About the Book

In Soulful Sanctuaries, Janaki Sandy Gaal—known as “The Rose Lady”—invites readers to reimagine gardens of any size as places of renewal, healing, and connection to the natural world. Blending practical gardening wisdom, meditative practices, and heartfelt storytelling, this richly photographed book offers a meaningful approach to cultivating an outdoor space that feels personal, restorative, and spiritually alive.

Drawing on decades of experience as an organic gardener, garden designer, and consulting rosarian, Janaki shares guidance on organic gardening, year-round cultivation, and creating garden altars that reflect each reader’s own intentions and beliefs. Featuring photography by her daughter, Rebecca Gaal, Soulful Sanctuaries is both an inspiring guide and a keepsake gift book rooted in family, beauty, and spiritual practice.
Here’s what makes Soulful Sanctuaries meaningful:

  • Mindful Gardening for Every Space: Helps readers turn gardens of any size into places to slow down, reconnect, and cultivate meaning.
  • Practical Organic Gardening Wisdom: Includes sustainable practices, year-round cultivation, and insights from Janaki’s experience as a consulting rosarian.
  • Spiritual Practices Made Personal: Offers meditative practices, intention-setting, and guidance for creating garden altars.
  • A Beautiful Keepsake Gift Book: Rebecca Gaal’s photography creates an immersive experience for gardeners, spiritual seekers, and anyone seeking a more restorative living space.

Soulful Sanctuaries is a mindful gardening book and spiritual gardening guide for readers interested in sacred spaces, organic gardening, garden sanctuaries, meditation, and connecting more deeply with nature.

Meet the Author

Janaki Sandy Gaal knew from a young age that she wanted to relieve suffering. First as an ICU nurse and later as an Organic gardener, Garden Designer and Consulting Rosarian, she learned that helping others connect with the beauty of nature inspired an irreplaceable kind of joy. She lives on Maui surrounded by Ohana.

Meet the Photographer

Rebecca Gaal is a photographer and creative strategist trained in public health and environmental science. Rebecca is a Fujifilm X photographer, contributor at Tandem Stills and Motion, Creative Director at MAHERY (Madagascar Health and Environmental Research), and leads the Special Projects division for Visura. She is also a member of Women Photograph, Her Wild Vision, and on the Board of Directors for the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network. Rebecca’s work has been published internationally in numerous outlets, including National Geographic, The American Scholar, Fujifilm, Adobe, and the Harvard University Center for the Environment. She currently lives in Ventura, California.

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