Porch Journal: Little Earth Fellows at Juniper Hill Cottage

Sweet berries, shade, and other myths about Arizona

Hello to you, dear reader.

Summer is in full swing and I’m so glad to see you here this Friday.

Welcome to the ‘Porch Journal’, a short-letter series where I share small reflections and behind-the-scenes thoughts on living a smaller, simpler, more beautiful life. These are quick, easy reads, about a minute or two - just enough for a mid-morning coffee break.

I live and work in a small town called Prescott - in the high-country of northern Arizona.

And I’m deeply, totally obsessed with nature and gardens. Well - that and many other things design, home and lifestyle related too - but today we’re taking a peek at gardens.

When I mention Arizona, I'm often greeted with looks of concern - as though I'm gardening in a sandy, burning wasteland.

And I understand why.

But here in the northern high-country, we sit at 5,600 feet, surrounded by national forests of ponderosa pines and mountain peaks rising to almost 13,000 feet.

They say images are worth a thousand words…

Little Earth Fellows

I grew up in Sweden picking wild strawberries, blueberries, and mushrooms in the woods. They aren’t the kind of berries Americans are used to - which, as with everything else, are huge and perfectly shaped. And often bland.

The wild strawberries are tiny, unimpressive, and the most quitessential strawberry flavor you can imagine.

They grow literally everywhere in the forests and open meadows. Foraging is a passion and pastime there. They are called Smultron - which is hard to translate but it’s something like “hidden treasures” or even “little earth fellows”.

They are hard to find since they nestle into the leaves and plants in the forests.

I’ve missed these little fellows.

And last summer, I decided to setup several hanging baskets to try my hand at Alpine Strawberries - and I’m happy to report that they are the closest thing I’ve found here in the States.

I’m a very happy gardener, standing in the courtyard kitchen garden popping these gems right into my mouth.

My 86 year-old mom has been doing the same recently💖 - but she tells me: “They aren’t exactly as sweet as the ones from home”. Well, okay then.

If you've ever found yourself craving a feeling, a flavor, or a garden scent from somewhere else in your life - that craving is worth paying attention to. It's telling you something about what makes you feel at home. The things that root us are worth growing, even in new soil.

The Shady Border

We have trees. We have shade.

I filmed a little stroll through the Shady Border on a late spring morning here.

It’s a little slower to wake up, but in the fall - it’s to die for.

I can’t wait to share the autumn show with you - you won’t want to miss it.

Poppy Season

We have color, and flowers, and recently the poppies have been doing their thing.

While in many climates they do well in full sun, here they prefer filtered shade.

Icelandic Poppy Champagne Bubbles Pink, and White, and Giant Rattle Breadseed Poppy

It’s tempting to cut all these stunning blooms to bring indoors, but I’m looking forward to the beautiful seed pods this fall. Stay tuned.

Giant Rattle Breadseed Poppies, Icelandic Poppies, Clary Sage, and Wood Betony - all grown from seed and now filling the garden with color and movement.

If you've ever looked at your garden in midsummer and felt a little disappointed - like it’s all green and no drama - just remember. The blooms. The poppies, sweetpeas, the show - they're fleeting. That's not a failure. That's just the natural rhythm of a real garden. Stay with me and we'll start catching those moments together.

Thank you for “poppyng” by for a walkabout and I hope you’re Friday is full of color, shade, and sweet strawberries.

Wishing you a happy 4th of July if you are celebrating - I’ll be in the garden with my little earth fellows!

And in case you haven’t had a chance to check out the monthly Garden Keeping Journal, here is June’s checklist for you: June Garden Keeping Journal. The July Garden Keeping Journal goes out tomorrow to subscribers.

With contentment & possibility,

P.S. Have you ever grown alpine strawberries? And if you’re Swedish, or have spent time in Sweden, have you foraged for jordgubbar? I want to hear about it.

And what’s your garden looking like right now - are you in a full summer show, or are you in that “all green and no drama” moment waiting for the next act?

Use the comment button below and come find me on the Substack app - let’s keep the conversation going.