“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” — Babe Ruth
For people who believe beauty begins at home but doesn’t end there.)
Welcome to Roots & Maps
I’m Jane — a lifelong gardener and curious traveler who sees art and nature everywhere. If you love gardens, beautiful places, and a little adventure, you’re in the right spot.
This page will help you find what you need quickly.
Explore the Site
Jump straight to what interests you:
- In the Garden
- On the Road
- Seasonal Living
- Seasonal Guides
- Reader Favorites
What You’ll Find Here
Roots & Maps follows monthly themes — each one exploring a single idea from several angles: gardening, travel, and seasonal living. It’s a simple way to go deeper without feeling overwhelmed.
In the Garden
Experience‑based gardening guidance shaped by years of working in very different climate zones — from the Northeast and Mid‑Atlantic to the Deep South and the tropical heat of both Central and South Florida.
Beginning in August, you’ll also find a multi‑zone series to help gardeners adapt ideas across regions.
On the Road
Curious, garden‑minded travel for people who love beauty, culture, and a sense of place. Whether it’s a narrowboat on the Thames or exotic plants on a tropical island, I write for travelers who enjoy discovery without the rush.
Seasonal Living
A growing part of Roots & Maps — simple, monthly rhythms that make home, garden, and travel feel easier and more connected. More coming soon.
Start Right Here
In the Garden
- One Month in Our Tropical Garden
- Summer Blooming Bulbs
- Ergonomic Tools I Trust
- Beautiful Garden Tools That Work as Well as They Look
- Travel‑Inspired Gardens
On the Road
- Ship’s Log: London to Oxford
- How to Visit Maui
- Gardens to Visit
- Garden‑Inspired Finds from Around the World
Seasonal Living
- Hurricane Checklist
- Monthly Home Rhythms
- Garden‑Inspired Home Decor for Every Season
A Seasonal Way of Seeing
Gardeners and travelers share a hopeful way of looking at the world. As Aristotle said, “Art takes nature as its model.” And Vita Sackville‑West reminded us that gardeners are “always optimistic, always energetic, and never satisfied.”
If that sounds like you, you’ll feel at home here.
A Little About Me
I’m a Master Gardener volunteer, lifelong traveler, and believer in the power of art and nature to shape a good life.
Even a simple table and chair can create a moment of purpose in a compact garden.
Roots & Maps began on the bow of a narrowboat on the Thames, when I realized: “There’s a good story here — and gardeners everywhere would understand it.”
Resources I Trust
These tools make us better gardeners and better observers of the world:
- Know your plant hardiness zone
- Use your state’s Land Grant University and Extension Service
- Visit public gardens — they’re living classrooms
Products We Love
Curated, beautiful, useful things for gardeners and homebodies who appreciate art and nature:
- Artistic planters and hand‑thrown pots
- Garden tools that feel good in the hand
- Botanical prints and garden‑inspired home decor
- Travel‑inspired garden pieces from around the world
Stay Connected
If you’d like seasonal tips, new ideas, and practical guidance — plus my hurricane checklist when the season arrives — you can join my list below.
Contact Me
If you’d like to converse I’d love to hear from you.Sign Up Here