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Cynthia Brian’s NEW Book-Growing with the Goddess Gardener is Published!

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Empowerment
Cynthia Brian’s NEW Book-Growing with the Goddess Gardener is Published!

Cynthia Brian's Growing with the Goddess Gardener book.jpg

Life began in the garden. A garden is where nature and nurture converge, a calming oasis where we can listen to the call of the wild and sometimes tame the shrew. Growing with the Goddess Gardener is a brilliant bouquet of twelve months of heartfelt true short stories celebrating living, loving, laughing, and learning in the garden. A calendar years worth of tips, tricks, and to-do lists guides you in your quest of mindfully cultivating your own fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers in following chapters.  In your hands is the power to make this world a more beautiful place while you connect and collaborate with Mother Nature on your terms.  The Goddess Gardener invites you to a personalized garden party.  Get going and start sowing with Growing!

 

ISBN: 9781945949968 (Color Interior)

ISBN: 9781945949593 (Black and White Interior)

Purchase: www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store

This beautiful  6″ x 6″ garden guide of 165 pages published by Waterfront Press is the perfect size for gift giving in baskets, stockings, and as a hostess treat for anyone who appreciates nature, the outdoors, and growing. Growing with the Goddess Gardener is available with color photos inside or black and white interior photographs.

Discounts available for premium case sales on all of Cynthia Brian’s books.

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Cynthia Brian’s Newest Garden Book is Published!

Just in time to banish the the winter blues, Cynthia Brian’s first book in the Garden Shorts Series,  Growing with The Goddess Gardener,will enchant, inspire, and motivate you to get up off the couch, power down your gadgets, and go outside to smell the roses or dance in the rain. Tap into your inner green thumb and order your autographed copy today!

PURCHASE DIRECT

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25% of proceeds from Growing with the Goddess Gardener benefit the 501 c3 charity, Be the Star You Are! empowering women, families, and youth through increased literacy and positive media messages. www.BetheStarYouAre.org

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Get Extra Goodies by Purchasing Directly

 
Buy books directly from our store, to receive the BEST prices and lots of extra goodies. For each book purchased you will receive:
1. Personalized Autograph Copy
2. Special Seeds to Plant
3. Fragrant Potpourri
4. Bookmark
5. Inspirational Information
PLUS 25% of every sale will go to Be the Star You Are!® literacy and positive message charity.
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Want to Buy from Amazon?
Shopping on line? #StartWithaSmile at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-3333882 
  1. Enter “https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-3333882 ” in your browser address bar
  2. Pull down BOOKS & enter 9781945949968 for color
  3. Pull down BOOKS & enter 9781945949593 for black/white
  4. For Kindle or Ebook, click on Kindle Edition
  5. Continue shopping for anything and everything
  6. Amazon donates .05% to Be the Star You Are!®
  7. Amazon Smile klogo.jpg

Please note that books purchased through Amazon will be delivered directly from Amazon and will not include any autographs or extra goodies.

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About Cynthia Brian

Cynthia Brian, a New York Times best selling author, grew up on a farm in Northern California where she drove tractor, raised chickens, and worked in the fields to finance her college education. Known as The Goddess Gardener, Cynthia is a TV/Radio personality, newspaper columnist, lecturer, lifestyle coach, and Executive Director of the 501 (c) (3) literacy charity, Be the Star You Are!®. When she’s not writing, performing, or coaching, you’ll find her in her garden with her menagerie of adopted barnyard animals. www.CynthiaBrian.com

If you are looking for a spokesperson, garden consultant, speaker, or talent, hire Cynthia Brian.

 

PRAISE:

This is a wonderful book, very inspirational and just the thing we all need to get us out of our chairs and into the garden, getting some exercise and reaping the rewards in so many different ways from simply enjoying nature to savouring the produce. Michael Marriott, Senior Rosarian, David Austin Roses, www.DavidAustinRoses.com

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“So much of gardening is about love and peace as well as practical advice. Cynthia Brian’s Growing with the Goddess Gardener offers both, with caring and wisdom.” Pat Stone, Editor, GreenPrints, “The Weeder’s Digest” www.GreenPrints.com

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“Cynthia simply exudes love for nature, and the beauty that surrounds us in our daily lives.” Jim Berry-Lifetime Nurseryman & Owner of J. Berry Nursery, www.jberrynursery.com/home

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Cynthia is a sparkling personality!  As an inspirational writer, she overflows with insightful suggestions and a positive view of the world that is contagious – a great anecdote for the trials of the world.  I can’t speak higher about her vision of life and the things she covers so eloquently in her writing and on the radio.

jackson Madnick, Zoe, Cynthia.jpgJackson Madnick, Pearl’s Premium Ultra Low Maintenance Lawn Seed, www.PearlsPremium.com

 

READY!
SET!
GROW!
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Cynthia Brian’s September Gardening Guide

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Empowerment
Cynthia Brian’s September Gardening Guide

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By Cynthia Brian

“The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world’s joy”
Henry Ward Beecher
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We have definitely experienced ample sunshine this season and as summer simmers into its final month, we still have ample time to enjoy the warmth and tranquility of outdoor entertaining. September is often the hottest month of the year. Make sure that you are paying attention to the water needs of your trees. Because of the drought, you may lose some plants, but mature trees may be irreplaceable in your lifetime. Obey the EBMUD rules, water deeply twice a week, and your landscape will survive until the winter rains arrive. An El Nino is being predicted for 2016. If your ground is severely dry and compacted, you may suffer flooding as the water will not be able to penetrate the soil.
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Nothing says “California” better than joining friends for a barbecue or roasting s’mores around a fire pit. (Be fire wise-Lamorinda is on high fire alert this year.) With vegetable gardens at their peak, fresh corn, squash, peppers, and melons brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with herbs are delicious cooked over the grill.

As many of our annuals and perennials begin to wither, it’s a great idea to gather bouquets to dry for the winter. Many plants dry naturally and others need to be hung. Before tying in bunches, remove the foliage and hang in a dry, cool place away from bright light. Garage beams make great drying racks.
A cool Path
Be alert for the pear, apple, and grape harvests happening around the area. Become a farmer for a day. Volunteer for picking, pressing, and stomping.
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PRESS apples for the delicious fresh juice.
VISIT The National Heirloom Exposition, the “world’s pure food fair”, September 8-10th at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Education about heirloom growing, sustainability, market farming, and risks of genetically modified foods will be the focus. Enjoy heritage poultry and livestock shows, giant pumpkin and vegetable contests, foot stomping music, and tractors.
BUY a deep soaker hose to give thirsty trees a good drink. If you see tree roots rising to the surface and leaves wilting or falling, get some H2O to your trees.
DEAD HEAD roses and control powdery mildew with a spray consisting of 2 tsp. cooking oil and 2 tsp. baking soda mixed in a gallon of water.
CHECK out Cate’s Garden premium bypass pruning shears and easy action rathchet pruning shears made from SK5 high carbon steel blades. These great garden tools have a lifetime warranty.
LOWER yard maintenance with ground covers such as sedum, liriope, succulents, creeping thyme, baby tears, and vinca major or minor.
PROTECT your tender plants, roses, and citrus from the hungry deer. They are especially destructive now as their food sources dwindle. There are few deer proof plants, although my deer don’t touch oleander, digitalis, bearded iris, naked ladies, heuchera, rosemary, or Russian sage.
DESTROY any star thistle plants that may come up in your landscape. These very prickly weeds are difficult to get rid of once established. Seeds blow in from the hills. The cows and deer don’t eat them.
DIVIDE iris, lilies, and naked ladies. Replant in other barren areas or share with a friend.
PROVIDE a shady area for your pets to play and relax. Make it interesting and a cool place for you to unwind.
DRY herbs and flowers. Garlic, leeks, artichoke blossoms, Bird of Paradise, hydrangeas, sunflowers, bachelor buttons, sage, lavender, and protea can be hung upside down from rafters in the garage.
STARE up at the clouds at sunset for a multihued moving performance. Do it with your kids or grandkids.
IMPROVE your soil with compost and mulch now. Compacted clay soil will experience severe run-off when winter rains arrive.
ATTEND the Pear and Wine Festival on September 26th at Moraga Commons. Visit the Be the Star You Are!® booth to receive a FREE brand new book as part of the literacy outreach project, “Read, Lead, Succeed!”
SELECT the perfect September bouquet at your local farmer’s market as your garden displays wane.
SIT by a waterfall to enjoy the trickling falls and the sounds of silence.
SOW seeds of kale peas, kohlrabi, turnips, and cabbage in preparation of a winter harvest.
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I’m on my way to speak at the National Garden Symposium where I am looking forward to meeting other garden writers and media professionals who share my passion for nature. My October column will be blooming with the best ideas I glean from around the country.
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Have fun in the sun and delight in the joy of our September trees, flowers, fruit, and herbs.
Happy Gardening, Happy Growing!
Read more HERE

©2015
Cynthia Brian
The Goddess Gardener
Starstyle® Productions, llc
Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com
www.GoddessGardener.com
925-377-STAR
Tune into Cynthia’s Radio show at StarStyle Radio
I am available as a speaker, designer, and consultant.

clary sage-Salvia sclarea-cynthia
Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best selling author, speaker, coach, and host of the radio show, StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!® broadcasting live every Wednesday from 4-5pm PT on the Voice America Network.. She also is the creator and producer of Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501c3 charity.

Cynthia Brian’s Gardening Guide for April

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Empowerment
Cynthia Brian’s Gardening Guide for April

“Nothing is so beautiful as spring-when weeds, in wheels, shoot long, and lovely, and lush…” Gerard Manley Hopkins

cover crop - 1

Poppies and lupines dot the green hillsides and roadways. The skies are azure blue, the weather is wickedly warm, turkeys hobble and gobble in neighborhoods. Spring is in full swing.

As it always is every April, my orchards and hills are carpeted with weeds. This year I sprinkled seeds of mustard throughout my landscape as a cover crop to heighten the nitrogen levels in the soil. A sea of yellow waves in the wind greeting me on my morning walks. Large black crows call my casa their casa. The “Birds” are back splashing in the fountain outside my office alongside the occasional red-tail hawk popping in for a drink. A covey of quail with their baby chicks darting behind them, munch insects and dandelions around my lawn. The re-birth of nature recharges my energy and makes me grateful to be alive in our bucolic rural locale.

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This week I received my EBMUD home water report with my water score and this congratulatory note: “Way to go, WaterSaver! You ranked in the top 20%”! While the American average usage according to the Environmental Protection Agency is 400 gallons per day, we used only 147 gallons per day versus the average EBMUD household of 362 gallons per day. Households in the top 20% used an average of 213 gallons per day. I’m using 29% less water than the previous 12 months, perhaps putting me in the top 10% of water savers. But I’m scared of what will happen when summer comes. The drought is real and it will affect each of us. I plan on watering by hand with a hose as much as possible as this will save approximately 33% more than turning on the sprinklers. Soaker hoses will be great assets for water conservation in my vegetable and herb gardens. I will only be planting a smattering of color spots with specimens I am certain can withstand less moisture. Any extra water used for washing or rinsing dishes and bodies is collected and used in my patio pots. What are your plans to keep your garden alive through the forthcoming hot weather while conserving H20?

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CHECK your irrigation system and consider investing in newer drip or weather based controllers.

START seeds in any recycled container from plastic cups to coconut hulls. Drill a hole in the bottom, add good potting soil, and you are ready to roll. If you plant in orange rind halves, you can plant the entire “container” in the ground.

SAVE water by placing a bowl under your colander when washing greens and vegetables in the sink. Dump the water in the garden.

SCRUB your outdoor furniture and organize your patio. Spring is here and it’s time to start the party planning.

FRESHEN your curb appeal with fragrant flowering plants such as star jasmine that will welcome guests with their heady spring perfume.

EMPTY any standing water in saucers, old tires, buckets, gutters, or barrels. Mosquitoes are already on the prey. If you have a pond and want free mosquito fish, contact Vector Control at 925-685-9301. Vector Control is also your resource for problems with skunks or yellow jackets.

WATCH for holes of voles in your lawn and garden. Voles are extremely destructive and non-discriminating when it comes to eating everything and anything growing. For major infestations, call in the professional eradicators.

BRIGHTEN your garden with drought tolerant succulents. With so many shapes, sizes, textures, and colors, you’ll be able to create a palette of striking performance that require minimal moisture.

CUT and turn into the soil any cover crops you planted last fall to add nitrogen and nutrients. Clover, mustard, fava beans are ready to be tilled.

CASCADE lantana from retaining walls and containers for long lasting color that attracts beneficial bees and butterflies.

TRELLIS thornless lady banksia roses or purple wisteria for a glorious spring mix that will continue to delight year after year.

VISIT the Moraga Gardens plant sale Saturdays and Sundays through April 19 for a wide variety of home grown from seed vegetables, herbs, and other plants. Each four-inch pot is only $3. Address is 1370 Moraga Way, Moraga from 9am-4pm.

SHEAR and shape conifers and junipers, removing any dead or diseased branches.

FERTILIZE roses, lawns, and all perennials.

DIVIDE, transplant or share with friends iris, delphinium, daylily, and chrysanthemum.

RE-SEED lawns with clover or high quality grass seed for a thicker, lush mat.

TAKE any moveable houseplants outdoors to give them a good shower and thorough drink. Put them on your lawn when you wash and water them, giving your grass a bath as well.
THANKS for all the wonderful comments about my last Digging Deep column, Paradise Found. Special thanks to Lamorinda Weekly reader, Sydney, who shares this tip about growing her 65-year-old spectacular peony: When winters are mild, put ice cubes around the base of your peonies. Prune stems low to a bud in January. Fertilize with fish emulsion and deadhead after blooms are spent in April.

COME to the Be the Star You Are!® charity Book Bash Blow Out on April 25th at 5 A Rent A Space in Moraga to buy brand new books at discount prices. Pick up your FREE seed packets and complimentary potpourri when you say you read The Lamorinda Weekly!

PRAY for April showers!

Enjoy the beauty and scents of springtime. May all your weeds be flowers. Continue being water savvy and garden smart.

Happy Gardening, Happy Growing.

Read Garden Guide

Read about Paradise Found

Suuculent flower
Mark your calendars for the BTSYA BOOK BASH BLOW OUT on Sat. April 25th from 11-4pm at 5 A Rent a Space in Moraga.
Meet authors and get autographed copies. Get FREE Potpourri.

©2015
Cynthia Brian
The Goddess Gardener
Starstyle® Productions, llc
Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com
www.GoddessGardener.com
925-377-STAR
I am available as a speaker, designer, and consultant.

Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best selling author, speaker, coach, and host of the radio show, StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!® broadcasting live every Wednesday from 4-5pm PT on the Voice America Network.. She also is the creator and producer of Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501c3 charity.

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