![succulents growing in birdbath next to purple flowers](https://www.finegardening.com/app/uploads/2025/01/GPOD-Cowee-Pasque-flower-700x933.jpg)
Hi GPODers!
While I try my best to keep it light here on GPOD—with all of the hardship going on in the world, I hope the blog can provide readers a small bright spot in their day—but today’s submission reminded me that we do need to have some discussion about difficult events to help find healing and provide hope.
The complete impact of the devastating wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles earlier this month have yet to be seen, but those that have lost home and property are already dealing with the heartbreaking loss and figuring out how to move forward. Carol Cowee has a few words of hope after surviving the California wildfires in 2018, and shared some colorful photos of the new tranquil space they cultivated after losing everything six years ago. (To see photos of the incredible garden that Carol sadly lost, check out her previous submissions: Rebuilding a Garden After a Fire and Roses, Despite Fire and Clay)
Carol Cowee, Redding, CA, zone 9. We’ve been in this, our 17th house, for 6 years after losing our home of 34 years and 170 roses, to a wildfire in 2018. Obviously, one does survive, and thrive, after such devastation as we are now observing the horrendous fires in SoCal! Just a word of encouragement to those souls. We gardeners are so lucky to have healing right at our fingertips…
Thank you so much for sharing your new space with us, Carol! It is really inspiring to see what you’ve created and witness your hope in despite of devastating loss.
We love celebrating gardening wins on GPOD, but we all know that gardening has just as many lows as it does highs and documenting our challenges offers us a space to heal and learn from each other’s experiences. If you’ve experienced gardening destruction, or complete loss, consider sharing your story with the blog.
And if you’re looking for ways to help those effected by the wildfires in L.A., visit this resource from the City of Los Angeles’ website: Support Wildfire Relief Efforts
Have a garden you’d like to share?
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to gpod@taunton.com along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
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Comments
Those memories will drive new visions , incorporating the "old with the new" . Good luck with your new visions and here's to your old survivors ! Peace from the Mohawk Valley in central NYS .
Love that succulents in the bird bath.
Gardens themselves are physical representations of hope - we wait each Spring for the shoots to push up through the cold soil and feel joy each time. Your new garden is a perfect example of that hope!
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