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.
Trendspotting: Thrift-shop containers
By Teresa Woodard Lou Killilea, owner of DeMoyne's Greenhouse in Columbus, Ohio, recently shared her clever succulent containers for a story, "Thrift Shop Chic", in Ohio Gardener, Missouri Gardener, Indiana Gardener, Wisconsin Gardener and Pennsylvania Gardener. She...
Garden Celebrations
By Teresa Woodard Graduation parties, garden weddings and backyard family reunions – there’s nothing like a milestone event to motivate you to get your garden in peak shape. For me, the planning for our...
Favorite Flora: Rosemary
By Debra Knapke What is it about rosemary that is so compelling? Its deep, woodsy, piney fragrance? The blue flowers that open in June/July and in December just before Christmas? Its 8-10’ by 8-10’ shrubby habit in zone 7 and warmer climes? All of the above?...
Favorite Flora: Memorial Day bouquets
By Michael Leach I wonder how many people take family heirlooms to the cemetery on Memorial Day? These are blossoms from plants handed down from one generation to the next. Most gardens have such plants. Felder Rushing, a Mississippi gardener and writer, calls them...
Gardens to Drive For: Open Garden Days
By Michael Leach Summertime is coming and that means house and garden tours, a wonderful chance to see how other people live and garden. Tour hosts are to be greatly commended for spending countless hours and perhaps...
Book Notes: Seed Underground
The Seed Underground: A Growing Revolution to Save Food -- Janisse Ray, Chelsea Green Publishing, 2012. Reviewed by Teresa Woodard I am planting seeds today with a renewed appreciation for their diversity, cultural heritage and important role in our food supply –...
Catch Us If You Can: Deb Knapke
Congratulations to our "Garden Sage" Debra Knapke who shares her passion for herb gardening in this month's Ohio Magazine. On June 22, she will be teaching about herbs as part of the Ohioana Library Association’s “Back to the Garden on Gahanna’s Herbal Trail” tour. ...
Garden Happenings: Plant Sales
By Teresa Woodard The plant-buying frenzy is about to begin, and there’s no better place for one-of-a-kind plants and great gardening advice than a public garden’s plant sale. Besides, the sales generate significant income...
Four Reasons You HAVE to Garden
By Michael Leach When my sister and I were little and driving Mother crazy with noisy indoor play, she'd shout, "You kids need to go outside and get the stink blowed off." Turns out she was right, as mothers usually are. Except she had no idea of the benefits of being...