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Sometimes we meet others who touch our hearts with their words, and we are fortunate to have them become a part of our lives. That's the way I feel about Chelle, a very sweet and talented young woman from northern Indiana. I'd like you to meet her, too.
Being in the Spotlight is a funny thing. People don't want to do it at first, but when convinced they tend to enjoy writing their story, then when it's time to publish they panic, then when they get comments they're relieved, and then when their week is over they think it was all so easy !!
Is that right?
I think you hit the nail on the head!
You didn't really have to winkle me, once hooked I guess I just wriggled as Charleen said. Seriously though, I just put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and it all flooded out without a winkle or a wriggle.
Chelle, my gardens are not looking so good just now but spring will arrive again after what will seem a lifetime of cold weather, then all will be well again even if spring doesn't arrive until mid April! There's still flowers around, but the weather has turned very cold.
I found the same thing, new threads weren't showing so you do have to keep checking. It would seem rude to not reply to anyone but perhaps after a while unavoidable.
Chelle - Awesome article about you by Sharon! I'll have to check out your favorite gardening book mentioned in the article above. I garden organically too, but have been challenged the past two years with horrible soil. But that hasn't stopped all the critters in my small yard. I, too, love the butterflies, birds, lizards, frogs, snakes, and anything else that comes to visit. I genuinely appreciate nature's balance! I also loved the story of your childhood pal, Blackie! You are a wonderful storyteller! Thanks for putting a huge smile on my face!
Chelle - LOL! My dirt doesn't crack, it's too hard to even do that. Sorta like concrete! LOL! Actually, my biggest problem is Knot Root nematodes. They are killing all but my most established larger plants. Grrrr ... So now I garden in containers and it is working out rather nicely. Saving on water, too! If there is a will, there is a way!
I have butterflies almost year round. I plant for butterflies, so I have lots of host plants for them. And I raise and release the caterpillars! Also do that with my class at work. I garden for butterflies and hummingbirds. And all the other critters find my house. LOL! Plant it and they will come ... even if it is planted in buckets!
Charleen - Yup! Didn't work. I've tried everything. It's part the soil compostiton, part the intense sun and heat, and part the diseases and pests. In buckets, my plants are beautiful, in the ground ... it's a sad story...
Yes, one does. I find it a bit challenging to constantly be changing how I have to garden! I so envy all of you in-ground gardeners! I love the lush look y'all are getting! Chelle and Charleen - Your gardens are gorgeous!!!
Becky - I just went out *surfing* for nematode knowledge.... Ouch.
So good to hear you're still gardening! It's just been in the last couple of years that I had any luck with container gardening. There's more to it than first meets the eye.
Your work with the caterpillars sounds very interesting and rewarding.
Every time I visit a butterfly house I get rather wistful....wish I could have them available year-round!
Chelle - You probably get snow, which always looks so beautiful in photos! It doesn't always stay green here year round. Last winter was really cold! Everything looked dead and much of it was! No butterflies or much of anything then except all the migrating birds, which I love to feed!
Container gardening probably takes as much time as ground gardening, but for me it has been easier. I guess because I can do just one container at a time instead of a whole bed! I still miss my in-ground gardens though. So much prettier than containers.
Raising and releasing butterflies started with a class project that never ended for me! LOL! I still love raising them after 5 years! I wished I had a stand alone screen room in the middle of my backyard without a roof, just screen top and sides to have a butterfly garden in. I'd put many of my plants in there and raise the caterpillars/butterflies in something like that! It would keep the wasps out that eat my caterpillars and contain the butterflies so they wouldn't be hit by the busy traffic a few blocks away. I can dream, right?!
Y'all have inspired me with your stories and garden photos! Thank you for sharing your life, Chelle! I really enjoyed this spotlight article about you!
Seriously though, I just put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and it all flooded out without a winkle or a wriggle. 
