Country Living

GARDENER

1993-2006

 
In 1989, Sharon met Nina Williams, then Editor-at-Large for Country Living magazine. Country Living was doing an article about Sharon's home and Heart's Ease, the herb and garden shop she founded in Cambria, California. It was the first time that the magazine featured a business on their cover, but they found that Sharon's home and business were inseparable parts of her lifestyle. Nina mentioned to Sharon that she was thinking about starting a gardening magazine.

That thought never left Nina's mind. In 1992, Nina called Sharon and invited her to write a column called "Heart's Ease" for a new gardening magazine produced by Country Living Special Issue Publications. The first issue in 1993 was so popular, they produced two issues for 1994, four for 1995, and expanded to six issues in 1996 to become the best selling gardening magazine in the United States.

Due to the numerous requests for copies of past articles, Hearst Books /Sterling Publishing published them in a book entitled Country Living Gardener:A Blessing of Toads–A Gardener's Guide to Living with Nature (2004).

Country Living Garden ceased publication in 2006.

List of Articles

1993

A Feast for the Eyes: Premiere issue

1994

Hideouts: Spring

A Gallery of Gardens: Fall

1995

Hummingbirds in the Garden: Spring

Wonderful. Wiggly Worms: Summer

The Good, The Bat, and The Ugly: Fall

Windowsill Reveries: Winter

1996

Return of the Native: Jan/Feb

Pond Parenthood: Mar/Apr

Getting the Blues: Easy ways to shelter bluebirds and purple martins: May/Jun

Scarecrows are for the Birds: Jul/Aug

Fragrant Memories: Sep/Oct

The Seediest Garden in the Neighborhood: Nov/Dec

1997

Bee Prepared (orchard Mason bee): Jan/Feb

Calling All Caterpillars: Mar/Apr

Night Life (fireflies): May/Jun

Birds, Bugs, and Benefits: Jul/Aug

Dessert and a Dragonfly: Sep/Oct

In the Company of Owls: Nov/Dec

1998

Hollyhocks for Fruitfulness: Jan/Feb

A Lap Full of Butterflies: Mar/Apr

The Bumble Bee Rumba: May/June

A Blessing of Toads: Jul/Aug*

1999 Quill and Trowel Award winning article  from Garden Writers Association

Little Places, Little Things: Sep/Oct

A Member of the Passalong Club: Nov/Dec

1999

My Morning Alarmers: Jan/Feb

Green Memories:  Mar/Apr

Jay Walking: May/June

Faeries in the Fuchsias (sphinx moths): Jul/Aug

Snakes:Sep/Oct

Holiday Feasts for Birds & Beasts: Nov/Dec

2000

Hold the Escargot Please!: Jan/Feb

Travels with Vera (Aloe vera): Mar/Apr

Afternoon with a Spider (Argiope): May/Jun

A Charm of Finches (Goldfinches): Jul/Aug

How to Enchant a Wasp: Sep/Oct

Something to Crow About (American crows) Nov/Dec*

2001 Quill and Trowel Award winning article from Garden Writers Association

2001

Hints from an Eccentric Gardener: Jan/Feb

A Pond Reborn: Mar/Apr

Conversations with Sunflowers: May/Jun*

2002 Communications Contest, Maine Media Women, 1st Place Award, Print Media Writing, Personal Columns

Beetles to the Rescue (ladybird beetles ): Jul/Aug*

2002 Communications Contest, Maine Media Women, 1st Place Award, Print Media Writing, Personal Columns

A Pocket full of Acorns (red oak acorns):Sep/Oct*

2002 Communications Contest, Maine Media Women, 1st Place Award, Print Media Writing, Personal Columns

Homes for the Holidays (havens for wildlife): Nov/Dec

2002

Jan/Feb*

2003 Garden Globe Award winning article from Garden Writers Association

A Trush in my Picnic Basket: Mar/Apr

Confessions of a Worm Rescuer: May/Jun

Outwitted by Squirrels: Jul/Aug

Grab Bag Garden (Planting rare bulbs): Sep/Oct

'Tis the Gift to be Simple (giving heirloom trees as gifts): Nov/Dec

2003

The Ladies on my Windowsill (Pelargoniums): Jan/Feb

Wisdom of the Sages: 10 tips from gardeners around the continent: Mar/Apr

Flower Flies Forever: May/Jun

Reveling in Rugosas: Jul/Aug

Skunk Scentsibilities: Sep/Oct*

2004 Garden Globe Award winning article from Garden Writers Association

An Olive Branch: Gardeners everywhere can grow this international symbol of peace indoors: Winter

2004

Of Polliwogs & Puddles (frogs): Spring

A Zest for Living (lemon verbena): Summer

Guess wWho's Coming to Dinner (cedar waxwings): Fall

The Season of the Fox: Winter

2005

2006