Gardening is a joy for me. But it’s never been about me posting selfies of me in my garden or running around posting selfies in a perfect summer frock with perfect summer hair and make up and sandals. Lately I have been seeing this trend on Instagram that can only be described as those who want to be garden influencers.

Now I’m not talking about Monty Don or even Martha Stewart who have earned their gardening stripes, i’m talking about a younger set offering tips, which is fine, but it’s the little Vanna White summer outfits and things to buy on Amazon with just a click that are getting to me.

I’m talking about also the fact that they’re not just gardening. They are doing influencer stuff, but you have to ask is that really going to benefit my garden?

Like this cute young thing in Connecticut. I have no problems with pretty young women gardening, but I find it somewhat unrealistic to do it with your rings on like your good wedding band and engagement ring, makeup, a full manicure and a strapless dress or little strapless two piece with hair always flowing everywhere.



And then, if that’s not enough, if you follow her page, you can go to her Amazon influencer things which means she’s getting a piece of the action every time you buy one of those items, including many cheap summer dresses.

Now, apparently, she is a master gardener. That used to impress me until I met some master gardeners other than friends whom I found were rather unpleasant and downright snobby towards homegrown gardeners like myself. Apparently only they are ones who are worthy of opining on things horticulture. You can’t learn and read and do your own studies apparently.

I would say I’ve never met a master gardener who gardens in a strapless dress with strappy sandals. To some people I think getting a master gardener certification is just to say they have it, not necessarily to actually use it in the manner in which it is intended. (A note here is I can do without fan Mail from Master Gardeners who are outraged by my post at this point. If you’re a real gardener, you get where I’m going.)

Now I will admit, I occasionally have been caught outside gardening in my nightgown or PJs, hence the title of this blog which was suggested by my friend Jess, when I started it. But you’re not going to see me gardening in full make up hair flowing with a perfect manicure with my rings on. It’s just common sense that I wouldn’t.

How many gardeners out there who are women have lost earrings in the garden? Heck, I’ve lost entire hand trowels in the garden only to find them a season or two later.

When I garden, I’m not looking necessarily like a homeless person, but it’s not about being a fashion plate is it? Or is it now? There is this trend of Gen X gardening influencers and I first was alerted to it ironically on a noon broadcast from the local ABC affiliate 6ABC.

These folks are known as gardenfluencers. How’s that for an absurd term in addition to the hair and make up and nails and jewelry and strapless dresses, etc. on these mostly women who do this? I’m looking at gardens that I don’t believe are actually theirs in some cases or I don’t believe they do much of the work, and perhaps have people that do it for them. And don’t tell me those picture perfect lawns came to be without chemicals.

Am I just missing pit? I should be doing my hair and nails before I go out into the garden? And then maybe I should just hold up tools that obviously have never been used and take their picture!

And again, I’m not saying you have to look like a drudge to be in the garden. What I am saying is this is all a little too staged. At 61 I do not do everything myself. I never have, but the majority of things I still continue to do myself. Things I can’t reach like pruning trees and super tall bushes I get help with. Weeding and mulching, I get help with when I can because it’s backbreaking work and two knee surgeries later I do have to think about things.

Do I wear sundresses sometimes to garden in? Yes but they’re definitely not strapless. They come from the Vermont Country Store. They’re ridiculously simple A-Line. They are also 100% cotton so they breathe.

Oh and I don’t earn any money off of telling you where I got a simple A-line summer cotton sundress. This isn’t me influencing, this is me saying where I have found old school cotton sundresses. I have been treated multiple times for skin cancer at this point so I don’t do strapless or sleeveless. Everything has at least a short sleeve.

I try not to wear sundresses while gardening because they get trashed with dirt because you know I’m actually digging in the dirt and pruning things and stuff.

I also have a very assortment of cropped pants for the garden and T-shirts. Given the bugs I tend not to wear things that are too short otherwise my legs get eaten alive, even when I spray repellent before I go out into the garden. Sometimes if I’m feeling extra daring, I go outside without a bra. (Shocking I know, right?)

I definitely don’t wear make up, and my nails are so trashed by this point in the summer even wearing gloves, that there are no perfect manicures. I wear hats. And sunscreen. It’s not glamor kitty time.

We’ve had a lot of rain and then before the rain we had a lot of heat. I should be feeding the roses again, but I have to give it a minute. I literally have so much going on in my garden right now that I don’t even have the time if I wanted to have somebody follow me around videoing pruning tips. There is not time for a perfect little sundress with strappy heeled sandals, perfect hair not pulled back into a ponytail, and a manicure and jewelry.

When I’m out there, I’m not thinking would this make a good TikTok or Instagram reel, I am wondering if I have so many flowers that there are too many buzzing stinging things. Today I was wondering if my hyndrangeaa in pots made my pots look small.

I do my best with my garden, but it’s definitely not perfectly manicured. And it is most definitely a layered garden.

Things that are important to me? Having four seasons of interest in places on all sides. Right now I’m really excited because I’ve got more roses opening and lilies and hydrangeas.

And this whole influencer thing just bothers me. It had already bothered me in the realm of restaurants because these influencers are being given something to go to a restaurant. Maybe they get a fee or maybe they get free meals. But they don’t say either way. And there again it’s the ridiculous outfits and ridiculous poses often with food hanging out of their mouths, which is just gross.

Now this is bleeding over into the garden. Gosh, I’ve been a test garden for example for a couple of plants over the years, but I bought the plants and then just agreed to follow along and help them determine how the plant was doing in my zone, in my garden climate, etc.

I actually give away a couple hundred ostrich ferns a season because they grow so voluminously in my shade beds and woodland gardens.

If I tell you about a plant, or a mail order nursery , or a brick and mortar nursery, a bulb catalog, or a service, or even a plant food it’s because I have paid for it. I’m not telling you about something because I’ve been given it in an attempt to influence other gardeners.

That’s not why you garden.

That’s not why I garden.

I post about my garden because it brings me pleasure and I like to share my garden. But I am definitely not profiting off of my garden.

So now I’m going out for a little end of the day stroll around my garden. It’s finally cooler and not as humid. my beloved little greenhouse took a hit during a thunderstorm a few days ago. I think it’s going to have to be replaced and then I have some plants still to plant.

I reworked a bed in the back a couple of days ago and got attacked by yellow jackets or hornets in the process. They got me in the rear from my left butt cheek down to the end of my thigh.

The past few days have been special.

Let me know how your garden grows