Amazon com : How Alexa became the perfect gardening assistant

Learn how Alexa skills can help you grow your garden.

Brooke, an Amazon fulfillment center employee, recently opted to try a new hobby: gardening. While her initial journey proved challenging, she eventually realized a digital tool she used for support inside her home could also help her outside.

Read more about Brooke's venture into gardening, in her own words:

I decided to jump into gardening a few months ago. Life can get busy with work and everything else happening in the world, so I thought gardening would help me relax. To be honest, I had never gardened before. While I own an Echoand use Alexa to listen to music and podcasts, set alarms and timers, send announcementsto my boyfriend, Charlie, and for Routines, I had an epiphany one day that I could ask Alexa to help with gardening. I haven't looked back!

I found Carmen Johnston Gardens, an Alexa skill that allows you to connect with Carmen and learn her top tips to maximize your garden, shortly after I kicked off my new hobby. It's been a game changer. For background, my front yard shade planter was slowly and sadly dying. I realized I had been watering it too much. With Carmen's help, I learned how to bring life back to the planter. She explained in detail the appropriate container to use, her favorite and suggested plants, the best potting soil, and much more.

I love how Carmen shares tips and tricks, step by step, for whatever gardening needs I may have. She offers help with landscaping, indoor plants, and even recipes, among other things. For example, I started planting a vegetable garden in my backyard after I was graciously given a wooden vegetable bed. Carmen shared with me how to place my plants evenly and where, the importance of identifying and labeling each plant, and the benefit of using seed tape (I had no idea that was a thing before!). Because of Carmen, I realized that I should use a wire cage for cucumbers so they can grow up the trellis-who would've known? I can even ask Alexa to add all of the items that Carmen usesto my Amazon shopping cart for easy access.

With Carmen's help, my gardening journey has become much smoother, and fun. When I first started, I was constantly questioning myself. Was I watering too much or too little? What type of soil should I get for the vegetable bed? Should the plants be in part shade or full sun? Today, I've got a beautiful herb, fruit, and vegetable garden filled with lavender, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, and flora.

And Alexa made things infinitely easier and more convenient. Had I not asked Alexa, I don't think I would've learned about Carmen! There's so much to explore with Alexa and so many skills to try. While I've now tackled gardening, I'm already moving onto the next and can't wait to sharpen my cooking skills with the Food Network Kitchenand some treats from my garden.

Brooke at the gardening store.

Some more of the many plants Brooke tends.

Some more of the many plants Brooke tends.

Try asking Alexa to set a reminderto water your plants or how the weather is faring, and check out the many Alexa skills and featuresthat can support you with your new hobbies, whether gardening or beyond.

If you have a story of your own about how you use Alexa, we'd love to hear it and will continue sharing some of our favorite #AlexaStories. You can email usor tag us on Twitteror Instagram@alexa99 or #AlexaStories.

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