Danielle Shelton Walczak
banner
daniellewalczak.bsky.social
Danielle Shelton Walczak
@daniellewalczak.bsky.social
I write about #garden poisons and history, and middle grade mysteries; #Gardener; #doggonebookshop owner; recovering litigator.
What about my drooping hydrangea? This heat is killing me!
The summer heat might not be the only reason for your drooping hydrangeas. bit.ly/4leNJVK
July 6, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Read to be reading. Not every hobby has to turn into a capitalist venture. And we wonder why we’re exhausted and tired all the time.
Are you trying to keep up with the #booksky #bookstagram #booktok mega readers and influencers? Don’t! It’s capitalism masquerading as something we love.
🤓 Read what you want to read, 🕰️ When you want to read it.
📖 The newest doesn’t meant better.

This is a PSA from Dog Gone Books.
July 6, 2025 at 2:56 PM
My family’s southern roots clearly took hold long ago for this northern woman. I named our small cottage house in the city, years ago!! How was i going to have a garden for an unnamed house?? I wasn’t. Now i need to
to take it up a notch with a personalized logo. On it!
May 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
If only i had a book like this growing up. The gardens i would have grown at a much younger age… [ she says wistfully].
May 21, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Here we are talking about stinging nettles. Amateurs. All of us! #gardeners #gardening #poisonplants
Share a plant fact. It doesn't need to be obscure! (Photos optional.) 🌱

Gympie-gympie "is one of the world’s most poisonous plants. A slight brush with its leaves is enough to deliver unimaginable pain that has been described as 'like being burnt with hot acid and electrocuted at the same time.'"
May 16, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Do you know what this is? This is a horse chestnut, not to be confused with the non-poisonous sweet chestnut. Nature is such a wonder. If you roast this on an open fire, it could be your last. #nature #gardening #gardens
May 3, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Today’s mantra: There’s no one to impress. So calm down and rest.
If my dog can do it, so can you!!
May 3, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Been there. Often times when our plans blow up, life comes through the whole and asks “Are you interested is something better and more exciting?” Just in case you’re confused, answer “Yes!!!!” despite the fear.
April 30, 2025 at 9:32 PM
These are Peruvian Lillies (alstroemeria).You can find them in grocery stores. Beautiful. Did you know they’re naturally unscented. What you may not know is that more and more flowers are losing their scent due to prioritization of durability in transport & vase life in breeding. So Buy local.
April 30, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Last Sunday i got to geek out and attend a live stream of Lucy Worsley’ (follow on Substack) interview Annie Gray about the history of food. There’s nothing i’m more interested in than garden related murders and the food history, esp recipes. I have the pre-1960s cookbook collection to prove it!
April 13, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Just a little light garden planning reading this Sunday! Always so much hope in the late winter ❄️
March 2, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Visited one of my favorite independent bookshops today (besides my own). Happy to see it’s still welcoming all people through its book offerings. Love Avant Garden books. #bibliophile
February 17, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Happy Valentine’s Day!
February 15, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Focusing on love today is what the dr ordered. A bright focus in chaos. But at the bookstore we acknowledge there are many types of love for all people (we carry books in it). That’s okay. No matter what anyone says.
Love Blossoms in Many Forms
It’s Valentine’s Day! For some this is a day that provides a wonderful excuse to focus on love with your partner. For others it’s a celebration of friendships. Galentine’s Day anyone? For other’s it...
doggonebookshop.tumblr.com
February 15, 2025 at 2:24 AM
It’s all so overwhelming or can be. We all need a safe space to retreat for a little bit, frequently.
How to Find Refuge in a Scary World
There is a lot going on the world right now. Much of it is troubling. Some of it we’re viewing from afar. Some of it is right in our backyards. It may seem that divisiveness is the basis of culture. I...
doggonebookshop.tumblr.com
February 13, 2025 at 1:41 AM
This is what garden and botany obsession looks like. It’s not enough to garden and write stories from the garden, you need to spend your free time playing at creating a garden and learning about plant species, especially the poisonous ones!
February 11, 2025 at 11:27 PM