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.
Cincinnati Blooms!
A million blossoms transform Cincinnati into a floral capital this weekend By Michael Leach The Cincinnati Flower Show’s orchids, bird of paradise, jasmine, gardenia, zinnias and hundreds of other types of flowers delight ...
A World of Blooms
The 2016 Cincinnati Flower Show Celebrates Flowers of Sister Cities By Michael Leach The Cincinnati Flower Show is a dangerous event for all shades of green thumbs, the Pinterest-pixilated and those desperate to do...
Chicago Flower & Garden Show
Eight Garden Trends Spotted on Navy Pier By Teresa Woodard At the Chicago Flower and Garden Show this week at Navy Pier, visitors are gaining a sneak peek at upcoming trends for the Midwest's 2016 gardening season....
Favorite Edibles: Wild Ginger
Dreaming of a Mid-Summer Bounty of Home-grown Immature Ginger By Debra Knapke Two years ago I purchased “baby” ginger at the Worthington Farmers Market (Worthington, Ohio) from Swainway Urban Farm. The immature rhizomes were pearly white with rose accents. The...
The Kiss of the Sun for Pardon
By Michael Leach Winter brings special magic to the garden. Visions of snowy branches, frosty twigs and bluish moon shadows on clear frigid nights come to mind. But sunshine is part of the potion. In this part of the Midwest, winter sunlight can be a...
Trendspotting: Outdoor Living 2016
Naturescapes, edibles and soothing hues round out this season's trends at Columbus Home & Garden Show which wraps up today at Ohio Fairgrounds. The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) announced...
Garden Year Round (Almost)
Cold frames, row covers extend the growing season By Michael Leach Perhaps a pinch of pixie dust would make cold frame gardening more appealing. Cold frames, solar-heated grow boxes, are as utilitarian as shovels and trash cans. Mine, constructed of salvaged bricks...
Catch Us If You Can
Upcoming Talks and Stories for Heartland Gardening Bloggers The Heartland Gardening bloggers have a busy spring ahead. Catch them at the following events and look for their stories in the following magazines: Debra Knapke Feb. 14: Debra will present two...
Michael’s Guest Blog on Gardening Know How
Check out Michael’s guest blog (January 20) at Gardening Know How and learn that it’s OK to sit down in the garden and let it nurture you. Gardening Know How helps novice and seasoned gardeners discover easy ways of cultivating the passion of growing everything from...