Garden Coaching in the New York Times

by Susan Harris, originally published June 15, 2007.

Check out this story about us in today's Times, on page 1 of their Escapes section.  I like that, the notion of escaping to the garden. 

Two months after I was first interviewed and long after I'd thought the editor had nixed the whole idea, the article appears and I get to meet some of my competition - coaches in New York and Seattle.  I'm hoping the publicity will turn others on to the idea of garden coaching, either to become one or hire one because MAN, is it ever needed.

On page 2 of the story I'm quoted as saying this about an old grape holly:  "You don't like it.  It doesn't look good there.  Take it out."  Tough love, folks.  That's what coaches are for.

Now for a few behind-the-scenes thoughts.

• The status of that particular paper is such that the mere mention of being interviewed or photographed by the Times seems to fill people with awe and predictions of great things to come. (We'll see about that.)
• The client with whom I was photographed and who is also quoted in the story is the charming Kay Meek of Silver Spring, MD.  I'd been asked to recommend a few "advanced gardeners" among my clients, and she totally fit the bill.  I'm only sorry the photo chosen doesn't show more of her fabulous garden, which I showed in this post.
• The very nice photographer got us to do the damnest things - some very cheesy, almost cheek-to-cheek shots, some weird arms-folded shots - and I'm just glad the editor chose a photo that needs no 'splaining.  And if you mouse over it you'll see it's titled "Gardenwomen" which has a nice sisterhood feel to it.
• My brazen attempt to get my coaching site's URL used resulted in a big no-show - and after I'd added a Coach Near You page and everything.  But I like the page; I like spreading the coaching thing because I'm seeing how much people can be helped by hiring an experienced gardener for even an hour or two. 

Photo by the very nice, very persuasive Jamie Rose for the New York Times.

Two months after I was first interviewed and long after I'd thought the editor had nixed the whole idea, the article appears and I get to meet some of my competition - coaches in New York and Seattle.  I'm hoping the publicity will turn others on to the idea of garden coaching, either to become one or hire one because MAN, is it ever needed.

On page 2 of the story I'm quoted as saying this about an old grape holly:  "You don't like it.  It doesn't look good there.  Take it out."  Tough love, folks.  That's what coaches are for.

Now for a few behind-the-scenes thoughts.

• The status of that particular paper is such that the mere mention of being interviewed or photographed by the Times seems to fill people with awe and predictions of great things to come. (We'll see about that.)
• The client with whom I was photographed and who is also quoted in the story is the charming Kay Meek of Silver Spring, MD.  I'd been asked to recommend a few "advanced gardeners" among my clients, and she totally fit the bill.  I'm only sorry the photo chosen doesn't show more of her fabulous garden, which I showed in this post.
• The very nice photographer got us to do the damnest things - some very cheesy, almost cheek-to-cheek shots, some weird arms-folded shots - and I'm just glad the editor chose a photo that needs no 'splaining.  And if you mouse over it you'll see it's titled "Gardenwomen" which has a nice sisterhood feel to it.
• My brazen attempt to get my coaching site's URL used resulted in a big no-show - and after I'd added a Coach Near You page and everything.  But I like the page; I like spreading the coaching thing because I'm seeing how much people can be helped by hiring an experienced gardener for even an hour or two. 

Photo by the very nice, very persuasive Jamie Rose for the New York Times.