Heartland Gardening bloggers
(left to right: Michael Leach, Debra Knapke and Teresa Woodard)
Michael Leach, Teresa Woodard, and I were in Indianapolis in 2011 attending a GWA – The Association of Garden Communicators – conference. After a garden writers workshop we went out to dinner. Not an easy thing to do in a city where three other conferences were also in session. Over the second bottle of wine, while waiting for our table, we decided to create a blog together. We not only launched the blog, Heartland Gardening, but developed deep friendships.
In June, 2021, Michael passed, Teresa became more involved with her writing – please look for her book American Roots and her next book, Garden to the Max which will be published in March 2025. And I became involved with projects that focus on care for the Earth and and all who live on it. Teresa and I felt that it was time to let our blog settle into an archive as a beautiful testament to three gardeners who shared their passion for plants, people, and collaboration.
Enjoy.
Plant Lust (Part 1)
Professional Conferences and Trade Shows = Plants, People and Gardens By Debra Knapke One of the joys of my profession is being surrounded by plants. Discovery of “new” plants is a main occupation at the...
Garden Tour Round-Up
Twelve Ideas You’ll Dig By Teresa Woodard Throughout the heartland this summer, private gardeners have graciously opened their garden gates for public garden tours. Whether it’s a pocket garden, estate landscape or suburban backyards, I always find plenty of...
Save time and work with no-till approach
By Michael Leach One of our readers, Rebecca Stultz, asked about bringing no-till farming practices into the home garden. This was in early March, just as the spring rush burst upon us. Thank you for your patience, Rebecca. We hope this guides you in making yours a...
City Parklets
A Big Idea for Pint-Sized Urban Green Spaces By Teresa Woodard Two Midwestern cities -- Chicago and Columbus -- are converting public parking spaces into postage-stamp-sized parks called “parklets.” And, thankfully, they’re outfitting them with plants and seating...
Pollinator Week
A Love Affair: Bumbles and Common Milkweed By Debra Knapke Every second and fourth Wednesday, the Governor’s Gardeners work in the Heritage Garden at the Ohio Governor’s Residence. The Heritage Garden is special and the only one of its kind in the United States. It...
16 Favorite Midwest Garden Tours
Check out this season’s garden tours for a bounty of inspiration. By Teresa Woodard This summer, garden gates across the Midwest will open to welcome guests for tours. In search of inspiration, I attend several tours and walk away with a list of ideas and renewed...
Asters, Sages and Milkweeds, Oh, My II
Pollinators and Plants for Pollinator-Friendly Gardens – Part 2 By Debra Knapke Last week, I introduced you to the pollinators in Part 1. Now, it's time for the pollinator plants . . . Let’s start with...
Asters, Sages & Milkweeds, Oh, My (I)
Pollinators and Plants for Pollinator-Friendly Gardens – Part 1 By Debra Knapke Pollinators and plants: a beautiful symbiotic relationship that is usually mutually beneficial. A plant gets to propagate...
Beautiful Brassicas
By Teresa Woodard Yes, I’ve planted flowering kale to add fall color to borders and containers, but I had no idea how amazing brassicas -- kales, cabbages, turnips, kohlrabi and mustards -- could look in the landscape until last week when I visited the spring display...