In The Press

“For this reader, the whole of the book cannot be consumed in one or two sittings. Reading a few of the essays, and taking time to think about them, is enlightening. Admittedly, some spark recognition of my life and experiences more than others. I suspect though, that I will return to many of them more than once, as life, flora, and fauna change daily. Especially in 2020, this is a resource for mind, character, spirit, and love. We can all use life lessons for peace and tranquility.”
—Santiva Chronicle

“Charlene takes us on a journey with delightful stories of wisdom, trust, and forgiveness in The Twelve Gifts from the Garden. Stopping and listening inwardly, she attunes to the wisdom of the plants, trees, and gardens she encounters on a small island off the coast of Florida. The beauty in the silence and the wisdom received from attuning to nature points us to the beautiful gift of life itself. Charlene’s book is lovely and insightful.”
—Drs. Ron & Mary Hulnick, founding faculty and co-directors of the University of Santa Monica

“The Twelve Gifts from the Garden invites us to see the beauty of Sanibel through the imaginative perspective of its author. While taking readers on a journey through lush tropical greenery, Charlene Costanzo offers parables of life and love that will last a lifetime. This is a lovely gift to give to oneself and to others.”
—Charles Sobezak, author of Living Sanibel: A Nature Guide to Sanibel and Captiva Islands, The Living Gulf Coast, and Six Mornings on Sanibel 

“Reading The Twelve Gifts from the Garden brought me to a state of deep peace with a greater sense of well-being. Although I have not been to the botanical garden on the island, I have visited Sanibel several times. Between my own experiences on that sanctuary island and Charlene's descriptions, which I found to be reverent, vivid, and whimsical, I felt virtually transported into the garden that inspires her. Her stories resonated with my own, stirred my hope and wonder, and inspired me to more deeply appreciate the natural world. What I find most satisfying in her writing is how she weaves together the qualities she sees in plants, with the natural resources in us, and her own life experiences in a way that comforts, uplifts, and encourages readers to pay attention to Mother Nature. Charlene, as did the ancient ones in the wisdom traditions, encourages us to take lessons from nature, to look beyond first impressions, to engage in the felt experience of how nature feeds, enriches, and nourishes us. Charlene helps us to think in a more contemplative way. She will inspire you to notice what resonates within you, to listen and feel for your own insights when visiting the green places around you. Her life-affirming messages are timeless and timely. This is a book I'll be gifting to others.”
—Ken Nelson, PhD, mind-body educator, wellness consultant, and senior teacher at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. Author of Life-Changing Workshops and founder and director of PowerfulWorkshops.com

 “Twelve Gifts from the Garden is a joyful read bursting with the beauty of nature and reflections of lessons learned in life. I have been a fan of Charlene Costanzo’s daily emails and books for many years. Most mornings, reading her reflections gives me goosebumps because they are like having a cup of coffee with God. They are what I would imagine God would be saying to me in that moment because Charlene's reflections would be in line with what I prayed the night before. This is a wonderful book to gift yourself and others!”
—Gina La Benz, author of Anchor Moments: Hope, Healing, and Forgiveness 

“This book is a feast, a dream, a wondrous adventure. Gift yourself with this exquisite collection of stories by Charlene Costanzo and you will feel transported from start to finish. Charlene is our gentle guide through inner and outer landscapes filled with meandering paths, curious questions, and colorful surprises. Along the way, you’ll meet black butterflies, beautyberry plants, pom pom palms—and, most importantly, your own inner garden. Our lives are fleeting gifts; Costanzo reminds us of this with every perfectly crafted sentence along this enchanting journey of a book.”
—Sherry Richert Belul, founder of Simply Celebrate and author of Say It Now: 33 Creative Ways to Say I Love You to the Most Important People in Your Life

“With the wonder of a child, the introspection of a mature woman, and the wisdom of the elders, Charlene Costanzo inspires us to discover the hidden treasures of nature as we make our way through this journey called life. In The Twelve Gifts from the Garden, her accounts of the blessings that she has gleaned from her journey move us to wonder. They arouse joyful anticipation of the blessings awaiting us on our own journeys. It is said that there are those who live in a constant state of amazement. This clearly describes Charlene Costanzo and those who follow her lead.”
—Gloria Gaynor, singer, Grammy Award-winner for “I Will Survive” and “Testimony” and author of I Will Survive: The Book and We Will Survive: True Stories of Encouragement, Inspiration, and the Power of Song