Can joy be grown? Maria Failla, host of the Bloom and Grow Radio podcast and self-described "plant killer" turned "Happy Plant Lady," certainly thinks so. "When I learned to care for plants," she writes, "I learned to care for myself." This way of thinking and her journey to that mindset are what she shares in the approachable and fun Growing Joy. She outlines the skills necessary to care for plants and how to turn them into techniques for caring for oneself. Her easy-to-read chapters include lessons learned from various plants and tips for growing them, and explore topics such as how to create an urban oasis and how to engage in forest bathing in order to reconnect with nature. Failla encourages reflective questions that stem from plant care, making readers more aware of how they feel and what best nourishes them. These questions prompt readers to consider their spaces in different ways, inspiring them to connect to their minds and bodies by incorporating nature into their everyday environments.
Failla's practical advice on both self-care and plant care is accompanied by the simple but beautiful illustrations of Samantha Leung. Additional resources include a "crash course" appendix that gives plant killers the tools they need to turn their thumbs greener and better understand light, water and choosing the right plants for both space and lifestyle. There are also lists of resources for readers who want to learn more about plant care and the connections between plants and people. --Michelle Anya Anjirbag, freelance reviewer