"It isn't everyone who takes joy in watching plants live and grow. Gardeners were once the heart and soul of peoples' very survival. But lately, it isn't the first choice of hobby for most. Even so, it should not surprise anyone that my mother reached the level of Master. The careful tending of plants is an extension of a professional life doing the very same thing, only for children. She's truly mastered the art of tending to the many tangled roots, thorny thickets, poison ivy, and perennials that represent the spectrum of human experience and the potential within us all. Here's a glimpse of her life in shared memories, thoughts, and pauses, as we all make our way together to that lovely patch of wildflowers in Tennessee or on the salty streets of Mystic Seaport or walking in the woods on the way to the top of the mountain. This is a family podcast developed for my mother Joellen Groves Woodworth on her birthday. Each episode with different close family members highlights memories and shared stories from her life of gardening souls and soil. Hearts and roots. The impact that one person can make is vast and how frequently we forget. I want my mother to know.....hear and feel the impact of her steadfast devotion to her family, and how her gardening has had an impact on all of us and how sincerely we appreciate all that you do. Much Love MOM!" Artwork by Sara Eloise Lacy