Welcome to Cultivar 🌿
The word ‘cultivar’ in horticulture is a combination of the words ‘cultivate’ and ‘variety’, and that’s what I’m trying to do in this current phase of life: to cultivate variety.
Cultivation is about preparing land and growing crops, yes, but it’s also about developing and improving things, making them stronger.
Variety can be defined as the characteristic of often changing and being different.
This speaks to me at a time in life when I’m trying to figure out two quite important questions: Who am I now? and What do I want from the second half of my life?
I’m trying not to use the words ‘midlife crisis’ but there’s a definite shift going on… a transition from one state of being to another, and I don’t think I’ll be the same person, or doing the same things, or aiming for the same goals as I used to.
So this newsletter is about looking for ways to find change, improvement, hope, light, in the messy middle bit of life which can feel heavy and monotonous and relentless. It’s about coming out the other side connected with yourself and the world around you, and maybe even some kind of higher power.
I’m Julianne, and I’m pictured below in my favourite place - my back garden, where I grow flowers and vegetables and generally try to soak up sunshine and nature. I live in Dundee in Scotland.
I’m a writer, podcaster, content creator and amateur photographer, and I specialise in horticulture, nature, wellbeing and sustainability - so these are the topics you’ll find here in Cultivar.
It’s a work in progress - I plan to share audio, words and images to inspire creativity and connection, and I hope you’ll join the Cultivar community to share your own thoughts and experiences.
subscriptions
My weekly gardening and nature themed posts are currently available to all subscribers; those who pay (weekly or annually) will also have access to a longer-form personal monthly essay and other bonus material as this newsletter develops.
Whatever your subscriber status, thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy Cultivar, and that it helps you to feel connected to the world around you 💚
