garden, one color at a time. Just like pulling a weed or planting a seed, coloring invites us to be present. It allows us to slow down, clear our minds, and enjoy the moment. It’s a creative act that turns stress into serenity and helps our thoughts and emotions find balance. Wonderful for Gardeners of All Ages 🖍️   Coloring is for every gardener, young or grown. For children, it helps strengthen coordination and focus. For teens and adults, it provides a quiet, creative space to unwind. Everyone can color at their own pace, in their own way—because there’s no right or wrong way to grow your garden. Our Foxie-inspired coloring sheets come in a variety of intricacy levels, so every gardener can find a design that feels just right. Some are simple and playful; others are beautifully detailed for those who love to take their time and layer their creativity. The Benefits of Coloring 🖍️ Coloring isn’t just a creative outlet—it’s a form of gentle self-care. Taking time to color can: Reduce anxiety and stress Improve focus and attention Support fine motor skills Encourage emotional regulation Strengthen creativity and confidence When we color, our breathing slows , our shoulders soften, and our minds find calm. It’s a small act that helps us feel more centered—inside and out. Download our free Foxtastic Coloroing Kit here! Collect Your Gardening Tool Badge 🖍️ Foxtastic Coloring Kit Coloring is a gardening tool because it helps us grow calm, creativity, and focus. When you color, you’re not just filling in a page—you’re tending to your inner garden, one color at a time. Collect your Gardening Tool Badge for “Coloring Kit”  and add it to your Gardener’s Collector Sheet! It’s a cheerful reminder that when we nurture our creativity, we nurture ourselves too. When we make time to color, we’re choosing calm, creativity, and connection. It’s a beautiful reminder that caring for ourselves is part of tending to our gardens. Pick up your Foxtastic Coloring Kit 🖍️ , take a deep breath, and let your inner garden bloom in color. We’d love to see your creations— show us your coloring sheets and tag us @youareagardener  so we can celebrate your colorful growth together!

Our #PullYourWeeds® School Assemblies  are blooming across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania , bringing a fresh, heart-centered approach to mental wellness , emotional empowerment , and character education. Led by Gardener Shanna , with Gardener Anna or Gardener Aidan  assisting, each assembly helps students grow confidence, empathy, and integrity all while connecting with real kids who have grown up living the You Are a Gardener®  mindset. Having already connected with over 20,000 students , this growing movement continues to plant seeds of kindness, respect, and emotional resilience in schools of every size. Whether you’re a teacher, counselor, or principal looking to plant seeds of kindness, respect, and integrity in your school community, our assemblies are designed to help your students bloom. Contact us at flowers@youareagardener today to get a custom quote for your school or organization! 🌼 Who Are #PullYourWeeds® Assemblies For? Our assemblies are for gardeners of all ages , but especially for elementary and middle school students . They provide an interactive, age-appropriate way to talk about emotions and coping skills in a positive and empowering way. Students learn that just like gardens, their emotions need care and attention too—and that everyone has the power to pull their weeds (challenges), plant new seeds (positive choices), and keep growing strong roots of kindness, empathy, and respect. 🌿 Where Do We Travel? Our #PullYourWeeds® school assemblies  are available in person across NJ, NY, and PA , helping students grow stronger roots in kindness, respect, empathy, and integrity. We love hitting the road to help schools plant seeds of positive change! Every visit is designed to help students grow through what they go through, blending emotional empowerment, creativity, and connection in a way that feels natural and fun. 🌻 Each #PullYourWeeds® Assembly Includes: A live reading of You Are a Gardener®   — where students discover the heart of the gardener mindset. Introduction to the Gardener’s Vocabulary & Mindset  — helping students learn how to identify and tend to their “weeds” (challenges) and “seeds” (positive choices). Healthy & relatable gardening tools  — mindfulness, grounding, and confidence boosters that students can use anytime they need to reset or refocus. Stories from real peer gardeners  — featuring Gardener Anna or Gardener Aidan, who share what it’s like growing up a gardener  and using these tools in real life. “We All Have Weeds” activity  — an interactive moment that helps foster empathy and remind students they’re not alone in their challenges. Spreading seeds of kindness  — exercises and takeaways that encourage students to grow positivity throughout their school community. Collecting Gardening Tool Badges  — fun, engaging post-assembly resources that keep students motivated to keep pulling their weeds. Free gardener giveaways for every student  — a small token to remind them that growth starts within. A signed copy of You Are a Gardener®  for your school library. Digital Certificates of Achievement  for all student participants. “Keep It Growing” classroom resources  for teachers and staff — printable activities, discussion prompts, and links to continue the lessons all year long. Each assembly is uplifting, interactive, and tailored to your school’s needs — helping students root in kindness, respect, empathy, and integrity while teachers gain tools to keep the message blooming in the classroom. CHECKOUT SOME OF OUR RECENT SCHOOL SPOTLIGHTS & SEE WHAT EDUCATORS ARE SAYING ABOUT OUR ASSEMBLIES- CLICK HERE! 🌻 Why Schools Need These Assemblies Now Today’s students are facing more emotional weeds than ever before. Anxiety, disconnection, and stress are showing up earlier and more often in classrooms. Our #PullYourWeeds® Assembly  helps reframe how students think about challenges—empowering them to take small, mindful actions that nurture emotional wellness and build resilience. Every #PullYourWeeds® Assembly is part of a growing movement  rooted in kindness, respect, integrity, and empathy—encouraging students to nurture themselves and each other. Students walk away with practical gardening tools for their emotional well-being and a clear understanding that it’s okay to have weeds—it’s what we do  with them that helps us grow. 🌸 Benefits of a #PullYourWeeds® Assembly Our assemblies are: Interactive & Inspiring  – Students get to share, move, and reflect while learning meaningful emotional tools. Emotionally Empowering  – Teaches self-awareness, empathy, and growth mindset in simple, visual ways. Rooted in Real Connection  – Featuring Gardener Shanna , along with Anna or Aidan , who relate authentically to students. Aligned with Character Education Goals  – Perfect for school-wide initiatives centered around kindness, respect, and integrity. Tailored to Your School’s Needs  – Every assembly can be customized based on age, size, and focus areas. Each program includes free gardener giveaways for every student  and teacher resources  to help keep the conversation growing long after the assembly ends. 🌾 Keep It Growing Book Campaign We invite every school to participate in our “Keep It Growing” Book Campaign ! When your school hosts a #PullYourWeeds ® Assembly, 10% of all book sales are donated back to your school . It’s a meaningful way to nurture reading, reinforce the gardener mindset , and give back to your community—all while spreading seeds of growth that last all year long. Dig into this fun fundraiser for your school! 🌷 Tailored Assemblies for Every School No two gardens are the same—and neither are our assemblies. Whether you’re focusing on kindness, empathy, teamwork, or resilience, we’ll tailor the experience to align with your school’s character development or wellness goals. Our message is universal, our energy is uplifting, and our mission is simple: to help gardeners of all ages grow through what they go through. 🌺 Ready to Bring #PullYourWeeds® to Your School? Join the growing list of schools in NJ, NY, and PA  who are helping students root in kindness, respect, empathy, and integrity. Together, we can empower young gardeners to cultivate emotional wellness, one seed at a time. Email us at flowers@youareagardener.com  to learn more or book your assembly today. Discover how #PullYourWeeds® School Assemblies inspire kindness and emotional empowerment in NJ, NY, PA. Book your assembly today!

Last weekend, the gardeners  spent the day blooming with connection at Bottle Hill Day’s 50th Celebration  in downtown Madison, NJ, and it couldn’t have been more beautiful. This marked our sixth year setting up a booth at this long-standing community event, and every year the celebration grows stronger. The streets of The Rose City  (as Madison is fondly known) were filled with families, laughter, and sunshine. We were surrounded by familiar gardener friends and met so many new ones too. Each year, more vendors join, more neighbors come out, and the sense of community connection continues to bloom. This year, we debuted our new Western Bloom trucker hats  along with a variety of fresh foxtastic merchandise. The feedback was so encouraging and uplifting. It means so much to see how our message continues to resonate with gardeners of all ages. A special highlight of the day was seeing Gardener Anna and Gardener Aidan featured on CBS News’ Morning Show , where they helped with the weather segment, sharing their bright energy and helping spread the word about our growing gardener community. Bottle Hill Day always reminds us how important it is to show up, celebrate, and connect. There is something truly special about being out in the heart of the community, surrounded by joy, kindness, and connection. As we packed up at the end of the day, our hearts were full of gratitude for everyone who stopped by, shared a smile, or simply took a moment to connect. We are so thankful to Madison for another memorable year and can’t wait to return next fall to keep growing together in this beautiful garden of community and celebration. Check out some of our past posts from previous Bottle Hill Days to see how our garden of connection has continued to grow over the years. Click Here! Fun Facts About Madison, NJ: Madison is known as “The Rose City”  for its historic connection to the rose-growing industry in the late 1800s. The town’s Bottle Hill Day celebration began in 1974 , named after Madison’s original 18th-century name, “Bottle Hill.” Madison’s charming downtown has appeared in films and TV shows, capturing its timeless small-town spirit. If you missed us at Bottle Hill Day, you can still explore our Western Bloom trucker hats  and other foxtastic  merch in the You Are a Gardener® Shop . Every item is designed to help gardeners of all ages stay rooted in confidence, connection, and positivity. Visit our online shop and bring a little garden-inspired joy home with you!

We’re thrilled to share a new collaboration that’s helping the You Are a Gardener®  message grow even farther! In this You Are a Gardener podcast interview,  Shanna Truffini, creator and founder of You Are a Gardener® , joins Joe Canfield, host and founder of Salty Ginger Talk , for a heartfelt conversation titled “From Weeds to Seeds: Growing Through Life’s Challenges.” In this inspiring interview, Shanna and Joe dig into themes of discipline, inner strength, and living with purpose. Together, they explore how adopting the gardener mindset helps “gardeners of all ages” turn life’s weeds (challenges) into seeds (opportunities for growth). The conversation also shines a light on the empowering gardening tools  we can use to navigate life’s challenges—like awareness, compassion, curiosity, and courage. Shanna and Joe discuss how these tools help us stay rooted in calm, dig into our passions, and uncover the deeper purpose that helps us grow from the inside out. Through her book, school assemblies, and the #PullYourWeeds® movement, Shanna continues to make emotional wellness fun, visual, and deeply relatable. This collaboration is a beautiful reminder that when gardeners come together to share their stories of growth, it helps others see that they can bloom too. ✨ Whether you’re a parent, teacher, entrepreneur, or simply someone looking for mindful ways to face life’s challenges, this conversation will leave you hopeful and empowered. 🎧 Watch or listen now: Salty Ginger Talk – From Weeds to Seeds: Growing Through Life’s Challenges 🎧 Also available on Podbean, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts , and more. Let’s keep spreading seeds of growth together.  Every collaboration, conversation, and connection helps the You Are a Gardener®  message reach new hearts and gardens around the world. 🌿 Want to help us spread more seeds of growth? If you host a podcast or know someone who does, we’d love to join you for an inspiring conversation about turning life’s challenges into opportunities, using gardening tools for growth, and helping gardeners of all ages bloom from the inside out. 👉 Connect with us at youareagardener.com/contact  — let’s keep growing together!

When it comes to emotional health, many families and schools are searching for simple, creative ways to help children build resilience, reduce stress, and grow confidence. You Are a Gardener®: Growing Emotional Health and Resilience for Kids and Families  is more than a book. It is a movement dedicated to helping gardeners of all ages turn life’s weeds (challenges) into seeds (opportunities for growth). At its heart, You Are a Gardener®  is a story and a set of emotional empowerment tools that give children, parents, and educators practical ways to manage stress, anxiety, and big emotions. Through our relatable gardening metaphor, kids learn that flowers represent gratitude and joy, weeds symbolize challenges, and seeds stand for growth and opportunity. With this framework, children begin to see their emotions clearly, build coping skills, and feel more confident navigating everyday stress. Coping Skills Reimagined as Gardening Tools The most powerful expression we use at You Are a Gardener® is #PullYourWeeds® . It means becoming aware of the stress, anxiety, or challenges (weeds) that are starting to take root, and then choosing to clear them out in healthy, positive ways. Sometimes that means talking about what we are carrying with a trusted friend, family member, teacher, or counselor. Other times it means reaching for a gardening tool that helps us calm, restore, and reset. Both talking and using tools are part of the practice of #PullYourWeeds®, and together they make space for new seeds of growth, resilience, and connection to bloom. There are countless healthy gardening tools gardeners of all ages can reach for when stress or anxiety begins to creep in: ✅ Cooking a healthy meal ✅ Crafting or creating with your hands ✅ Exercising or going for a walk ✅ Solving puzzles or brain teasers ✅ Coloring or drawing ✅ Journaling or writing down thoughts ✅ Playing music or listening to calming sounds Each of these gardening tools helps gardeners return to a place of calm, focus, and resilience. Building Confident Kids Through Emotional Resilience Emotional resilience is not about avoiding stress, it is about learning how to grow through it. You Are a Gardener®  equips children with SEL-aligned skills that help them: Recognize and name their emotions Manage stress and anxiety with healthy outlets (gardening tools) Strengthen confidence and self-awareness Build empathy and connection with others Find creative, positive ways to express themselves When children practice these tools daily, they develop deep roots of confidence, compassion, and calm. These qualities help them thrive in school, at home, and in life. From a Book to a Movement What began as one storybook has now grown into a larger movement. Through our school assemblies, the #PullYourWeeds® blog, and family-friendly resources, You Are a Gardener®  is reaching gardeners of all ages including parents, teachers, counselors, and kids with a message of emotional empowerment and resillence. Our mission is simple: to provide families and schools with easy-to-use tools for emotional health and resilience. Together, we are planting seeds of positive change and growing a future where confident, compassionate kids become strong, resilient adults. 🌱 Ready to grow stronger, calmer, and more confident? Discover the book that started it all. Order Your Copy of You Are a Gardener® Today! Growing Emotional Health and Resilience for Kids and Families starts with simple tools. Discover You Are a Gardener®, a movement that helps children manage stress and anxiety, build confidence, and develop lifelong coping skills through creative gardening tools and #PullYourWeeds®.

The Garden We Can Grow : What We Can and Cannot Control- So many of us are feeling this right now — getting lost in worries about the future, replaying moments from the past, or trying to control things that are simply beyond our reach. When this happens, weeds of stress and anxiety can take root, making it harder for us to stay grounded in the present moment. As gardeners, we grow stronger when we focus on what we can  grow and nurture, and when we choose gardening tools to guide us back to center. There are some things in life we can control, some things we can nurture, and some things we cannot change. We can control our thoughts, emotions, and actions. We can nurture our health, our schedule, and our kindness toward others. But we cannot control the past, the future, or the choices other gardeners make. At the center of our garden is what we can control and tend to daily: My thoughts  — choosing a positive thought when a negative one creeps in. My emotions  — noticing how I feel and identifying it, instead of letting it take over. My actions  — choosing healthy gardening tools and taking steps that reflect my values, helping me grow stronger and calmer. My self-care  — resting, eating well, or doing something creative that restores me. My treatment of others  — choosing words and actions that plant seeds of kindness and respect. Around that circle are the parts of life we can nurture, even if they’re not fully in our control: My schedule  — I can make space for the things that matter. My health  — I can support my body with movement, hydration, and care. My kindness toward others  — I can choose kind words and actions that plant seeds of respect. My finances — tending to how I save, spend, and share. And then there are the forces outside our reach. No gardener can control: The past and the future  — focusing on what cannot be changed or trying to control what hasn’t happened yet. Other gardeners’ actions  — what someone else chooses to say or do. The weather  — sunshine, rain, and changing seasons we we grow through. World situations  — the larger events and circumstances beyond our control. Click the poster to download the pf version to hang in your home, office or classroom! The Garden We Can Grow poster and mindset is a daily reminder that when we focus on the thoughts, actions, and choices we can control, we feel stronger and more grounded. ✅ We feel calmer and less overwhelmed ✅ We build stronger roots of resilience ✅ We put more energy into what helps us grow ✅ We spend our time tending to what matters most ✅ We direct our care toward what is within our reach ✅ We grow stronger by choosing where to place our energy 🌸 A Gardener’s Tool in Action Hey gardeners, check out our recent post on choosing Perler beads  as a powerful gardening tool to help us take control and evoke feelings of calm, boost our confidence, and invite creativity and connection. Each tiny bead is a reminder that small, intentional actions can grow into something beautiful. Taking time to place each bead is a choice we can control, and it gives gardeners of all ages a moment to slow down, focus, and create. Check out the post-Click Here! 👉 Don’t forget to collect your Gardening Tool Badge  for this activity! Add it to your Gardener Tool Collector Sheet as a reminder that focusing on what we can grow is one of the most powerful tools we have. This Gardening Tool Badge represents the practice of focusing on what we can control. It reminds us to stay rooted in our thoughts, actions, and choices, rather than getting pulled into what’s beyond our reach. Click here to add to collect your badge! When we focus on what we can grow and nurture, we strengthen our roots and create more space for calm, confidence, and connection. Life will always bring forces outside our reach, but our greatest growth comes from tending to the soil right in front of us. By staying rooted in this mindset, gardeners of all ages can keep planting seeds of resilience and watching their gardens bloom. You are a gardener. Discover The Garden We Can Grow by focusing on what we can control, nurture, and release, helping gardeners of all ages stay rooted in emotional growth and resillence.

The You Are a Gardener® Perler Bead Activity Pack: A Creative Craft to Build Confidence, Calm, and Connection  is a simple activity that grows into a powerful gardening tool. Perler beads, those tiny colorful pieces that click together to form designs, are more than just a craft—they help gardeners of all ages grow confidence, creativity, calm, and connection. When we pick up a tray of Perler beads, we’re doing more than creating art. We’re practicing focus, cultivating resilience, and giving ourselves permission to play. Each bead becomes a reminder that even the tiniest actions can add up to something beautiful. 🌱 Scroll down to download our free Perler Bead Activity Pack  and collect your Gardening Tool Badge for this activity! 🌱 Why Perler Beads Are a Powerful Gardening Tool 🌱 ✅ Boosts Creativity  – Designing with beads lets us experiment with colors, patterns, and shapes, unlocking new ways to express ourselves. ✅ Builds Confidence  – Every completed project, big or small, gives gardeners proof of their persistence and skill. ✅ Encourages Calm  – The steady rhythm of placing beads soothes stress and clears space for mindfulness. ✅ Grows Connection  – Perfect for group activities, Perler beads bring families, classmates, or friends together in a shared creative flow. 🖼 Creates Lasting Reminders One of the most powerful parts of working with Perler beads is transforming a simple project into a lasting piece of art. By gluing your finished designs to thick paper or a white board, you can frame them as daily symbols of resilience, creativity, and joy. These framed creations become more than crafts — they are visible reminders of the gardener mindset and the emotional growth we nurture within ourselves. When to Use Perler Beads as a Gardening Tool 🌸 Family Time:  A cozy afternoon activity that strengthens connection while sparking creativity. Classrooms:  A calming project for students that doubles as a lesson in patience and focus. Gardener Gatherings:  Try it as a group activity during assemblies, clubs, or workshops to encourage collaboration. Quiet Moments:  A mindful break from screens, perfect for gardeners of any age looking to restore calm. Celebrations:  Create designs around holidays, milestones, or themes and frame them as keepsakes. 🦊 Free Perler Bead Activity Pack To make this gardening tool even more fun, we’ve created a Perler Bead Activity Pack  featuring our favorite Gardener-inspired designs—like “Pull Your Weeds,” Foxie, and “You Are a Gardener.” Inside the pack you’ll find: Printable templates sized for clear Perler bead pegboards. Designs that can be followed exactly or customized with your own colors. A keepsake option: glue your finished projects to cardstock or a white board and frame them as daily reminders of growth and creativity. 🦊 This pack is perfect for gardeners of all ages—whether you’re working on your own, in a classroom, or with family and friends. 🌼 Bringing It All Together Perler beads may be small, but the impact they have on our gardens is mighty. Each bead placed is an act of focus, each design completed is a bloom of confidence, and each project shared is a seed of connection. Whether used in a classroom, at home, or with friends, this simple craft grows into a powerful reminder that we have the ability to create calm, nurture joy, and celebrate growth . With Perler beads as a gardening tool, gardeners of all ages can keep turning weeds into seeds, one colorful creation at a time. 👉 Don’t forget to collect your Gardening Tool Badge  for this activity! Perler beads are proof that small actions can grow into powerful, lasting change. Each design becomes a reminder that we can take control of our energy, reduce stress, and grow more confident and connected in the process. Add this Tool Badge to your collector sheet as a reminder of the creativity, confidence, and calm you cultivated with this activity. 🌟 We would love to see your Perler bead creations! Share your designs with us and inspire other gardeners to keep planting seeds of creativity, confidence, calm, and connection tag us @youareagardener and use #PullYourWeeds

When we look around the world today, it can feel like weeds of anger, fear, and hate are spreading quickly. From social media to the daily news, so much of what we consume is designed to divide us, pulling us further from our true roots. But gardeners of all ages know that even in the darkest seasons, there is always one choice we can make: to bring the light and lead with love. Bring the Light means choosing love, kindness, and hope in moments when fear, anger, or hate try to take over.  It’s being intentional about shining positivity , even in dark or divided times. This is our call to gardeners everywhere: rise above the weeds, plant seeds of love, and watch how the world around us begins to bloom. ✅ When you spread fear, you cultivate fear. ✅ When you spread anger, you cultivate anger. ✅ When you spread hate, you cultivate more hate. ✅ But when you lead with love, you cultivate love. ✅ When you share kindness, you cultivate kindness. ✅ When you shine hope, you cultivate hope. Each time we choose love over fear, kindness over anger, and connection over division, we plant seeds that transform our world and inspire others to rise with us. Love is the root of it all. We were created to love, to create, and to connect. When we drift from those roots, we feel the disconnection. But when we return to love, we remember who we are, and we discover how much light we can grow. Today we are sharing four powerful gardening tools because the world needs more light, more love, and more gardeners willing to rise above the weeds. When we choose these gardening tools, we nurture self-love, strengthen connection, and cultivate hope. The benefits reach far beyond ourselves—they ripple out, planting seeds of love, respect and compassion that help entire communities grow stronger. 🌱 Gardening Tool #1: Self-Love Activity – Start an “I Am” List To let love in and give love out, we must first nurture love within ourselves. Begin by planting the seeds of self-love with an “I Am” list. Write down words that reflect who you are: I am confident. I am successful. I am loved. I am creative. I am kind. I am resilient. I am calm. I am strong. I am growing. I am a gardener. Keep the list growing. Read it aloud every day. Add new affirmations whenever you feel inspired. Each “I am” is a flower blooming in your garden, reminding you of the light within. 🌱 Gardening Tool #2: Lead With Love Activity When fear, anger, or sadness tries to take root, pause and ask: How can I bring love into this moment? Here are some simple ways to sow seeds of love: Send a heartfelt text. Write a handwritten letter or note to a friend or family member. Offer a genuine compliment. Look someone in the eye and share a warm smile. Hold the door, say thank you, listen fully. Every small act of love is a ray of light that breaks through the weeds. 🌱 Gardening Tool #3: Bring the Light Through Connection To truly connect, we sometimes need to disconnect. Social media, the news, and media outlets are designed to influence thoughts and emotions, and often they stir fear, anger, or comparison. When that happens, step back, notice how it makes you feel, and choose to reconnect with love instead. Instead, choose genuine connection: Call someone and hear their voice. Set up a coffee date or FaceTime a friend. Create something from love—bake, paint, write, craft, or play music. Step outside, walk in nature, soak in the sunlight. Try setting timers or alerts to limit screen time. Disconnect from noise so you can reconnect with yourself and those who matter most- and remember, every time you choose to step away from the noise, you make more space for light and love to grow. 🌱 Gardening Tool #4: Bring the Light & Lead With Love (Grounding Exercise) Sometimes the weeds of fear, anger, and division feel overwhelming. In those moments, we need to pause, ground ourselves, and remember that love is always within reach. Press play to watch our video- a wonderful resource to use at home, in school, or doing a group session! Press Play > This simple grounding exercise can help us reconnect to the light: Root Yourself  – Take a deep breath in and feel your feet steady on the ground, like strong roots anchoring you. Let the Light In  – Imagine warm sunlight filling your chest, spreading through your body, and shining from within. Grow with Love  – Whisper to yourself: I am light. I am love.  Let those words bloom inside you. Shine Outward  – Exhale slowly and picture your light reaching others, wrapping them in kindness and peace. Return to the Garden  – Open your eyes and notice the beauty around you. Carry this light with you into the rest of your day. This gardening tool reminds us that even in the darkest moments, we can root ourselves in calm, reconnect to love, and choose to shine. ✨ Collect your Bring the Light, Lead With Love Gardening Tool Badge These exercises strengthen your roots in calm and connection, reminding us that even in heavy moments, we can always choose to shine hope and love. Each time we practice, we plant seeds of light that help gardeners of all ages grow stronger and more resilient. Click here   or the badge to download your new Gardening Tool Badge  and add it to your Collector’s Sheet! Seeds to Carry Forward This is our time to dig in, gardeners. This is our time to rise above the weeds and lead with love. Even in moments of darkness, we have the gardening tools to bring light into our lives and into the lives of others. When we listen to our hearts and let love guide us, we plant seeds that grow into hope, kindness, and connection. Together, we can create a garden that shines so brightly it helps others remember their own light too. Bring the Light, Lead With Love shares 4 powerful gardening tools—self-love, leading with love, genuine connection, and a grounding exercise—to help gardeners of all ages grow calm, hope, and resilience.

One of our favorite parts of growing the You Are a Gardener®  movement is coming up with creative ways to design, craft, and share new gardener merch that feels fresh, inspiring, and rooted in originality. Just like a gardener tends to their tools, we love to keep planting seeds of creativity that bloom into something special for our community. This season, we’re so excited to introduce our latest drop into the shop: The Western Bloom Trucker Hat™ . Each hat is handcrafted in a small-batch run , making them truly limited-edition pieces of wearable art . With its vibrant teal/turquoise base  (our favorite color in the garden!) and sunflower-inspired turquoise conchos, every hat is a beautiful mix of style and originality. ✨ Just like a good gardening tool, these hats are designed to be functional, fun, and one-of-a-kind—perfect for adding a pop of color to your everyday outfits, concerts, festivals, garden gatherings, or anywhere you want to let your style grow. 🌿 Why Teal & Turquoise? We like to think of teal and turquoise  as colors of calm, creativity, and growth. They remind us of open skies, fresh blooms, and new beginnings. That’s why we chose this bold, refreshing shade as the base for our latest handcrafted design—it’s a color that gardeners of all ages can connect with. 🌸 Where to Find Us Next We’ll be debuting these hats at Bottle Hill Day in Madison, NJ —a wonderful street fair where we get to connect with gardeners in bloom from near and far. Events like these are where our ideas come to life, and we love seeing our community light up with excitement for new designs. If you’re joining us at Bottle Hill Day, stop by our booth and see the hats in person (and maybe collect one before they sell out!). 🌱 Limited Edition, Handcrafted Locally Each Western Bloom Trucker Hat™ is carefully crafted with attention to detail, featuring: A vibrant teal/turquoise trucker hat base Faux leather strap Sunflower-inspired turquoise concho accents Small-batch, handcrafted originality One size fits most Every hat is designed to be a statement piece— a fresh bloom for your wardrobe . It’s not just an accessory, it’s a reminder that creativity, color, and originality always have a place in your garden of style.urn in the same design—because just like in the garden, each bloom is unique. Handcrafted in small batches, the Western Bloom Trucker Hat™ features a teal base and sunflower-inspired turquoise conchos. Limited edition, one size fits most.

When the world feels overwhelming, it’s easy for weeds of fear, anger, and sadness to grow quickly. Chaos has a way of making us feel like everything is out of our control. But in every garden, there is always one thing we can tend to—our own emotions. When we root ourselves in calm, we create steadiness that helps us and those around us. Gardeners of all ages are deeply connected in this way. Younger gardeners look to grown gardeners to see how to respond in difficult times. And when grown gardeners show that calm is possible, it becomes easier for others to take a breath, soften their shoulders, and remember that peace can grow even in heavy seasons. Calm is not about pretending weeds don’t exist. It’s about practicing gentle gardening tools that help us stay centered, grounded, and strong—so we can pull weeds with care and plant seeds of hope. CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF POSTER - 5 STEPS TO PLANT CALM 🌱 5 Steps to Plant Calm 1. Notice Your Garden: Pause and look around. What flowers of gratitude can you see, hear, or feel in this moment? 2. Breathe Like a Breeze: Take slow, steady breaths, in and out, like a gentle wind moving through the garden. 3. Be Kind to Your Roots: Say something kind to yourself, reminding your roots that you are steady and growing stronger each day. 4. Focus on a Flower: Think of a person, place, or memory that brings you joy, and let it bloom in your mind. 5. Choose a Quiet Tool: Pick a simple gardening tool—like drawing, reading, or stretching—that helps you feel calm and steady. Why Calm Matters Calm is more than just a feeling—it’s something our bodies notice right away. When we steady ourselves with calm, our breath slows, our shoulders relax, and our hearts find a healthier rhythm. Calm lowers stress, helps our minds think more clearly, and gives our bodies space to rest and reset. For younger gardeners, calm creates a sense of safety and trust. For grown gardeners, calm strengthens resilience and models healthy coping skills. Together, calm becomes a gift we share—helping everyone in the garden feel more balanced and hopeful. Calming Gardening Tools Here are a few simple gardening tools we can reach for when chaos feels louder than calm: 🌱 Deep Breathing Just as we water our flowers slowly, steady breaths remind our bodies that we are safe and present. Try breathing in through your nose for four counts, holding for four, and breathing out for four. (click here for simple breathing exercises for gardeners of all ages) 🌱 Name the Weeds When heavy feelings start to spread, write them down. Naming our weeds is the first step to gently pulling them, creating space for healthier growth. (click here for our Name It to Tame It Tips) 🌱 Flower Focus Choose one bright thought, memory, or moment of gratitude. Place your attention there, even for a few minutes, and let it bloom bigger than the weeds. (click here for a free download of our Gratitude Journal Daily planner) 🌱 Seed of Intention Plant a phrase in your day like “I am rooted in calm” or “I can steady my garden.” Carry this seed with you as a reminder of your strength. (click here for our free Confidence Mantras Tracker) Leading by Example Every gardener plays an important role in the garden. Younger gardeners often look to grown gardeners to see how to respond when weeds appear. When we practice calm, we show that even in the middle of chaos, it is possible to stay steady and tend with care. Calm grows stronger when it is shared. A gardener rooted in peace helps the garden around them feel more balanced, giving flowers space to bloom and weeds less room to spread. By tending to our own calm first, we nurture the soil for others, creating a garden where hope, kindness, and resilience can take root. Nurturing Your Emotional Well-Being: If you’ve found yourself moved by Calm in Chaos , you’ll love this earlier post: From Chaos to Calm: Essential Gardening Tools for Nurturing Your Emotional Well-Being It offers a guided path from feeling overwhelmed to reclaiming peace, with simple, friendly tools for gardeners of all ages—deep breathing, gratitude journaling, mindful movement, and more. Let’s keep growing together—every tool adds strength to your garden. Calm in chaos is possible. Explore 5 steps and gardening tools to root yourself in balance, build resilience, and nurture peace for gardeners of all ages. Each of these steps is a simple seed of calm we can plant anytime. When we pause, breathe, and tend to our roots with care, calm has a chance to grow. And as calm takes root in us, it becomes easier for gardeners of all ages to find steadiness, even in seasons of chaos.

Every gardener needs a place to plant their thoughts, water their ideas, and celebrate their growth. That’s why we created the Gratitude Journal Daily Planner , a gentle way of planting daily calm. This simple yet powerful page helps gardeners of all ages pause, reflect, and stay rooted in gratitude. When life feels busy or chaotic, having a daily space to slow down with gratitude makes all the difference. This page gives gardeners of all ages a daily space to pause, reflect, and notice what is blooming in their lives, even when weeds feel heavy. By tending to gratitude, we make room for more calm, kindness, and resilience to grow. What’s Inside Our Gratitude Journal Daily Planner includes thoughtful prompts that guide gardeners through a moment of reflection: 🌱 Today I’m Grateful For  – Pause to notice the flowers in your day, big or small. 🌱 Today’s Affirmation  – Plant a phrase that helps you stay steady and strong. 🌱 Something I’m Proud Of  – Recognize the seeds you’ve already planted and how they’re growing. 🌱 Tomorrow I Look Forward To  – Give yourself hope for the day ahead by setting a gentle intention. 🌱 Water Intake & Notes  – Track simple, grounding habits that remind us to care for our bodies and our thoughts. Each section is a reminder that gratitude is like sunlight for our garden—it helps the flowers of joy and calm continue to grow. Benefits of the Gratitude Journal Daily Planner 🌸 Builds a steady practice of gratitude that supports emotional growth. 🌸 Creates calm and balance in daily routines, even during busy times. 🌸 Encourages reflection, helping gardeners notice progress and growth. 🌸 Strengthens resilience by focusing on flowers, not weeds. 🌸 Inspires younger gardeners by modeling healthy habits of calm and reflection. Remember Gardeners: Plant gratitude, grow calm. Leading by Example This gardening tool is a wonderful way for grown gardeners to model healthy habits. Younger gardeners often look to adults for cues on how to handle big feelings, and when we pause to reflect, they learn that it’s safe and meaningful to do the same. By tending to our own calm and gratitude, we help the whole garden feel more balanced and hopeful. ✨ Collect your Gratitude Journal Gardening Tool Badge   Each page you complete strengthens your roots in gratitude and calm, reminding us that small daily reflections bring big benefits for gardeners of all ages. Click here or the badge to download your new Gardening Tool Badge and add it to your Collector's Sheet! Plant gratitude each day and watch calm begin to grow. With the Gratitude Journal Daily Planner, we can root ourselves in steadiness, reflect on what blooms, and lead gardeners of all ages toward a garden filled with hope and balance.

Grow With The Flow: The Garden Cycle™  is a simple yet powerful way to understand how we move and grow through our emotions. Life moves in cycles, and so do our feelings. Some days bring weeds—stress, worry, or fear. Other days bloom with flowers—gratitude, joy, and hope. Both are part of our natural growth. It’s more than a step-by-step process—it’s a natural cycle we are always moving through, flowing from weeds to gardening tools to seeds to flowers. ✨ Scroll down & dig in—download the Grow With The Flow infographic to start practicing The Garden Cycle™ & collect your Gardening Tool Badge for Growing With The Flow! 🌱 Weeds Weeds are the uncomfortable feelings and challenges that can weigh us down: Stress from work or family responsibilities Worry about what might happen Fear of change or the unknown 🛠 Gardening Tools Gardening tools are the healthy activities that help us reset, reflect, and grow: Talking with someone we trust Journaling thoughts and feelings Listening to uplifting music Cooking, baking, or creating something new Meditating or practicing deep breathing 🌾 Seeds Seeds are the lessons we discover when we work through a challenge. They remind us that growth is always possible: Patience  – giving ourselves time to work through feelings Resilience  – finding the strength to keep moving forward Self-awareness  – noticing what we feel and why Perspective  – remembering that feelings come and go, like seasons in the garden 🌸 Flowers Flowers are the things that make you happy, the moments you feel grateful for, or something you’re looking forward to. They are also the positive, healthy distractions that take your mind off a weed and create space for hope and positive thoughts. Flowers are the bright feelings we want to notice and grow more of: Gratitude  – appreciating the people, places, and moments that matter Joy  – allowing yourself to feel light, playful, and free Hope  – gentle optimism that new possibilities can bloom Positivity  – focusing on the good around you Healthy distractions  – activities that lift your spirits and shift your thoughts in a brighter direction 🌿 Growth The Garden Cycle™ shows us that even negative moments can turn into something positive. Every weed is a chance to reach for a gardening tool, plant a positive seed, and grow into flowers of gratitude and joy. Growth reminds us that: Challenges can create strength  – weeds can teach us valuable lessons. Gardening tools guide us forward  – healthy choices help us shift our energy. Seeds become stepping stones  – each lesson builds new resilience. Flowers remind us of joy  – gratitude, hope, and positivity always have room to bloom. click to download the pdf poster for your home, classroom or office > 📓 Try It Yourself: Grow With the Flow Journal Practice To put The Garden Cycle™ into practice, take a moment with any journal or notebook. Write down: A weed  you’re facing (a stress, worry, or challenge) A gardening tool  you can use to help (journaling, music, talking with someone you trust, walking, cooking, creating, etc.) A seed of learning  that may be growing from the experience (patience, resilience, perspective, or self-awareness) A flower  that makes you feel happy, grateful, or hopeful—something you can look forward to or a positive, healthy distraction that shifts your thoughts in a brighter direction This gentle reflection reminds us that every weed holds the potential to become a seed of growth, and every seed can bloom into flowers of gratitude, joy, and positivity. 🌟 Collect Your Gardening Tool Badge: Growing With The Flow By practicing The Garden Cycle™, you’ve just used a powerful gardening tool—turning weeds into seeds and growing with the flow. Add your new badge to celebrate your growth! Click the badge to download and add it to your Gardening Tool Collectors Sheet! Grow With The Flow: The Garden Cycle™ is more than a step-by-step process—it’s a rhythm we’re always moving through. By noticing our weeds, reaching for healthy gardening tools, planting seeds of growth, and celebrating the flowers we want to grow more of, we learn that every moment holds the possibility of resilience, gratitude, and joy. The Garden Cycle™ is a gentle guide for gardeners of all ages, reminding us that emotional growth is always within reach.