Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing two of Linda Vater’s gardening books, The Elegant & Edible Garden and The Garden Journal. I loved both these books, so when I was asked if I’d like to review her latest book, A Year of Garden Inspired Living, which is available today, I happily agreed. And thanks to the generosity of Quarto Group, I’m hosting a giveaway for a copy!
Discover Joy in Everyday Moments
My thanks to Quarto Group for the complimentary copy of A Year of Garden Inspired Living to review and for hosting a giveaway. All opinions are my own.
About A Year of Garden Inspired Living: Author Linda Vater/ Publisher: Quarto Group/Published: Oct 2025/Hardcover:208 pages/Genre: Gardening/Home/Health & Spirituality
Book Synopsis:
“A Year of Garden-Inspired Living offers an elegant yet easy way to bring the joys and textures of seasonal living into your daily life, welcoming peace and connection to your days and restoring the balance of nature’s seasons in your home and life. Bring simplicity and grace into your life, garden, home, and community with this treasured collection of ideas and daily inspiration from garden lifestyle guru Linda Vater.”
My Thoughts:
Linda's approach is achievable and budget-friendly. She shows how small, seasonal rituals can transform ordinary days into something special. Linda states: “This isn't about having the perfect garden or home—it's about cultivating contentment and community through simple acts like sharing homemade soup with neighbors or welcoming friends to cut bouquets from your garden.”
A year of Garden Inspired Living is bursting with great ideas, such as creating a basket of comfort items for a friend in need, to setting a beautiful, seasonal tablescape.
Each page features a narrative story about a special life moment, followed by an idea for bringing that moment to fruition in your own life, all organized by the season. Beautiful watercolor illustrations add further inspiration and a spark of creativity to the notion on each page.
Here are just a few of the guides I think you’ll enjoy as much as I did.
- Giving a house blessing to a brand-new homeowner
- Picking a seasonal wardrobe “piece” and letting it shine
- Spreading seeds in an old spice jar
- Being intentionally inefficient
- Wearing your garden boots with a flouncy dress
- Welcoming friends and neighbors to cut bouquets from your garden
- Having a “ladybug party” for the children in your life
- Creating herbal bouquets for cooking
I chose to start in the season we’re in and truly adored the ideas in Autumning!
Besides making and displaying decorative fall leaf bouquets, Linda suggests we try a white fall tablescape this year, or try decorating with dried red burgundy okra. I really want to try this one to add a happy pop of seasonal color to my centerpieces.
The book is divided into four seasons, with five categories in each season.
- In the Home
- In the Garden
- In your Signature Style
- In Celebration
- In Daily Practice
This makes it easy to find a section or topic of interest to you. I decided to read along with the seasons as they come, so as I mentioned before, I started in Autumnning, then Wintering, and so on, but I think you’d find just as much enjoyment reading it like a traditional book, from front to back.
The Takeaway:
I loved reading this book and found it time well spent away from technology. Which, I think, was a key factor Linda wanted to convey in her writing. A Year of Garden-Inspired Living offers practical ways to add peace and connection back into our daily lives.
I invite you to learn more about this title and the author by visiting the Quarto Publishing page. If you liked this book review, please take a moment to discover some other recent book reviews here on the blog on my Books tab.
Win It:
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| Courtesy: Quarto Publishing |
Thanks to today’s sponsor, Quarto Publishing, one lucky reader will win a hardcover copy of A Year of Garden-Inspired Living. Open to USA residents only. Please read all the terms outlined below so that your entry is valid. I do check them.
Terms:
No purchase is necessary to enter using the Giveaway Tools form below. My WAHM Plan is not responsible for prize fulfillment; the sponsor is. Winners will be notified by email used on the entry form and have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen. This giveaway is not associated with nor endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, or any other social channel.
Please share in comments: If you win this book, will you keep it or gift it?
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