Jennifer Wheeler
@gettingdirtyinthegarden.substack.com
Plant-based entrepreneur, former Fed, existentialism fancier. Gritty and Grateful, midlife matriarch. New gig @ --> Botanybabe.com
🍁My new orb weaving front yard friend is a cat-faced spider (Araneus gemmoides.) These spiders mature in the fall and become active for mating season. They are non-toxic to people and quite beautiful in the long, waning rays of day. 🍁
September 17, 2025 at 2:44 AM
🍁My new orb weaving front yard friend is a cat-faced spider (Araneus gemmoides.) These spiders mature in the fall and become active for mating season. They are non-toxic to people and quite beautiful in the long, waning rays of day. 🍁
Sometimes the simplest arrangement stops me in my tracks and reminds me to take a deep breath, remember who I am, that all I really need or most want I already have, and anything beyond that, is just grace showering flower petals all over me.
August 30, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Sometimes the simplest arrangement stops me in my tracks and reminds me to take a deep breath, remember who I am, that all I really need or most want I already have, and anything beyond that, is just grace showering flower petals all over me.
Fresh cherry 🍒 oatmeal. ❤️
July 22, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Fresh cherry 🍒 oatmeal. ❤️
This evening’s gold 💛
brings light love 💛 lifting us up
to store until morn’.☀️
brings light love 💛 lifting us up
to store until morn’.☀️
July 21, 2025 at 2:49 AM
This evening’s gold 💛
brings light love 💛 lifting us up
to store until morn’.☀️
brings light love 💛 lifting us up
to store until morn’.☀️
Today’s JUNGLE. 🌿
July 20, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Today’s JUNGLE. 🌿
Botanybabe brings my garden to your lips. It’s a labor of love, an integration of my talents and values, and a huge leap of faith. I’m finally my own boss, but the staff meetings are ridiculous! I’ve really got to get myself in line. Curious? Search “Botanybabe”.🌿🧡🌿
July 20, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Botanybabe brings my garden to your lips. It’s a labor of love, an integration of my talents and values, and a huge leap of faith. I’m finally my own boss, but the staff meetings are ridiculous! I’ve really got to get myself in line. Curious? Search “Botanybabe”.🌿🧡🌿
Another day full of possibility ❤️
July 13, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Another day full of possibility ❤️
Mine is on the way!
July 13, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Mine is on the way!
This mornings handful to accompany breakfast. I NEVER EVER tire of the fact that on ANY given day I can walk into my yard and return with at least a handful of fruit that is in season, or at least still edible once stored.
July 11, 2025 at 7:05 PM
This mornings handful to accompany breakfast. I NEVER EVER tire of the fact that on ANY given day I can walk into my yard and return with at least a handful of fruit that is in season, or at least still edible once stored.
Sometimes, ya just gotta tackle the bouquet and high grade out the catnip. I get it. I feel ya Neptune Sugarbear.
July 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Sometimes, ya just gotta tackle the bouquet and high grade out the catnip. I get it. I feel ya Neptune Sugarbear.
My blooming kiwi flower is perfect - meaning it is bisexual. It has male and female parts in the same flower. It can self-fertilize.
Nature is pretty creative. I’m pretty sure I’m gonna get a kiwi, no matter what. 🫶🏻🥝🫶🏻
Nature is pretty creative. I’m pretty sure I’m gonna get a kiwi, no matter what. 🫶🏻🥝🫶🏻
June 27, 2025 at 1:23 AM
My blooming kiwi flower is perfect - meaning it is bisexual. It has male and female parts in the same flower. It can self-fertilize.
Nature is pretty creative. I’m pretty sure I’m gonna get a kiwi, no matter what. 🫶🏻🥝🫶🏻
Nature is pretty creative. I’m pretty sure I’m gonna get a kiwi, no matter what. 🫶🏻🥝🫶🏻
…to another day we bid adieu. ❤️
June 25, 2025 at 4:05 AM
…to another day we bid adieu. ❤️
…and then at a celebration of life, I found myself, again, more broadly celebrating LIFE!🌿🩷🖤🧡💛🌿 Proteas are already a favorite and I just met a new one. 🤯 Native to South Africa, the ‘pink mink protea’ (Protea neriifolia) flowers’ bracts mimic feathers 🦜to attract birds for pollination.
June 23, 2025 at 3:59 PM
…and then at a celebration of life, I found myself, again, more broadly celebrating LIFE!🌿🩷🖤🧡💛🌿 Proteas are already a favorite and I just met a new one. 🤯 Native to South Africa, the ‘pink mink protea’ (Protea neriifolia) flowers’ bracts mimic feathers 🦜to attract birds for pollination.
The radish relationship. I should LOVE them, but I think they’re ‘okay.’ Their quick crop readiness before most others can be annoying, unless you love eating dozens of spicy radishes straight up. I don’t. I usually just want a few to ½ dozen at a time. Anyhow, I like options. Crop 2 going in.
June 20, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The radish relationship. I should LOVE them, but I think they’re ‘okay.’ Their quick crop readiness before most others can be annoying, unless you love eating dozens of spicy radishes straight up. I don’t. I usually just want a few to ½ dozen at a time. Anyhow, I like options. Crop 2 going in.
A garden bouquet picked today because today is a good day to send flowers.
June 14, 2025 at 5:43 PM
A garden bouquet picked today because today is a good day to send flowers.
David Austin ‘Princess Anne’ tree roses. Worth every penny. Oh wait… every nickel. 🫤
June 11, 2025 at 6:56 PM
David Austin ‘Princess Anne’ tree roses. Worth every penny. Oh wait… every nickel. 🫤
This sentient, canine, toddler-being forces me to practice patience I thought I’d mastered, forgiveness at return intervals I didn’t think I’d need, & kindness when my primitive reaction is anger. The old living room couch is part of the family… just like this very guilty dog. ❤️
June 9, 2025 at 4:57 AM
This sentient, canine, toddler-being forces me to practice patience I thought I’d mastered, forgiveness at return intervals I didn’t think I’d need, & kindness when my primitive reaction is anger. The old living room couch is part of the family… just like this very guilty dog. ❤️
Back from vacation and our hens welcomed us home.
🐓❤️🥚🍳🥚❤️🐓
🐓❤️🥚🍳🥚❤️🐓
June 4, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Back from vacation and our hens welcomed us home.
🐓❤️🥚🍳🥚❤️🐓
🐓❤️🥚🍳🥚❤️🐓
Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) belong to the morning glory family and I am definitely a fan of glorious mornings! ☀️🙌🏻💛😉
Sorry potato… you’re just nightshade.🌚🥔
I would love to hear backyard farming success strategies from anyone in coastal California. Please regale me with your sweet potato lore!
Sorry potato… you’re just nightshade.🌚🥔
I would love to hear backyard farming success strategies from anyone in coastal California. Please regale me with your sweet potato lore!
June 1, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) belong to the morning glory family and I am definitely a fan of glorious mornings! ☀️🙌🏻💛😉
Sorry potato… you’re just nightshade.🌚🥔
I would love to hear backyard farming success strategies from anyone in coastal California. Please regale me with your sweet potato lore!
Sorry potato… you’re just nightshade.🌚🥔
I would love to hear backyard farming success strategies from anyone in coastal California. Please regale me with your sweet potato lore!
Perspective is what’s up. Same tree.
May 31, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Perspective is what’s up. Same tree.
There I was, in one of the seven valleys of the kings, the Pololū Valley and childhood homeland of King Kamehameha, when in the distance I spied with thine own eyes the elusive and even mythical Hawaiian terrestrial leaf flounder. (Indian almond - Terminalia catappa)
May 31, 2025 at 9:53 AM
There I was, in one of the seven valleys of the kings, the Pololū Valley and childhood homeland of King Kamehameha, when in the distance I spied with thine own eyes the elusive and even mythical Hawaiian terrestrial leaf flounder. (Indian almond - Terminalia catappa)
Backyard chickens offer:
1) food independence/daily, superior tasting eggs
2) animated & humorous entertainment
4) bucolic crowing of rooster that most neighbors like!
5) soil building provisions
6) snail and slug reductions
7) beauty, perspective
8) coop cleaning exercise
9) egg $
1) food independence/daily, superior tasting eggs
2) animated & humorous entertainment
4) bucolic crowing of rooster that most neighbors like!
5) soil building provisions
6) snail and slug reductions
7) beauty, perspective
8) coop cleaning exercise
9) egg $
May 31, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Backyard chickens offer:
1) food independence/daily, superior tasting eggs
2) animated & humorous entertainment
4) bucolic crowing of rooster that most neighbors like!
5) soil building provisions
6) snail and slug reductions
7) beauty, perspective
8) coop cleaning exercise
9) egg $
1) food independence/daily, superior tasting eggs
2) animated & humorous entertainment
4) bucolic crowing of rooster that most neighbors like!
5) soil building provisions
6) snail and slug reductions
7) beauty, perspective
8) coop cleaning exercise
9) egg $
Now six weeks liberated from full-time public service, the lack of habitual structure is an uncomfortable challenge and also a transformative freedom and opportunity. Anyone else out there experiencing a mid-life sabbatical?
May 31, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Now six weeks liberated from full-time public service, the lack of habitual structure is an uncomfortable challenge and also a transformative freedom and opportunity. Anyone else out there experiencing a mid-life sabbatical?
