The Reading Garden Book Club: Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard

Where nature meets narrative, and stories grow in the open air

We’re excited to invite you to a new kind of book club — one that brings together readers, writers, and nature lovers in a space where words bloom and ideas grow.

Hosted in the open-air beauty of the Story Garden and other outdoor spaces, The Reading Garden Book Club meets monthly to explore books — both fiction and nonfiction — that celebrate, question, and deepen our relationship with the natural world. From poetic reflections and environmental memoirs to eco-fiction and land-based storytelling, our reading list will offer something for every curious and compassionate reader.

We encourage you to bring a journal! Many of our nonfiction selections will invite personal reflection and connection — to memory, place, and purpose. Jotting down thoughts, questions, or favorite lines will enrich our conversations and help you trace your own evolving relationship with nature.

Whether you’re an avid outdoor adventurer or someone who finds magic in a houseplant, this club is for anyone who wants to read more intentionally, reflect more deeply, and grow in community with others.

Join our launch meeting:

*Reading schedule will be a hybrid model. This approach allows space for reflection and flexibility for readers. Schedule will be based on the depth and complexity of each book

*Books will rotate between fiction and nonfiction, always with a focus on nature

September Book choice: Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne Simard: A groundbreaking memoir by the scientist who uncovered the hidden life of trees — revealing how they communicate, support one another, and form complex forest communities. Simard blends personal story with scientific discovery in a moving call to understand and protect our ecosystems.