A big THANK YOU to everyone who has sent in their photographs and stories. I hope by sharing other people’s hobbies and stories here on One Hundred Dollars a Month we can all find unique ways to spend our down time in creative and enriching ways. Keep them coming!
Hi Mavis,
I really enjoy your blog, and read it everyday! Your moves, renovations, antique finds, frugal shopping, cooking, and gardening all interest me, because those are the things I love too! For many years I was a professional in a high stress job. Being single, and raising a child on my own after a divorce, I had no choice but to hang in there and get to retirement.
During my working years, I lived in a townhouse condo, but got permission to garden on the common property. Two other ladies and I created a very picturesque entrance way into the complex. My end-unit stood right beside the roadway in, and so did one of my partners, who lived on the opposite side of the roadway. We got permission to create two huge 30 foot long, by 15 feet wide flower beds.
Almost everything came from seed, or free plants we got from friends in the local Horticultural Society. They were very much appreciated by all the residents there, and they said we had increased all their property values. Joggers in the area used to detour just to look at the gardens ! We did the work as volunteers. It was a great stress reliever!
I also had a small bed at the front around a tree, and another small bed at the back around a huge old pink rugosa rose bush. My little patio was very enjoyable because of the perennial flowers, but I longed for an old century home in the country, with huge gardens.
When I retired as early as I could, at age 55, with my pension, and savings from all my frugal years of riding my bike to work, and being careful with every purchase, I searched for and found my large old brick century home with a huge one quarter acre lot, where I could garden to my heart’s content!
I planned a vegetable garden, much like you are doing now, and I found a good young honest contractor in my small Ontario town. In a small town, you can get lots of references. He proceeded to do some much needed renovations on my old house. Many people thought I was taking on way too much, but I thought the worst thing that can happen is that I would fail, and then have to sell, and move to a smaller place again.
Well, 15 years later, almost age 70, I am still here, very much in love with my old fashioned porches, both on the front and back of the house, my second floor sun-room, and a big kitchen with a fireplace, to say nothing of the garden! It is so quiet and beautiful with many birds, butterflies, heirloom perennials, herbs, and vegetables. My friends, and family love to visit!
My son cuts the grass for me on a riding lawn mower in short order, and I insist on paying him. I appreciate the help so much! One Granddaughter has the gardening genes, and loves to work with me in the garden; the memories are so precious! I canned 33 quarts of tomatoes last fall. I use them all the time in cooking — made hamburger, cabbage and tomato soup, with garlic in the crock-pot yesterday — my own heirloom tomatoes, and garlic. So delicious!
Well, I think you get the idea, my main hobby is gardening! Last Summer the local Horticultural Society came for a tour at peak day lily time, and they all wore great garden hats! It was so much fun!!!
Best Wishes,
~Amber
If you would like to have your Hobby featured on One Hundred Dollars a Month, here’s what I’m looking for:
- Your hobby has to be submitted as a well written post. A one sentence “I make homemade kites” will not do. Now, 4-5 paragraphs about how you got into kite making, how long you’ve been doing it and the different types of kites you make WILL DO. That’s what I’m looking for! How long have you been doing it? Do you make money off of it or is it just for fun? Can you teach me how to do it?
- Be sure to include a little information about yourself, like your hobby’s backstory and how you got into it. Also, please include your first name and what state or country you are from.
- Your submission MUST have 5 HIGH QUALITY photos attached. You do not have to be a professional photographer, but your photos do need to be clear and well lit or I won’t be able to use them.
- All photos must be original, and they must have been taken by YOU. All photos you submit may be used on One Hundred Dollars A Month once submitted.
- Sadly, I might not be able to use every submission if I am overwhelmed by responses. A $20 Amazon gift card will only be awarded if the submission is published.
- If you have a blog and would like me to link back to it, please let me know, I’d be happy too.
- Although you must submit at least 5 pictures per submission, you can always include more. The more the merrier just in case I do not select them all.
- One submission per person.
- Send submissions via email to onehundreddollarsamonth @ gmail.com {remove the spaces} and be sure and put Show Me Your Hobby in the subject line.
I can’t wait to see all of your fascinating hobbies! Might just encourage me to take up a few new ones.
Hobby on,
~Mavis
Pauletta says
Beautiful gardens Amber!
Audra from Ohio says
I really enjoyed reading about your gardens! It’s so nice that you were able to find a property to turn into your dream home.
Tammy says
Lovely gardens! Thanks for sharing!
Maria Zannini says
Well done, Amber! We’re on six acres, but this year I’d like to do as you have and create a cottage garden landscape in the front yard. Your story has inspired me. Beautiful gardens!
Susan says
What a fantastic story, so inspirational!
Hillary says
Wow! Does anyone know the exact name of the light pink flowers on the right side of the first picture? I’d love to grow some of those myself! Thanks for sharing, Amber!
Amber says
Light pink flowers on right side of first picture, are antique, or heritage roses, called “Bows and Bells.” At least that is the name by which I know it. It is hardy, and easily survives our tough Canadian winters. I am in zone 4. There are many similar types of ” antique roses “. You might also like to research some of the new strains that have many of the characteristics of the old roses, like the David Austen Roses, available at most nurseries. Collecting the old roses is a bit of a challenge, but if you talk to other garden enthusiasts they should be able to help you locate some in your area, and some research on the internet should help you locate some nurseries that will ship something you like. I obtained many of mine by knocking on someone’s door and asking if I could trade plants. Usually they are most gracious about sharing, and some friendships have even developed !
Thank you to everyone for all the kind comments about my garden ! It is really exciting to be published on the internet ! A first for me and my gardens !
Lace Faerie says
It’s an heirloom or old fashion rose. I’m betting it’s fragrant!
Amber says
Yes, that is correct Lace, the heirloom roses, and many of the newer David Austen Roses have wonderful fragrance !!! That is one thing I love about the old fashioned plants — most of them are very fragrant, as well as being hardy, which is important in Canada !
We had another snow storm last night, so this morning I am staying inside, near a small electric heater in my little computer room, which has a window that looks out onto the old crab apple tree on my neighbour’s front lawn. A few days ago it was full of Cedar Waxwing birds eating all the old crab apples, softened by being frozen, then having a day or two of January thaw and sunshine. I like the quiet, slower pace in winter. It is a good time to make a pot of herbal tea, and enjoy the new garden catalogues, which are arriving almost daily in my mailbox.
Teresa D says
So, so lovely! Keep up the good work Amber. It’s a feast for the eyes!
Mary says
Love to see beautiful flowers and gardens.I hope to join a garden club when I retire full time.There is so much joy is growing things
Pam says
Absolutely beautiful! Amazing what can be done if you put the effort into it—as you clearly have. We bought our ‘retirement’ home last year on 42 acres in Leavenworth WA so I’m inspired by what you’ve done with your garden. I hope to make some headway with both flowers and edibles this year (last year was non-stop weeding!) … once all the snow melts:) Thanks for sharing your story!
Emily E. says
Beautiful gardens and a lovely story about how it all came to pass. You sound like a wonderful person and neighbor. Best wishes!
Nancy D says
What a tribute to your hard work and dreams! I’m so happy for you to find YOUR place to call home and have flower beds of your own. I think I was even more encouraged by the efforts that you and your neighbors put forth to create in a community area at your condo. Thank you so much for sharing! I’m so anxious to create some new gardening plots at my mothers home this spring. She’s always loved gardening but at 84 her health and mobility limit her. So… This spring we are going to plan raised areas and deck planters she can enjoy and she can see from her back door. Gardening is sooo therapeutic. Thanks for taking the time to share your beautiful photos and story!
Jo says
Just beautiful….Amber, I would love to have you as a neighbor here in Texas.
Mama Cook says
“I thought the worst thing that can happen is that I would fail, and then have to sell, and move to a smaller place again”! Yes!!! Sometimes one sentence says it all!!! So beautiful and inspiring!!! Thanks for sharing Amber!!!
Lace Faerie says
Thank you for sharing your garden story! How wonderful that you really started living your dream after retirement! We are 55 and retiring next month. It’s exciting moving onto the next adventures in life. We are looking forward to spring and extensive gardening and remodeling our backyard deck. And playing with our grandbaby!
Janet Parks says
Lovely, your gardens are beautiful and your story is inspiring! Thank you for sharing!
Emily B. says
What a lovely story, along with the flowers. This is exactly what I would hope to do in my sunset years. What an inspiration, and breath of fresh air for me here in the frozen tundra of MN. Winter seems so long, and summer so fleeting. Seeing the green grass and beautiful flowers makes my soul happy.
Well done!
Carol says
Beautiful gardens Amber! Lovely pictures! Now we just need that snow to stop!
From another gardener in small town Ontario
Em says
Beautiful and inspiring, Amber! Thank you for sharing!