Garden Variety

If you thought community gardening was nothing but pulling weeds and planting seeds think again. In this fresh and delightful debut, Christy Wilhelmi shows that theres more to gardening than merely keeping pests at bayEach time Lizzie steps through the gates of the Vista Mar Community Gardens, she knows shes left the chaos of the outside world behind. Here, the rows are even, tools are properly stored, and each season brings new life. But even the shiniest apple can hide a worm, and behind the leafy green faade there is hidden heartbreak, tomato hornworms, and inter-garden political powerplays.And to make things worsea long forgotten loophole enacted by a nasty neighbor brings the outside world crashing in. The members are feuding, Lizzies budding romance is wilting on the vine, and the very existence of Vista Mar is threatened. Can Lizzie and her fellow gardeners fight to save their urban oasis while they struggle to stay grounded in this chaotic city?Garden Varietyis as much about growing food and flowers as it is about lifes growing pains, and how a community rallies and comes together to save their own.