3 minute read
Cultivating Imagination: Botanical Buff Pens Children's Book
Caelan Crawford, center, with McIntire's owner Katie Ney and her dad Mark, founder of the garden center, who hosted Caelan's first book signing at McIntire's in December.
Growing up with a mother who was passionate about gardening, Caelan Crawford thought she knew everything about plants — until she began working at McIntire’s Garden Center.
The long-time Georgetown resident remembers how she and her siblings enjoyed learning about plants from their mom on their many field trips together throughout their homeschool years. “One of the many things my mom always tried to get us to do was value nature, animals, and the outdoors,” she says, adding, “I grew up coming to McIntire’s. I had my own garden and thought I knew a fair amount about plants.”
When Caelan went to work at McIntire’s, however, she realized how unprepared she was for the variety of plants she would encounter. “I’ll never forget one lady who asked, ‘Where are the Roses of Sharon and Rock Roses?’ I said, ‘Aren’t they all the same?’ ‘No, they’re not.’ I was learning so much every day.”
Something else she found surprising was that McIntire’s has a plant for every environment and gardener, even those without green thumbs “who kill all their plants."
Green Thumb to Pen
That accumulation of knowledge inspired Caelan to write and illustrate Meet Little Lizard, a children’s picture/story book about a lizard, her garden, and the many whimsical adventures she has with family and friends as she learns all about plants.
The book combines Caelan’s love of fantasy books and “all the beautiful things outside. Plus, I just love pretty little things that are simple. What better way to share that than with children who love pretty things that are simple? I can’t say how many kids would love to play with sticks rather than
MEET LITTLE LIZARD IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT MCINTIRE’S GARDEN CENTER AND STORE.BOOKBABY.COM .
toys, run around and scream instead of sitting quiet and sophisticated. Little Lizard is that. It’s simple, colorful, and bright.” It’s part of her goal in bringing this book to life, she says, “to bring joy to other people, to share knowledge and experience in a very bright, simplistic way.”
In Full Bloom
Caelan is already working on the second book in the Adventures with Little Lizard series and plans to host two book signings for Meet Little Lizard in the next few months at McIntire’s and Sugar Shack in Bastrop. Follow Caelan on Facebook and Instagram for book signing updates.
