The Writing Life

In the Garden.

Finding wonder in the natural world.

I love gardens, the showier the better! There’s also beauty in cottage gardens and in flower beds where the plants are so plentiful that they appear to tangle with each other. Here are gardens featured in See Me: A Jeannie Johal Thriller, as well as a few of my favorites in Atlanta, Georgia, Coral Gables, Florida, British Columbia and Ontario, Canada. I hope you enjoy these images.

Stopping to smell the roses

I was once visiting the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario, with my husband and mother. Mom and I were in a state of ecstasy as we wandered among the rose bushes, inhaling their heady scents. My husband told us there were even nicer roses closer to the gate. It took us a moment before we realized he was trying to get us closer to the exit. It didn’t work. We continued to stop and smell the roses. They were wonderful!

Garden Snapshots

A delicate yellow camellia bloom photographed in Ranikhet, India — Yellow Camellia, Ranikhet, India Jeannie's favorite flower, because it reminds her of Ranikhet and her childhood.

Terraced garden hedges and tropical plantings at the Hanging Gardens of Malabar Hill — Hanging Gardens of Malabar Hill Jeannie imagines older women clad in traditional saris emerging from the topiaries.

Ornate pavilion and koi pond at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver's Chinatown — Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden Your cares immediately fall away when you step into this garden.

Lush botanical garden paths lined with specimen trees at Van Dusen Gardens, Vancouver — Van Dusen Gardens, Vancouver During the Van Dusen Gardens' annual plant sale, I was nearly run over by a bevy of female gardeners running with their wheelbarrows, intent on finding signature plant specimens.

A yellow rose in full bloom at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Hamilton, Ontario — Royal Botanical Gardens, Hamilton The scents of classic tea roses cast a spell. I could spend my entire day going from one intoxicating bloom to another.

Peaceful Japanese garden with stone lantern and manicured pines at Nitobe Memorial Garden, UBC — Nitobe Memorial Garden, UBC This traditional Japanese garden consistently ranks among the top five traditional Japanese gardens in North America. It is a beautiful, tranquil place.

Colorful seasonal plantings and glass conservatory at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens — Atlanta Botanical Gardens It's easy to lose all sense of time and place inside the awe-inspiring tropical greenhouse.

Tropical foliage and palm canopy at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, Florida — Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden The garden's curator uses colored spotlights strategically to give plants and walkways depth and drama.

Bromeliads and orchids in a humid greenhouse at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota — Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota You would never know this lush paradise is steps away from a beach and less than 3 miles from downtown Sarasota.