As Young as Spring by Veronica Jorge
March 22, 2026 by Veronica Jorge in category Write From the Heart by Veronica Jorge tagged as bloom, refresh, Spring, Veronica Jorge, youth
Don’t spend money on green drinks, wrinkle creams, and hair dyes to take out the grey. It’s Springtime. Immerse yourself in nature and rejuvenate!
And of course, read a book. Here are a few titles guaranteed to make you flower and bloom.
Paradise Under Glass: The Education of An Indoor Gardener by Ruth Kassinger relates the author’s personal story of loss and how she found emotional healing in creating an indoor garden.
The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly is the tale of three women in three different time periods and how the one garden they inhabit reveals secrets and changes lives.
The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl, art by Billy Renkl takes the reader on a journey through the four seasons asking us to stop and notice the natural world around us that will cleanse, redeem, and take our breath away.
The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. Did you know that trees talk to each other?! This book brings us into the secret world of how trees feel, how they communicate, support each other, share nutrients, and even warn each other of dangers.
For history enthusiasts, nature lovers, and those who enjoy learning new things American Canopy: Trees, Forest, and the Making of a Nation by Eric Rutkow, relates how trees were essential to the early years of the United States and contributed a great deal to the nation’s rise as an empire and as a civilization.
For the youngsters in your life consider the following picture books. (Adults will like them too. I certainly do.)
The Extraordinary Gardener by Sam Broughton, a story about a young boy seeking color in a dreary world. He plants a seed on his balcony and when he least expects it, something extraordinary happens.
All Around Us by Xelena Gonzalez, illustrated by Adraina M. Garcia, is a warm and tender intergenerational story of a grandfather teaching his granddaughter about our connection with the earth, the parts that we can and cannot see, and the amazing circle of life.
The Weedy Garden by Margaret Renkl, illustrated by Billy Renkl is a lavish spread of art and imagination as the reader explores a backyard filled with hungry squirrels, busy bumblebees and sleepy fireflies, among other wonderful creatures waiting to be discovered.
A good title for Women’s History Month and for Black History Month is, Bring Me Some Apples and I’ll Make You a Pie: A Story About Edna Lewis by Robin Gourley. Edna was a descendant of slaves who grew up to become a famous chef. In September of 2014, she was honored on a United States Postage Stamp as part of the Celebrity Chefs series. The book also includes a few kid-friendly recipes.
The Comic Book Guide to Growing Food by Joseph Tychonievish, illustrated by Liz Anna Kozik, is a graphic novel guide for ages 4-7, (I found it very helpful too), of how to grow a successful vegetable garden.
So, spend more time outdoors in nature this year. It can help to ease stress and diminish the worry lines and wrinkles on your face and forehead, and turn your frown downside up into a smile.
Take a walk and put a spring in your step.
Smell a flower; it’s a new perfume.
Sit in the yard or in a park and enjoy a free musical bird song concert. Or take a restful nap. Forty winks can work wonders.
And try planting a few seeds of comfort and hope in someone else’s life.
You’ll feel as young as Spring!
Veronica Jorge
See you next time on April 22nd!
Books Reviewed by Veronica
Veronica Jorge: January Featured Author
January 28, 2026 by Veronica Jorge in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley, Featured Author of the Month tagged as Featured author, Reviewed by Veronica Jorge, Veronica Jorge, Write from the heart
Manager, Educator, and former High School Social Studies teacher, Veronica credits her love of history to the potpourri of cultures that make up her own life and to her upbringing in diverse Brooklyn, New York.
Her genres of choice are historical fiction, where she always makes new discoveries, literary works because she loves beautiful writing, and children’s picture books because there are so many wonderful worlds yet to be imagined and visited.
She currently resides in Macungie, PA., but she’s still a Brooklyn girl at heart. How sweet it is!
Veronica’s story “Fiona Malone’s Fesh,” was featured in the Fall 2021 Issue of Bethlehem Writers Roundtable and is archived above.
In addition to her fiction, she has a monthly column, Write from the Heart, here on A Slice of Orange where she writes about writing, life and does book reviews.
Connect with her on Facebook @VeronicaJorgeauthor
Books Reviewed by Veronica
Veronica Jorge: January Featured Author
January 14, 2026 by Veronica Jorge in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley, Featured Author of the Month tagged as Featured author, Reviewed by Veronica Jorge, Veronica Jorge, Write from the heart
Manager, Educator, and former High School Social Studies teacher, Veronica credits her love of history to the potpourri of cultures that make up her own life and to her upbringing in diverse Brooklyn, New York.
Her genres of choice are historical fiction, where she always makes new discoveries, literary works because she loves beautiful writing, and children’s picture books because there are so many wonderful worlds yet to be imagined and visited.
She currently resides in Macungie, PA., but she’s still a Brooklyn girl at heart. How sweet it is!
Veronica’s story “Fiona Malone’s Fesh,” was featured in the Fall 2021 Issue of Bethlehem Writers Roundtable and is archived above.
In addition to her fiction, she has a monthly column, Write from the Heart, here on A Slice of Orange where she writes about writing, life and does book reviews.
Connect with her on Facebook @VeronicaJorgeauthor
Books Reviewed by Veronica
Veronica Jorge: January Featured Author
January 1, 2026 by Veronica Jorge in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley, Featured Author of the Month tagged as Featured author, Reviewed by Veronica Jorge, Veronica Jorge, Write from the heart
Manager, Educator, and former High School Social Studies teacher, Veronica credits her love of history to the potpourri of cultures that make up her own life and to her upbringing in diverse Brooklyn, New York.
Her genres of choice are historical fiction, where she always makes new discoveries, literary works because she loves beautiful writing, and children’s picture books because there are so many wonderful worlds yet to be imagined and visited.
She currently resides in Macungie, PA., but she’s still a Brooklyn girl at heart. How sweet it is!
Veronica’s story “Fiona Malone’s Fesh,” was featured in the Fall 2021 Issue of Bethlehem Writers Roundtable and is archived above.
In addition to her fiction, she has a monthly column, Write from the Heart, here on A Slice of Orange where she writes about writing, life and does book reviews.
Connect with her on Facebook @VeronicaJorgeauthor
Books Reviewed by Veronica
A New December by Veronica Jorge
December 22, 2025 by Veronica Jorge in category Write From the Heart by Veronica Jorge tagged as December, Pennies from Heaven, Veronica Jorge
The last of the leaves have fallen from the trees and covered the ground in colors of orange, yellow, red and green. Some remain to blanket the base of trees. Others are gathered by children and will spend their new lives warm indoors as works of art.
The last of the pinecones have dropped to the ground one by one. They may be transformed into decorations that will last for years to come in a cozy home, and perhaps be passed down through the generations, having a home forever.
As I consider the leaves and pinecones, I imagine a December where falling pinecones transform into food to feed the hungry, and leaves into fabric to clothe those in need.
I think of the song, Pennies from Heaven, and pray that from heaven may fall help, provision, mercy, and blessings upon all.
Veronica Jorge
See you next time on January 22nd!
Books Reviewed by Veronica
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