We’ve just returned from an Epic Canadian Road Trip, driving from our home in Kalamazoo, Michigan all the way out to St. John’s, Newfoundland (yes, a ferry was involved). Why? Well, I’m the co-founder of Writing Walking Women, and we chose St. John’s as the site of our conference this year – MUCH more on that to come!

A visit to Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan guarantees fuel to the soul and creative inspiration. The new addition of the Richard and Helen DeVos Japanese Garden this June adds another stronghold of natural wonder with peace and serenity at every corner.

In the depths of the cold winter, do you pull out your gardening catalogs and plan? Do you brave the brisk winds to head to the mailbox, to pull in colorful seed catalogs? Additionally, do you worry about your gardens, when you travel? Enlist the help of neighbors for watering and caring for your gardens? Try to plan travel around your gardens?

I've got the book for you. It's a perfect antidode for the below zero temperatures, and a beautiful planning guide to a green summer in Paris.