There’s something truly remarkable about herbs.

Long before herbs became little more than culinary ingredients tucked beside tomatoes in the garden, they were woven deeply into everyday life - valued for fragrance, beauty, tea, healing, ritual, pollinators, and household care.

Many herbs offer all of those things at once.

In this week’s Letter from The Whiskey Porch, I’m reflecting on the old wisdom of herbs and the countless ways they enrich a more sensory, grounded, and beautiful life - from lemon balm tea and rosemary shower bundles to lavender beside the bed and gardens alive with bees and fragrance.

This is less of a how-to garden post, and more of an inspirational story.
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The letter also explores some of my favorite herbs to grow for beauty, atmosphere, pollinators, and everyday rituals here in the high country of northern Arizona.

Read the full letter here:  The Old Wisdom of Herbs.

🌿 May in the Prescott Garden
Your Monthly Garden Keeping Summary from The Whiskey Porch

May brings a shift into full garden mode here in Prescott. With the final frost typically behind us, this is the time to start planting warm-season crops, prep irrigation, and set yourself up for the dry summer ahead. It's a month of steady progress and deepening color in the high desert.

📝 Full Checklist is on our Substack.  The Prescott Garden Keeping Journal – May Edition includes:

• 🌱 Plants & Planting
• 💦 Water
• 🦌 Critters
• ✂️ Maintenance
• 📝 Planning & Reflecting

👉 Get the full monthly checklists on Substack  Exclusively available to subscribers of Letters from the Porch on Substack.  Subscribing is FREE.
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I’m moving all of my seasonal content — including these monthly garden checklists and my more personal reflections on design, simple living, and the art of living well — over to Substack.

It’s a quieter, more intentional space where I can share practical tips, stories, and behind-the-scenes moments — all without ads or social media noise.  And, we can foster a more personal conversation there which feels more like sharing from the porch than broadcasting into the algorithm void.

It’s still completely FREE to follow along, and I’d love to welcome you there.

​🌿 Start here to learn more and subscribe
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It's really fun to put these checklists together.  It forces me to sit down and gather all of my usual to-dos in a more logical and organized setup - which helps me too.  And I'm getting great feedback from you all which really makes it all worthwhile!

Let me know if you think anything needs to be added to this list.

Until next time, happy planting!
~Miriam

At Letters from The Whiskey Porch, over on substack, The Spring Porch Invitation is now open.
April 15th - 24th, 2026.
​Become a member or upgrade now
Receive a handmade studio thank-you gift
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I just opened a small and very special invitation for readers who would like to step a little further onto the porch.

For a short time, readers who join Letters from The Whiskey Porch as annual Porch Companions or Studio Stewards receive a small handmade thank-you gift from my studio at Juniper Hill Cottage in Prescott, Arizona.

The Spring Porch Invitation is open through April 24.
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​You'll find all the details on membership benefits and access at the link below. 👇🏼
Join the conversation and be inspired.

Gardening has a way of nourishing more than just the plants we grow.


Over the years I’ve found that tending a garden - whether it’s a few pots on a balcony or a full backyard landscape - offers benefits that go far beyond aesthetics or food production. It’s one of the simplest ways to reconnect with nature, slow down, and engage in a creative, hands-on process.

In honor of National Gardening Day, I recently shared a short reflection on this topic in my Substack letter:  10 reasons gardening is good for the mind, body, and soul.
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You can find the post over on my substack:  How Tending a Garden Nourishes the Mind, Body, and Soul.

🌿 April in the Prescott Garden
Your Monthly Garden Keeping Summary from The Whiskey Porch

​April in Prescott can feel like spring on steroids—or a flashback to winter. With tulips blooming one day and frost looming the next, this month is all about balance: nurturing emerging growth while honoring our persistent winter chill.
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📝 Full Checklist is on our Substack.  The Prescott Garden Keeping Journal – April Edition includes:

• 🌱 Plants & Planting
• 💦 Water
• 🦌 Critters
• ✂️ Maintenance
• 📝 Planning & Reflecting

👉 Get the full monthly checklists on Substack  Exclusively available to subscribers of Letters from the Porch on Substack.  Subscribing is FREE.
​
Coming soon: Bonus content and a private local garden chat just for Substack subscribers!  You won't want to miss the chance to join in on this!

Well thanks for following along.  I've gotten so many nice notes from readers on these checklists, and that really makes my day.  It's wonderful to be able to share a little info and help add a bit of structure to your garden-quest.

Let me know if there's anything else for April that I should have included.  I'd love to hear.

With contentment & possibility,

🌿 March in the Prescott Garden
Your Monthly Garden Keeping Summary from The Whiskey Porch

​March in Prescott still brings chilly nights and the occasional winter weather, but the season is waking up fast. While spring temps tease us, remember our frost risk lingers—so hold off on tender plantings and take this month to prepare for the busy season ahead.
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🌿 February in the Prescott Garden
Your Monthly Garden Keeping Summary from The Whiskey Porch

February feels like the stir of spring in Prescott. It's the month to plant bareroot trees, roses, and shrubs; start sowing early annuals; and prepare the soil and systems before things fully awaken. This is a proactive month—plant, prune, and plan with purpose.​
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🌿 January in the Prescott Garden
Your Monthly Garden Keeping Summary from The Whiskey Porch

​January in Prescott offers a peaceful, productive pause in the garden. While things may seem sleepy outside, it's actually the perfect time to plan, organize, and lay the groundwork for spring growth.
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🌿 December in the Prescott Garden
Your Monthly Garden Keeping Summary from The Whiskey Porch

​December in Prescott is a quiet, reflective time in the garden. As the season shifts into winter, your landscape settles into dormancy, and the rhythm slows down—perfect for planning ahead and enjoying the calmer pace.

🌿 November in the Prescott Garden
Your Monthly Garden Keeping Summary from The Whiskey Porch

​November in Prescott brings shorter days, crisp air, and a slower pace in the garden. It's a quieter time, perfect for gathering what’s left, enjoying fall colors, and preparing gently for winter’s rest.