“You can only understand people if you feel them in yourself.” — John Steinbeck
According to the Stanford Medical Health Center, by including teens as full participants in self-care, they’re more likely to choose healthy behaviors during their lives. Hannah Sahota hosts this important program focusing on empathy and self-care with reporters Diya and Jatin. According to the World Health…
Express Yourself!: Self-Care and Empathy
“Fascination is fertilizer. Whatever you place your attention on grows.” ~ Alan Cohen
The rain finally arrived at the end of February, followed by several warm days reaching into the high 70s. It felt like bathing suit weather, and I was tempted! Fascination is fertilizer.
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I am tickled with the signs of spring. Birdsong enchants me throughout the day, magical music energizing creativity. While the buzz of the honeybees fills the morning air, the croaking of the frogs reverberates throughout the evening. The pollinators are busy savoring the sweetness of the flowering peach tree, crabapple, and the viburnum in full bloom. March 20th marks the vernal equinox, yet we have been enjoying an early spring since the beginning of February. Yellow is the predominant color in March with wild mustard, Acacia trees, oxalis, Mexican stonecrop, and daffodils dotting roadways, gardens, and hillsides.
Daffodils and jonquils of varied throat colorations, frills, ruffles, and petal markings decorate my landscape and my floral arrangements. Daffodil is the common name for the genus narcissus, while a jonquil is a specific species with several strong-scented yellow florets with leaves that are rounded. Depending on the expert speaking, there are 40-200 different species, subspecies, and varieties of daffodils with thousands of hybrids. Daffodil bulbs and blooms are poisonous to deer, squirrels, and rodents. Daffodils are weather-tolerant, and they will grow beautifully in sun or shade. They will naturalize when planted in drifts, making them the true trumpets of the vernal equinox.
Spring is the time to look forward. The 2026 Garden Trends Report from the Garden Media Group names “Lemonading” as the gardening theme of the year. Lemonade…another March yellow! The philosophy is “rooted in turning challenges into opportunities with creativity, joy, and intention.” “Lemonading” is about curiosity and play, transforming setbacks into opportunities through mindfulness. Since I was a young girl, I have always embraced “lemonading”, the idea that when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.
Gardening is filled with examples. It doesn’t matter if one is an accomplished green thumb or a beginner; mistakes and disappointments always occur in the garden. Plants will get diseases, deer will devour the roses, and beloved plants will die. It is part of the cycle. Instead of giving up, my mantra is “failure is fertilizer”. Put the blunders and plunders on the compost pile and build a new garden. People I meet often tell me that they cannot grow anything. I’ve been told, “I have a brown thumb; everything I try withers and dies.” I don’t buy that response. That narrative is a belief they’ve told themselves. Plant a plot of shamrocks, also known as oxalis, and you’ll be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day every year! Dig a few bulbs into your garden bed and be surprised when blooms magically appear. Shift to succulents or cacti with almost no maintenance required. Wherever one places attention, growing and thriving occur.
The early show of spring transpired in February, but March showcases the spectacular. While many trees remain bare, camellias, tulip magnolias, crabapple, redbuds, peach, Bradford pear, and plum blossoms sweeten the sky.
Dutch iris, calla lilies, Bergenia, sedums, rosemary, Chinese fringe flower, and numerous spring flowering bulbs engage our senses. Optimism and reflection soar with the flamboyant, mystical quality of the sweeping spring landscape as we welcome this month of rebirth. The quiet crunch of gravel underfoot as I gather a bouquet of fluffy plumes reminds me to experience the calmness as well as the beating pulse of the floral abundance of my spring garden. How grateful I am for a stroll in the serenity of nature with its twinkling patterns of wistful beauty.
Lemonade life, March forward, and be fascinated!
Cynthia Brian’s Goddess Gardener Guide for March
ü BUY azaleas, camellias, and rhododendrons now so you can choose colors that complement your landscape.
ü FERTILIZE all plants throughout the month.
ü APPLY snail bait around plants susceptible to snail and slug damage.
ü SPRAY roses, fruit trees that have not budded, and citrus with a combination of mineral oil and liquid copper to kill overwintering insect eggs and disease spores. Wash any citrus fruit with warm water before consuming it after spraying.
ü TREAT viburnums and other plants that may exhibit powdery mildew. An effective organic spray is to mix one tablespoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of non-detergent soap into a gallon of water. The soap helps the mixture stick to the leaves. Neem oil is also a useful, organic fungicide.
ü MONITOR irrigation. Since rain is predicted throughout March, water your landscape only when necessary.
ü PREPARE flower beds by enriching the soil with compost, earthworms, and mulch.
ü WEED, weed, weed. Weeds steal nutrients and moisture from your favorite flowers.
ü GATHER the tender leaves of wild mustard and miner’s lettuce to add to your salad bowl.
ü SHARPEN and clean garden tools. You’ll be busy next month.
ü COLLECT fallen camellia florets. Rotting flowers left on the ground encourage petal blight.
ü CUT a few branches from flowering peach or plum trees to enjoy the slow release of the sweet-smelling, beautiful blooms.
ü GET a tetanus shot if you haven’t had one in the past ten years. Digging in the dirt doubles the hazards.
ü AERATE your lawn. The soil is compacted from winter rains and foot traffic. Leave the plugs to add nutrients back into the grass.
ü FERTILIZE lawns with an organic high-nitrogen mixture specifically for spring growth.
ü SOAK bare-root shrubs, roses, and trees in tepid water for four hours to rehydrate them before planting.
üSPRING forward with household chores by engaging a professional handyman from Honey Homes to help get your home in shape for the season. Use code https://honeyh.me/eXEn through March 31 to get $400 off a subscription.
ü BUY seed packets from catalogues or your favorite garden center. Be brave and explore new samplers.
ü CELEBRATE March 17th with a container of shamrocks, also known as oxalis. Erin go bragh, Ireland Forever!
Happy Gardening. Happy Growing. Wishing you the luck of the Irish.
For more seasonal gardening tips and inspiration, grab a copy of Growing with the Goddess Gardener at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/books.
Raised in Napa County vineyards, Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach, as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3, https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org. Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at https://www.StarStyleRadio.com.
Her best-selling children’s series, Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures, is available at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store.
Hire Cynthia for writing projects, garden consults, and inspirational lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com https://www.CynthiaBrian.com
Photos and text ©2026 Cynthia Brian, StarStyle® Productions, LLC
StarStyle® Empowerment is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/march-forward?
“Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.” – Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
Host Julia and reporter Hanna tackle the topic that we chew on every day: ultra-processed foods. Hanna asks if it is ethical to sell food that is unhealthy just to maximize profits at the expense of our long-term well-being. What is the price of health? Whose responsibility is it? What is the future of…
If Paris can do it so can I/ the joys of unemployment… embrace the casualness of not knowing where you are going, as long as you show up in a nice dress, in my opinion wear the leopard print but ditch the cigarette, perhaps my future really is as a stand up comedian? The devil wants you to wear fake nails cus 666, where are your real ones? lets make our own dresses, authentic couture over cheap plastic synthetics, bullshit over genius… just… wing it. I love Paris too.
/What would YOU do?
because you can do anything
you want to…
Only eats vegetables and chicken/ just checking out the meat aisle anyway?
Britney apparently founded vegetarianism in 2001
But she does eat chicken
And whilst she supports anti fur campaigns
She also wears it
Just checking out the merchandise
But apparently her diet really consists mainly of canned vegetables
And chicken
Just like
Me
What are the stars eating?
Find out more in retro outdated tabloids
Or just ask chatgpt… for the history.
Paris’s Instagram is not as interesting as looking at the tabloids of the 2000s
Now magazines barely exist
And all the paper is really thin
What she is showing off is better when it comes naturally
Tanning on the beach with her little doggy
Or drinking her coffee
I prefer it to the newer barbies.
“Don’t use social media to impress people; use it to impact people.”- Dave Willis There has always been a large debate on if social media is positive or negative because there are so many opinions about this topic. On one hand, your friends might be telling you to download these apps and post some pictures, and on the other hand your parents might be telling you to measure your time spent on social media. Like everything in life, there are more sides to the story! Host Diya examines the pros and cons of social media. One thing is certain, research conducted by Microsoft stated that most teenagers have an attention span of 9 seconds, which is less than a goldfish! A new term called “ brainrot” is basically the deterioration of someone’s mental health due to the excessive amount of scrolling on social media. Don’t let that be you!
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Listen to this episode at Voice America: https://sites.libsyn.com/560220/the-positive-and-negatives-of-social-media
“Wherever you go, no matter the weather, bring your own sunshine” – Anthony D’Angelo
Woohoo! It’s Spring Break! For young people and families, this is a favorite time of year to travel. Sharanya hosts a program full of fantastic ideas about where to go in the United States and what to do. From hidden gems to nature refuges to fun in the sun, Sharanya shares an experience for every taste.…
The next few weeks students across America indulge in a vacation from school work called Spring Break. On Express Yourself!™, host Sharanya provides travel locales and creative writing prompts that will help you have a blast during your spring break.
https://sites.libsyn.com/560220/whats-love-got-other-than-do-with-it
“Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” —Mother Teresa
Julia Howe hosts a program focusing on love. It’s that time of the year when it is freezing cold outside, yet we’re talking about red hot LOVE! In segment 1, Julia talks about situationships, what they mean for teenagers, and…
Tune in to the upbeat, positive lifestyle broadcast where producer and host Cynthia Brian showcases strategies for success on StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!®. Available wherever you listen to your favorite programs!
Valentine’s Day! For some, it’s a day of love and togetherness. And for others, it’s a day of sadness and loneliness. Research indicates that better outcomes occur with vulnerability and shared authenticity when dating. If you are feeling unloved or undatable, that is just an untrue story you tell yourself. Celebrate Cupid’s Arrow!
Are young people suffering more mental health issues than in past decades? The pandemic, climate change, smartphones, and political upheaval have contributed to the dangerous phase of mental stability. Is this the canary in the coal mine?
Heat advisories, floods, fires, hurricanes. Our world is rapidly changing and it’s not all good. But there are some victories to commemorate. Find out what’s happening in our environment.
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Tune in to the upbeat, positive lifestyle broadcast where producer and host Cynthia Brian showcases strategies for success on StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!®. Available wherever you listen to your favorite programs!
When temperatures are low, but there is no snow, if you are in the market for a new car, this is the best time to buy. Find out why you’ll get the best deals in the winter.
What are bare-root plants? Specimens are dug up when they are dormant. All soil is removed by washing, and the plants are kept cool and damp. Because there is no soil, both the grower and the gardener reap a savings in cost.
Since the devastation of the wildfires throughout Los Angeles, many people ask how they can protect their homes from wildfires. 84% of wildfires in America are the result of human activities. There are many things you can do to harden your home and garden to help your household survive a disaster.
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“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.” ~ Sydney J. Harris
January, the month of winter sleep, offers gardeners the opportunity to dream, plan, and imagine. There is not much work to be done in our gardens, but we can still begin to chart the days ahead so that we’ll be able to share the bounty from our efforts. The new year is a time to re-evaluate everything we do. As gardeners, we can begin anew, too.
Although you may feel like you have too much to do, make time to relax and refresh. Curl up with a cup of tea brewed from your homegrown Meyer lemon and spearmint, grab your favorite seed catalogs or garden books, and discover new water-conserving cultivars for the year. You can plan patio hardscapes incorporating rocks, bricks, and cobbles instead of flower beds. If you have the space, design a meditative maze in your garden. Prune a few budding branches from your peach or crab apple tree and put them in a vase to watch their blossoms unfurl. For a scent-filled room of sweetness, cut a bouquet of narcissus to place by your bedside for the deepest tranquil rest. For kindness to our fine-feathered friends, design a “Bird Branch” on a deciduous tree or an old stump, hanging feeders, and nests for those cold winter nights.
Every new year, I ask myself, “Why do I love to garden?” I know my reasons. Ask any gardener, and you’ll get a multitude of various answers, but a few are universal. We garden because it feeds our bodies, minds, and souls. Gardening offers us a way to connect, to remember, and to share.
January offers us the chance for a new beginning. To your list of resolutions, include spending more time in nature while you drink in the beauty. Decide to compost, recycle, collect rainwater for watering, and grow organic vegetables, herbs, and fruits. Exercise your body, mind, and soul by digging deep. Be grateful for what we already have. Relating to the earth reminds us that despite turbulent times, we can survive and thrive. Go into the garden to be nurtured by nature.
Perform the necessary chores, then take the time to chill out! It’s winter. Nature is sleeping and you need to take a break, too.
Hello 2025!
Cynthia Brian’s Goddess Gardener Garden Guide for January
FERTILIZE the entire landscape with a slow-release all-natural fertilizer.
ADD better drainage to any potted plants you received as holiday
gifts by removing the wrapping paper. Trim the spent blossoms,
water deeply and fertilize.
BRING budding cymbidium orchids indoors to display.
APPLY elemental sulfur to the soil around your acid-loving plants such as the
azaleas, citrus, and camellias. This will break down slowly over the next year and
will help keep the soil in these areas at the optimal PH for plant color and health.
PRUNE roses, crape myrtles, and deciduous fruit trees by the end
of the month.
BUY bare-root rose bushes. Soak in water for a day before planting.
Cut off any damaged or broken roots. Plant the bud union three
inches above the ground.
TREAT houseplants with a warm shower and shake. Indoor heat dries
the roots, leaves, and fronds, especially those of ferns.
PICK ripe and tangy navel oranges, Meyer lemons, and tangelos,
and use the rest of your persimmons.
WATCH for snow plants to sprout in the Sierras.
PERUSE seed catalogs available now to determine what you want to plant in spring.
ADD a bowl of freshly picked Meyer lemons to your countertop as a useful culinary display.
REMOVE the longer canes from wisteria.
COVER frost-tender plants with burlap, sheets, newspaper, or straw. Be on the alert for swift temperature swings.
FEED the birds. Baby, it’s cold outside and our birds need food and shelter. Make sure to clean your birdhouses and feeders regularly.
WATCH for rats and mice. As the cold weather begins, vermin seek a warm bed and easy-to-find food.
CHECK plants that you’ve brought inside for the winter for any insect infestation.
APPLY organic snail and slug bait (Sluggo), as these mollusks are active during winter.
CLEAN the dead leaves from the bearded iris to prevent rot and insect hideouts.
PLANT a cover crop to increase nitrogen and protect again winter erosion. Fava beans, clover, vetch, and mustard are excellent choices. To find seeds visit www.rareseeds.com or www.sowtrueseed.com.
GIVE the gift of my book, Growing with the Goddess Gardener, twelve months of inspiration and gardening tips to sustain your inner gardener with a full year of kindness and happiness in nature. Buy directly from www.cynthiabrian.com/online-storewith proceeds benefiting charity PLUS you’ll receive extra goodies and an autographed copy.
Happy Gardening. Happy Growing. Happy New Year!
See photos at Substack: https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/welcome-to-2025-gardening-life?
For more gardening advice for all seasons, check out Growing with the Goddess Gardener at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/books. Raised in the vineyards of Napa County, Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach, as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3, which was just honored as the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year by the Moraga Chamber of Commerce. https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org . Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at https://www.StarStyleRadio.com. Her newest children’s picture book, Books in the Barnyard: Oh Deer!, from the series Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures is available at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store. Hire Cynthia for writing projects, garden consults, and inspirational lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com https://www.CynthiaBrian.com
With the recent catastrophic fires in Los Angeles that devastated thousands of structures and acres as well as killed more than two dozen people, and the horrific hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, blizzards, storms, and extreme weather around the United States and the world, everyone, everywhere needs to be prepared for an emergency.
Six years ago, at two in the morning, during a five-day power outage in freezing temperatures when I was quite ill, my husband and I awoke to pounding on our front door. Before opening the door, I looked out the window to see lights flashing and towering flames near our fence line. The firefighter who was knocking told me that we had to evacuate “NOW”. When I asked how long we had, he responded “About sixty seconds if you want us to save your property!”
Gulp! This was scary. Fortunately, I had practiced being ready for a disaster. I immediately pulled on a pair of pants and told my husband to grab his things as I rapidly grabbed my purse, phone, computer, keys, and the family go bag that was packed in the hall closet. I already had a smaller Go Bag in my car. In those seconds, my husband couldn’t find his keys, iPad, phone, glasses, or wallet. As we ran out of the house, I realized I didn’t have shoes. My gardening clogs were on the front porch, and those are what I grabbed. I didn’t have socks and that was a mistake. We evacuated to my StarStyle® Productions studio a few miles away, where the power was also out.
This frightening evacuation experience taught me several important lessons.
Amid the many disasters that seem to be continuous, I encourage clients to put together an emergency Go Bag. Whatever the calamity, it will behoove you to have an emergency supply kit in every vehicle and a larger one in your home near your exit. The reason you want a Go Bag in your vehicle is that if you are away from home when the emergency occurs, you will have supplies to get you through at least three days. Make sure you know where all of your important documents are located and upload whatever is possible to the cloud or a backup platform, including your passport, driver’s license, and credit cards. Hard copies can be placed either in your Go Bag or next to your Go Bag. Make sure you know how to manually open automatic garage doors and gates. Sometimes, as is the case with our California wildfires or earthquakes, a matter of minutes is the difference between life and death.
Pack duplicate chargers for phones, tablets, and computers. Keep some cash in your Go Bag because in a disaster, power may be down and credit cards won’t work. Back up your computers and keep files in the cloud or off-site. Make a plan for your pets and animals and have a bag ready for them as well. Know your neighbors and their contact numbers to keep in touch to make sure everyone is safe. Have a list of a network of friends that you can call in an emergency. Make two signs in advance and put them on top of your Go Bag in your home with a roll of tape. One needs to say EVACUATED. This will help fire personnel to know that no one remains in the home.
The other one can say HELP which tells first responders or others that you need assistance.
Know where you will go in an evacuation, and if it is an office, make sure you have the keys.
Most of all, remember that saving your life and that of your family is the most important. Everything else can be replaced.
WHAT TO PUT IN A GO BAG:
Fill a backpack or small case with the following items for your family in your home near the exit. Keep a smaller version of this Go Bag in ALL of your vehicles. For water, food, and medications, pack a three-day supply.
First Aid kit
Work gloves
Warm gloves
Towelettes
Small towel
Bottled water (1 gallon per person per day)
Warm Blanket
Walking shoes
Socks
Warm jacket
Peanut butter
Honey
Protein bars
Personal hygiene kit with a toothbrush, soap, medications
Eyeglasses, if you wear them
Matches
Candle
Flashlight and headlamp with extra batteries
Eating utensils
Breathing masks (Niosh-N95 or your Covid Mask)
Clothing change
Extra set of keys to home, office, etc.
Cash
Toilet Paper
Bottle of Wine (optional)
Another suggestion is to keep a headlamp by your bedside. If the power is out, it is easier to grab what you need when you don’t have to hold a flashlight in one hand.
It was cold at the StarStyle® Productions studio, but with my Go Bag essentials, we were able to be fairly comfortable. The blaze burned the hills, a few fences, and backyards, but the heroic firefighters saved all the structures in our neighborhood. It was later discovered that the fire was started by a vape pen that was tossed into the dry grass.
We never know when or where a man-made or natural emergency will strike. I hope that my family never has to use these emergency kits again and I hope you don’t have to either, but it’s best to be prepared.
Raised in the vineyards of Napa County, Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach, as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3, which was just honored as the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year by the Moraga Chamber of Commerce. Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at https://sites.libsyn.com/556617. Her newest children’s picture book, Books in the Barnyard: Oh Deer!, from the series Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures is available at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store.
By Cynthia Brian
“Magnificent Autumn… It is the funeral anthem of the dying year.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
When I was young, I was a surfer girl. I spent many weekends catching waves in Santa Cruz, Bolinas, and Hawaii. My favorite movie was The Endless Summer. I dreamt of traveling the globe in search of the perfect ride.
Today, I surf gardening catalogs and magazines looking for the waves of new plant species and hardy specimens that are deer-resistant and drought-tolerant to thrive in our clay soils.
The first few days of autumn were refreshing. The cooler temperatures prompted me to start digging and enhancing the soil as I anticipated the joys of fall plantings. But Mother Nature had other plans and decided to shower us with an endless summer of sizzling sunshine and stifling nights. The winds have been so ferocious that I awoke to my patio umbrellas blown across my backyard. Until recent years, summer has always been a favorite season, but as our globe warms, an endless summer portends a major drought in the future. While the East Coast suffers from torrential rains, hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes, the West Coast endures another heat wave and increased risk of deadly wildfires.
As temperatures soared to 103 degrees, our street suffered a fire hydrant leak this week, resulting in our neighborhood’s water being shut off for twenty-four hours without warning. It was disconcerting to turn on the tap with no drip available. My empathy for those anguishing in disaster areas and war zones soared when water and basic necessities are unavailable. Water is life.
Before I provide tips on drought-tolerant plants that you may wish to include in your landscape, I want to remind you that although fire season in California is considered year-round, October is an especially monstrous month for wildfires. Make sure you have your home Go-Bag up-to-date and ready to go in the event of an emergency. It’s a smart idea to keep an additional Go-Bag in your car in case you get stranded and can’t make it home. Fill these Go-Bags with all the necessities you, your family, and your pets will need for three days, including water, protein bars, a first-aid kit, medications, masks, gloves, extra chargers, blankets, change of clothes, jacket, socks, headlamp, and a flash drive with your important documents, photos, or other digital items that you don’t have in the cloud.
When working in your yard, on red-flag days, scorching hot or windy days, refrain from using any equipment that could cause a spark: lawnmower, weed whacker, or chainsaw. Do not ignite a fire pit, cook over an open flame, vape, or smoke outdoors. Be fire-safe.
In September articles, I discussed how to prepare your soil for fall plantings (Prescription to Plant: https://lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1815/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Prescription-to-Plant.html) and also suggested plants that are deer resistant, (Dear Deer! https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1816/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Dear-Deer.html). But how do we move forward in an endless summer of heat and heavy winds?
The answer is to keep your landscape appropriately watered so that established plants and trees don’t perish. WAIT to plant anything until the weather cools. The soil will still be warm, but the air temperatures will be lower. In this scenario, with minimal watering, the roots can establish themselves and be less stressed.
If you are considering reseeding your lawn or adding sod, start preparing the soil. Turn the soil six inches, mix in compost, then WAIT for chillier weather. Double-check your irrigation system to make sure that your sprinklers will reach every part of your grass. If you are ordering sod, start now researching the type of grass you want to install and get a quote from a reputable landscaper or grower. In the past few weeks, I had to replace my irrigation controllers. I hired my handyman from HoneyHomes to help me. I also repositioned several sprinkler lines. Thankfully, everything is working perfectly now after several years of pulling hoses. If you need help, this company has qualified service people in Lamorinda and you can get a major discount with my code https://honeyh.me/eXEn. As soon as the weather cools, I’ll be reseeding and overseeding, knowing that when I turn on a sprinkler, it will work.
Drought-tolerant plants to consider for fall:
If you’ve been perusing my garden columns, you already have a list of deer-resistant plants and know how to prepare the soil with mulch and drainage that retains moisture without waterlogging. Here are a few of my favorite low-water options that can be planted before the winter cold arrives and after our endless summer has ceased. Remember, no matter how drought-tolerant a plant is, every plant needs some water. California natives will be the most tolerant, conserving more water and requiring less maintenance. Many natives are also deer-resistant.
Natives:
Manzanita
California Poppy
California lilac (ceanothus)
Muhly grass
Pink flowering currant
Blue-eyes grass
Salvia
Yarrow
California fuchsia
Blue elderberry
Shaw’s Agave
Other Drought-Tolerant Plants:
Lavender
Aloe Vera
Echeveria
Barberry
Sedum
Russian Sage
Feather Reed Grass
Black-eyed Susan
Pride of Madeira
Stonecrop
Succulents
Cacti
Many wildflowers
For a flash of annual border color, buy pansies. They use relatively little water, are low maintenance, and provide beauty in the winter.
You can create a beautiful and sustainable landscape with native and drought-tolerant plants. Biodiversity is increased, and you’ll cultivate a garden that will thrive in arid and water-scarce conditions. Save every drop of water by putting a bucket in your shower or a bowl near your sinks. I use the water for my indoor plants and patio potted plants. If you want to go the extra mile, install a rain catcher or barrel to collect the water from downspouts.
On a positive sunny note, my tomato plants are enjoying this endless summer. They have mingled with my Jacobinia Justica Carnea and continue to sprout new flowers which will provide me with tomatoes for a few more months.
As we look forward to a magnificent autumn, catch a gardening wave in this endless summer! Soon enough, the funeral anthem of a dying year will be playing, and we’ll be longing to surf the sunshine again.
Happy Gardening. Happy Growing!
Lamorinda WEekly: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1817/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Endless-Summer.html
For more gardening advice for all seasons, check out Growing with the Goddess Gardener at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/books. Raised in the vineyards of Napa County, Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3 which was just honored as the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year by the Moraga Chamber of Commerce. Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at www.StarStyleRadio.com. Her newest children’s picture book, Books in the Barnyard: Oh Deer!, from the series, Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures is available at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store. Hire Cynthia for writing projects, garden consults, and inspirational lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com https://www.CynthiaBrian.com
MIRACLE MOMENT®
Choose to be kind over being right,
and you’ll be right every time.
~ Richard Carlson
A MESSAGE from Founder/Executive Director, CYNTHIA BRIAN
The break for summer vacation flew by and this week many students are on their way back to the classroom. It’s been a hot and tumultuous two months of weather and politics. Hopefully, you found ways and days to relax, rejuvenate, and enjoy family and friends in peace.
Getting back into the groove of school schedules takes discipline and determination. While we are buying supplies, and clothes, or signing up for special classes, a critical ingredient to getting along and acclimating is to remember to be kind. Kindness is the gift we give to ourselves and others,
With so much divisiveness in our world today, teaching and modeling a sense of graciousness and inclusivity for our children will go a long way to helping them make friends and delight in learning.
It is easy to be kind. Smile, listen, pay attention, wave, connect, share, care, be fair, be grateful, be authentic, compliment. We all have the power of kindness within. Let that power shine.
Join us at the Pear and Wine Festival as well as the parade on Saturday, September 28th for our 25th anniversary celebration and kindness commemoration of our win as the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year!
Make this school year the most kind learning experience ever.
Sending kindness, gratitude, and success,
Cynthia Brian
Founder/Executive Director
Be the Star You Are!®
PO box 376
Moraga, California 94556
Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3 charity | empowering youth | PO Box 376, Moraga, California 94556
Express Yourself!, An Outreach Program of Be the Star You Are! 501 c3
DONATE: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504
CELEBRATE OUR 25th ANNIVERSARY at the PEAR and WINE FESTIVAL
Be the Star You Are!® is the winner of the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year. BTSYA is celebrating 25 years of volunteer service to the world and Moraga is celebrating 50 years as a town. A parade, bandstand appearance, ribbon cutting, and party are planned. Ella is our 25th-anniversary chairwoman. Sharanya and Keerthi will co-chair our booth. We will have activities for kids including our popular Plant the Seeds of Literacy project, a reading circle, book giveaways, and book signings, plus more. It’s going to be a super-fun event, so we hope to see you there.
The parade starts at 10 am on School Street. Thank you to our sponsors, The Lamorinda Weekly, MB Jessee Painting, and StarStyle® Productions, LLC. Thousands of people enjoy the Festival with food, wine, music, crafts, pear pies, and activities for kids. The Festival begins at 11 am at The Moraga Commons Park, 1425 St Marys Rd,, CA 94556, The event is FREE and the festival is fabulous! Let’s party! https://www.bethestaryouare.org/events-1/2024-pear-and-wine-festival
WELCOME TO NEW TEEN RADIO REPORTERS
Over the summer, Express Yourself!™ Teen Radio brought three new reporters to the airwaves. We are proud to introduce them to you here. All three can be heard being interviewed by our accomplished teen host, Julia, on a fun episode about traveling.
Listen at Voice America Network, Empowerment Channel: https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/150918/traveling
Hasini Namala
Hasini is a high school student from the Bay Area. She is passionate about community service and uplifting those around her. To make this dream a reality, Hasini started a non-profit that aims to work with other non-profit organizations in India to make education, sports, and music more accessible to students in underserved communities. She derives this inspiration from her grandmother, who was a philanthropist. Hasini is passionate about music and sings in various Western and Indian genres. Besides being a vocalist, she plays an extremely unique Indian stringed instrument called the “Veena.” In her free time, Hasini enjoys spending time in nature, traveling, and watching Indian movies with her family on the weekends. She is passionate about advocating for teen mental health, as she has also had her fair share of struggles with mental health in the past. She aims to make a difference by destigmatizing mental health and raising awareness to help other teens navigate their struggles through positive, engaging discussions. Her segment is called Teen Talk, with topics ranging from pop culture to teen aspirations and mental health.
Armine Freeman
I am a rising Junior at Newton South High School in Newton, Massachusetts. Born in Geneva Switzerland, and starting my education in France, I moved to the U.S. and integrated into the U.S. education system and English language, having experienced as a result different cultural backgrounds. I am passionate about actively contributing in academic, civic, and sports settings. I am active in my local community and City civic governance, contributing where my input and perspectives can help improve and elevate the surroundings for others. I was elected Senator of NSHS by my peers, have acted for the past 3 years as an advisor to the Newton City Hall’s Youth Commission, and am President of EcoBioDiversity, a local society dedicated to re-establishing native species in our community. I love participating in competitive Public Speaking, sharing my passion for this by volunteering weekly to coach and mentor student participants at a local Middle School speech and debate team. I immerse myself in creative arts, being selected as a sponsored student artist in the Newton City street art “Shine” program, and earning a Scholastics Silver Key Award in 2024 for my short stories. I enjoy many sports, participating in multiple Junior Olympics 2022-204 for competitive fencing and playing tennis and lacrosse in my school teams. Academically, I enjoy classes connected to Business, Psychology, and Marketing and am interested in finding a career path that mixes all of these disciplines with my experiences and interests. Her segment is called Eco-Echoes and focuses on the environment, climate change, and global warming.
Diya Namboothiry
Diya is an incoming 9th grader in Brookfield, Wisconsin. She is involved in the chorus, loves playing volleyball, takes Indian classical lessons for dancing and singing, and enjoys taking drumming lessons. Diya loves to help others in whichever way she can, big or small. She is involved with NJHS in her school and continues to work with a local non-profit organization outside of school. Diya is also excited about exploring the art of suspense and has begun writing short, suspenseful stories recently. She has a great mindset toward learning and believes in spreading cheer around her. Her segment is called the Art of Suspense.
PRESIDENTIAL SERVICE AWARDS
We are proud to announce that Be the Star You Are!® 501c3 is a certified organization for ’The President’s Volunteer Service Award’. The President’s Volunteer Service Award is an opportunity to honor the most outstanding volunteers and recognize the impact they make in our world.
BTSYA is approved to recognize its volunteers who meet the requirements in terms of volunteer service hours and apply for the award.
In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too.
The PVSA has continued under each administration, honoring the volunteers who are using their time and talents to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our nation.
Led by the AmeriCorps and managed in partnership with Points of Light, this program allows Certifying Organizations to recognize their most exceptional volunteers.
Detailed requirements can be found here: https://presidentialserviceawards.gov/eligibility#volunteers
KINDERGARTEN KINDNESS
by Karen Kitchel
Spending time as a volunteer in Kindergarten is a wonderful way to absorb the important things in life. One day I saw a very tearful little girl saying how much she was missing her Dad. It took about 30 seconds for another student to offer her a teddy bear, which she said was given to her when she was a baby. Amazing how the tears stopped, and I saw a perfect picture of kindness.
For six years, I’ve had the privilege of watching five-year-old kids learn how to read, write, and most important, be there for a friend in need.
When asked how they will be kind, kindergarteners’ responses included: Help Mom, Share my Football, and Help Others. I believe these kids understand the true meaning of scattering kindness.
Karen Kitchel is the Kindness Coordinator volunteer with BTSYA. She purchased the book, No Barnyard Bullies, as a gift for every kindergarten student where she is a volunteer teacher. www.scatteringkindness.com You can read more about Karen’s adoption story in the book Be the Star You Are! Millennials To Boomers. https://www.bethestaryouare.org/book-gift
FREE COOKING OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS
Cultured Kids Cuisine, inc.is a 501©3 non-profit organization led by a team of students and recent graduates. Their mission is to foster cultural awareness through food in youth across the globe with a specific focus on bringing our resources to underserved populations and children living in education deserts. Their food-related educational courses, podcasts, food blogs, recipe and lesson kits are 100% FREE for children ages 7 through 14. Virtual and in-person cooking workshops are held weekly, wherein children prepare foreign meals alongside their team of trained culinary experts and guest chefs, whilst learning about the culture, history, and the origins of the dish through interactive activities and engaging dialogue. Their programming is centered around cooking and celebrating knowledge with loved ones, creating beautiful meals to be shared together. You can find out more and participate by going to their website. https://www.culturedkidscuisine.com/
BOOKS ARE THE GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING
Proceeds from the sale of our books benefit Be the Star You Are!® outreach programs. Video by BTSYA volunteer, Sean Kwok.
Buy today at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store .
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”-Aesop
Be kind and learn! THANK YOU!
Thanks for reading StarStyle® Empowerment ! This post is public so feel free to share it.
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Tune in LIVE weekly to the upbeat, positive lifestyle broadcast where producer and host Cynthia Brian showcases strategies for success on StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!®. Available wherever you listen to your favorite programs!
Employing the correct nutrition for your body can change your life, eliminate disease, and help you live longer. What are the secrets to a healthy lifestyle and what are the myths that could be holding you back?
Amy Margolis’s book, Here’s the Memo! is Amy’s love letter to all women. Cynthia Brian interviews Amy on how her book will help them let go of their internalized patriarchal deprivation mindset, successfully navigate the many chapters of their lives, and live with more self-love, freedom, happiness, and personal power!
Are you someone who tosses out cheese, eggs, or milk when the date expires? You are most likely wasting food and costing yourself extra dollars. What does the expiration date on products mean? Are cosmetics or medications still healthy or dangerous?
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Bio: Amy Margolis, LCSW, is a licensed therapist and co-clinical director of Santa Monica Counseling. She works with individuals and couples and runs groups for clients healing from eating disorders, addictions, anxiety, depression, and related issues. Amy is a trained actor outside the clinical world, focusing primarily on voice-over work. She has worked for Nickelodeon, Netflix, and Disney, and on many commercials, podcasts, and video games. Mostly, Amy loves being a momma! She is married to Hank, and they have three children: a dog and a cat. You can follow Amy on Instagram @heres_the_memo and Facebook at Here’s the Memo. https://linktr.ee/amymargmsw
Listen at Voice America Network, Empowerment Channel: https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/150977/nutrition-heres-the-memo-expired
Want to know what teens think about the 2024 elections and the nominees? Join hosts Julia and Hannah as they both provide election history as well as their personal thoughts. They interview guest teen Viranshi Vira who discusses the inequities in healthcare, specifically the disparity with racial maternal mortality. She and her peers organized a school walkout to protest the overturn of Roe v. Wade and advocate for reproductive rights. Hasini enters the conversation and states that even though young teens can’t vote yet, their interests must be taken into account. Policies on education, climate change, healthcare, and social justice directly affect their lives, both now and in the years to come. Knowledge about the political process now prepares teens to be responsible and informed voters when they reach voting age. It also empowers teens to participate in discussions, advocate for causes they care about, and support candidates who align with their values. Elections are the cornerstone of democratic governance, giving citizens the power to choose their leaders and influence the direction of their country. In 2024, the stakes are high. Do citizens want democracy or a dictatorship? Do Americans want a leader who has integrity and advocates for freedom or a convicted felon who seeks revenge and retribution? Whatever your age, your voice makes a difference. If you are old enough to vote, do your homework and choose the best candidate. The future of our world depends on it and every vote counts.
Follow us: https://www.starstyleradio.com/expressyourselfteenradio
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• https://www.facebook.com/BTSYAcharity/
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Bio: Viranshi Vira
Viranshi Vira is a rising freshman at Case Western Reserve University. She is very passionate about studying inequities in healthcare. She has published a paper in the Research Archive of Rising Scholars about the racial disparities in maternal mortality rates and spoke about her research at the Polygence Symposium and an international science discussion group. She has also published an article in Teen Ink about health insurance inequities in Indigenous communities and spoke more in depth about this topic at an international science discussion group. She and her peers organized a school walkout to protest the overturn of Roe v. Wade and advocate for reproductive rights, which had a turnout of almost 600 people. Viranshi hopes to work to combat the consequences of health care disparities and work to increase accessibility to quality healthcare for everyone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkwjrV6fCz0
Listen at Voice America Network, Empowerment Channel: https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/150990/elections-and-maternity-mortality
#Elections, #inequities,#maternalmortality,#trump,#harris,#kamala,#brat,#coconut,#2024Presidentialelection, #teenstalk,
,teens,#expressyourself,#starstyle,#bethestaryouare,#cynthiabrian,#voiceamerica
RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOK: Books in the Barnyard: Oh Deer!. Available at www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store or www.StarStyleStore.net
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BTSYA IS A TOP ON PROFIT!
http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/be-the-star-you-are-inc/
BUY OUR BOOKS: Available at www.StarStyleStore.net
Details on all books at HomeTown Reads: https://hometownreads.com/books/be-the-star-you-are-millennials-to-boomers
Read our Newsletter:The Morning After: https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/the-morning-after?
Make a DONATION through PAYPAL GIVING FUND with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504
Or you can choose to make the donation using many different payment methods which may have fees via by Givebutter at https://givebutter.com/be-the-star-you-are-charity
Be The Star You Are! offers help, hope, and healing to victims of disasters. Read how BTSYA is Making a Difference: https://www.ibpa-online.org/news/460747/IBPA-Member-Spotlight-Cynthia-Brian.htm
“You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart.”-John Ford
Does your stomach turn into circles if you must give a speech? How do you react when you must debate someone? Our two teen hosts, Julia and Keerthi, are accomplished speakers and debaters and they have plenty of useful tips to keep you from “dying.” Julia recently gave a Tedx talk that had her jittering in her…
Today on Express Yourself! Teen Radio, we bring you a very special program celebrating the win of Be the Star You Are!® as the Top NONPROFIT of the YEAR. Hosts Sharanya, Keerthi, Saanvi Phaneendra, and Julia all had the honor of being in attendance at the awards ceremony where the mayor, Town Council, Chamber, and County Supervisors presented Be the Star You Are!® with several plaques and…
Celebrating Be the Star You Are!®, Winner of 2024 Nonprofit of the Year
Be the Star You Are!® NonProfit of the Year!
MIRACLE MOMENT®
StarStyle® Empowerment is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
“We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already.”~ J.K. Rowling
A MESSAGE from Founder/Executive Director, CYNTHIA…
