Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired Book Awards
Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired was named on of Aspire Magazine's Top 10 Inspiring Books. In addition, it received the 2026 IPPY Gold Medal for Outstanding Book of the Year in the Inspirational/Spiritual category from the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards), one of the publishing industry's most respected competitions recognizing excellence in independence publishing.
Gardening Through a Heat Wave: A Few Tips for You – and Your Garden
When temperatures climb into the 90s and beyond, even the toughest gardeners (and plants!) need a little extra care. Here are a few ways to help your garden survive the heat.
Seasonal Videos and Images From My Backyard
Thought I would share some nature images from my garden.
The Original World Wide Web is Hiding in Your Soil
Right now, beneath your freshly laid June mulch, a massive, underground gossip network is buzzing. While you are busy checking your phone notifications, your tomatoes, marigolds, and oak trees are actively texting each other.
Let’s Talk About Rain
There are few things in nature more universally loved, misunderstood, romanticized, and complained about, than rain. Gardeners pray for it. Children dance in it. Dogs reluctantly endure it.
Signs You’ve Become a Garden Person
You check the weather more often than your bank account. There’s no going back. The garden has claimed you. Welcome to the club!
A Completely Natural Celebration
There are holidays that make perfect sense - Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, the first warm day you can finally sit outside with coffee and pretend you have your life together. And then… there is World Naked Gardening Day.
Peonies: A Practical Guide to Growing, Caring, and Enjoying Them
Here is a photo I took on April 28, 2026 of one of the peonies in my garden, called Coral Charm.
Wonder changes everything – 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
https://pod.link/1448210728/episode/NWQxYmYwZmUtMmZkOS0xMWYxLWI1MWQtZmYyMWQ0MTY3OGM0 instagram.com@1000hoursoutside https://www.facebook.com/1000hoursoutside https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/
Living a Life Full of Wonder and Joy
I often give talks about the emotions of wonder and joy, and how our connections with nature, each other, and with “something bigger,” positively impact our health and wellbeing.
MY BOOK
Click the image below to buy the book.
Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer (AKA Mother Nature’s Apprentice) is an epidemiologist, researcher, nurse practitioner, adjunct professor, and popular guest speaker. She is also a Master Gardener, Certified Home Horticulturalist, and conservationist who has won several awards for gardening, landscaping, and creating sustainable wildlife habitats. Pam has an earned Ph.D, an MSN, an MBA, and has just written her first book on wonder, joy, and well-being. It will be available in the August of 2025. In her blog, Pam enjoys writing about topics related to gardening, health, nature and the environment, quirky science, and life.
