Dear Sunday Letter friends —

I can’t believe how long it’s been since my last Sunday Letter, but I’m still here. And I have an announcement…🎉

Next Book!

A couple of weeks ago, I finished the rough draft of my next book.

I’m still working on the title and cover, and when I figure those out, you’ll be the first to know. But in the meantime, can you please sigh with relief for me?

Oh, I’ve spent the last few months deep into finishing this manuscript. And when I’m pushing toward the end, lots of other things fall by the wayside. It’s all part of the process, I suppose.

This story is a sequel to The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. 🚲 🚲 🚲 I said I would never write a sequel, but back in November, I started toying around with the idea. The truth is, there are several characters from Gracie Lee’s world I’ve wanted to revisit. So why not?

Anyway, the draft is done, and that is a huge step. As the saying goes, there can’t ever be a book without first getting words on the page. And just like the snail in the picture above, if you keep at it and ignore that ugly little voice whispering, “This is bad. Why do you put yourself through this?” you’ll reach your goal. And when you do, the view will suddenly look so different.

Soon, the real fun begins: editing! It’s my favorite part, even though it can also be incredibly frustrating at times.

But first, I’m setting the manuscript aside for a few weeks. Time and distance will help me see it with fresher eyes when I return.

And while my manuscript rests, the garden is anything but quiet.

How to Spot a Monarch Caterpillar

Fall migration is well underway, and so many monarch butterflies are visiting our milkweed right now.

One of my favorite things to do in the early mornings is search for monarch caterpillars. My trick for spotting them (they really blend in!) is to look for specks of caterpillar frass.

Frass is the official name for caterpillar poop. 😄

And frass is often easier to spot than the caterpillar itself.

Once you spot the frass, look at the undersides of the leaves above it.

There are four monarch butterflies laying eggs on this swamp milkweed plant. Can you spot them?

What about Spicebush Caterpillars?

I have a completely different method for spotting spicebush caterpillars.

First, you have to find one of their host plants:

• Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
• Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
• Sweetbay magnolia or red bay (in southern regions)

Next, look for folded-over leaves.

Then, carefully, carefully take a peek inside.

Young spicebush caterpillars look like bird droppings. Later, in their older instar phases, they look like Pixar characters. :))

One interesting thing about spicebush caterpillars: they do not migrate south for winter. They spend their life cycles in the same general area. Sort of like me. 😊

I consider myself lucky anytime I spot either of these caterpillars. And it’s wonderful to know that even though the garden is hot and tired, it still provides important and productive habitat for so many creatures.

Writing Time!

Back in June, I spent five days in Piggott, Arkansas, at the annual summer writing retreat hosted by the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Educational Center.

What a gift it was to have five uninterrupted days devoted to writing in one of my favorite places. No appointments. No distractions. Just my manuscript, wonderful instruction from our mentor, and the quiet understanding that my only real job was to be present, learn, and let myself take it all in.

There’s something deeply comforting about writing in a place where so many stories have already been imagined, revised, and brought to life. The Hemingway barn, the Delta landscape, the rhythm of the days—it all re-inspired me at a time when I needed it.

A change of scenery really can do wonders for the soul.

Of course, I didn’t spend all my time writing. I always build time in for exploring the surrounding nature. I may have even pulled a couple of weeds in the pollinator garden…

This Stump.

I look for this stump on the Hemingway-Pfeiffer grounds each time I visit. The first time I noticed it, in the fall of 2012 (I think), it was still a real stump. One I could stand on. I remember taking pictures of it, but I can’t seem to find them.

By 2016, when I took this picture, it had deteriorated quite a bit.

Ten years later, there isn’t much of the tree left.

I’ve always been a fangirl of trees in all their various stages of life—even as they fade away and return to the soil.

When this one was in its prime, I like to imagine it witnessed Ernest Hemingway walking beneath its branches while pondering A Farewell to Arms, which he worked on while visiting his in-laws there.

Now, fungi and lichen grow where the tree once stood—proof of its continued value.

Things Momma Says:

I’m cold natured now that I’m old.

🌻🌻🌻

Tell me about your summer; how’s it been? Here in northwest Arkansas, the past few months have been HOT AND DRY. (Who remembers the summer of 1980?? Ugh.)

But like everything seemingly unbearable, this too shall pass.

Sixteen days until fall, y’all! 🍂

Talya
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

The post Sunday Letter: September 6, 2026 first appeared on grace grits and gardening.

Wanna hear a garden secret?

A rainy day might be the very best day to visit your local botanical garden. 🌧️

My husband and I recently spent a rainy morning at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. After months of drought conditions, the rain felt less like an inconvenience and more like an invitation to step outside and celebrate. So that’s exactly what we did. ☔

It turned out to be one of our favorite garden visits.

Most people plan garden outings around sunshine and blue skies. We do too. But after experiencing the garden in the rain, I’ve come to appreciate a different kind of beauty. There’s a special magic that reveals itself when raindrops begin to fall.

Rain reveals the soul of a garden.

The Colors Come Alive

Rain has a remarkable way of intensifying color.

Leaves appear greener, flower petals show off their deepest hues, and tree bark reveals textures often overlooked on dry days. Rain washes away dust and brings out the richest colors in the landscape.

Photographers often seek cloudy and rainy conditions for this very reason. Bright sunshine is harsh, and shadows can often mar photos. But a garden during or after a shower looks more vibrant.

You Will Probably Have the Garden to Yourself

Solitude is a great gift, and you’ll likely find it on a rainy day visit.

Paths are quiet, benches sit empty, you can talk to your favorite flowers without interruption. The experience feels more intimate, as though the garden exists only for you.

Something I noticed: The folks you do happen to see, will quietly nod, smile, maybe even wave. “Oh look, a fellow Rainy Day Garden Club member.”

You Notice the Small Things

Rain encourages us to slow down, and when we slow down, we notice more.

Poppy stem

Water collecting in the center of leaves and between tree roots. Droplets clinging to spider webs.  Moss glistens and ferns unfurl. Even familiar plants reveal new details.

Rain magnifies the world.

Fountain Grass

The Sounds Are Different

Without other visitors walking and talking and just being present, the sounds of the garden take center stage. Raindrops tap on broad leaves. Frogs sing near ponds. Chickens peck in the dirt, clucking, “How do you do?”

Rainy day garden music is a beautiful part of nature’s symphony.

Plants Love Rain

During a storm or shower, you can witness plants doing what they evolved to do—capturing water, nourishing their roots, and thriving before your eyes.

Rain reminds us that gardens are living communities, not outdoor museums. Watching a garden drink water from the sky creates a deeper connection to the natural world.

Swiss Chard

Perfect for Nature Journaling

Rainy days are ideal for observation and reflection. Notice which flowers remain open, which insects stay active, and how the landscape changes with the weather.

Take plenty of photos. Bring a pocket notebook and record what you see, hear, smell, and feel. (If it’s pouring rain, save your note-taking for when you get home.)

These observations often lead to some of the most meaningful journal entries and creative inspiration you’ll carry with you long after the visit.

Yellow Red Hot Poker Plant

Such a creative trellis!

Rusty wheelbarrow = cool container!

A Different Kind of Beauty; A Different Kind of Fun!

There is a quiet beauty in a rain-soaked garden that sunshine can’t replicate. Mist softens distant views. Water droplets sparkle. Reflections shimmer in puddles. The entire landscape feels refreshed, vibrant, and alive.

And you will too.

Did you splash in puddles when you were a kid?

I sure did.

Here’s the good news: there’s no age limit on puddle splashing.

The next time dark clouds gather, don’t stay home. Grab a rain jacket, lace up your boots, and head to your favorite botanical garden. You might discover a side of nature you’ve never noticed before.

You may even find yourself hoping for rain.

Talya
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

P.S. Northwest Arkansas friends: This year’s Washington County Master Gardeners Garden Gate Tour is Saturday, June 6, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Details and ticket info here:

The post Why a Rainy Day Is the Best Time to Visit a Botanical Garden first appeared on grace grits and gardening.

Today marks the first book birthday of The Third Act of Theo Gruene. I can’t believe it! Kids sure grow up fast, don’t they?

Spring is the perfect time to celebrate Theo Gruene — a man who spent his life preserving plants and avoiding change… until one rainy afternoon changed everything.

Maybe that’s what spring really is: evidence that quiet things are still growing.

Oh, Theo would not want the attention of a book birthday party. He wouldn’t have social media—no way!—but if he did, his posts would probably include:

• detailed weather observations;
• plant photos with Latin names;
• complaints about texting culture and how no one writes in cursive anymore;
• maybe a viral quote from Penelope

I am grateful to all the readers and book clubs that have selected The Third Act of Theo Gruene as their book of the month. And, I would especially like to thank those who not only read my book, but also took the time to post a review. By spreading the word on Amazon and Goodreads, you’ve help me gain new readers.

That’s no small feat.

Summer reading is almost here!

Click HERE to add Theo to your summer reading stack.

Thank you for celebrating this milestone with me.

And, thank you for being a good literary citizen!

Talya Tate Boerner
Grace Grits and Gardening
farm. food. garden. life.

The post Happy Birthday, Theo Gruene! first appeared on grace grits and gardening.