If you ask gardeners why they spend so much time, money, and energy working out in the sun and the dirt, most will tell you that this is not just an aesthetic and physical outlet for them, but a spiritual pursuit as well. Gardening is about dealing with the forces of life—the cycle of creation, death, and re-creation. A gardener can’t help but feel more attuned “to God in the garden than anywhere else on earth.”

It is no accident, they might point out, that many ancient accounts of creation are set in a garden. Gardens aren’t just nice venues for a great stories; they are symbols of hope, growth, creativity, and the persistence of the life force.

Garden Graces contains thoroughly researched information on over two dozen aspects of gardening while exploring each as a metaphor for personal and spiritual growth. For example, the chapter on composting not only explains how to and why we should compost. It goes on to compare composting to ‘recycling” the mistakes and missteps in our lives. By forgiving ourselves and realizing that our sins can often become fertile ground for future growth, we can grow from the very things that we’re most ashamed of. Composting can be seen as a metaphor for grace.

In addition to chapters on gardening methods and practices, every third chapter is named after a plant and tells a story that will move you or make you laugh, and give you something to think about either way. Janice Elsheimer is an natural storyteller, a humorist with both spunk and soul.

With the resurgence of interest in gardening as both a practical and a creative outlet, Garden Graces: the Wisdom in Growing Things is a book that will be enjoyed and passed on from reader to reader. An indispensable resource for gardeners as well as a great gift for friends--gardeners or not--Garden Graces: The Wisdom in Growing Things is a valuable addition to anyone's library.