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.
Hope Taft Champions Native Plants
One of Hope Taft's favorite garden chores is caring for the Heritage Garden's water garden. By Michael Leach Those of us at Heartland Gardening have long admired Hope Taft, Ohio’s visionary former first lady. Debra has worked with her for many years in the Heritage...
Celebrating Ohio Native Plants
By Michael Leach Today we are helping launch April as Ohio Native Plant Month, with a post about how this became Ohio law. In a few days, we’ll share an interview with Hope Taft, former Ohio first lady, who not only helped make this happen, but has long been a...
Green And Beyond
Bloggers share favorite colors in the garden By Debra Knapke, Michael Leach and Teresa Woodard Green for Debra: What do my car, the accent walls in my house, the wallpaper in the dining area, and most of my clothes have in common? The tints, tones and shades of...
Adjusting to Spring Time
Snowdrops, as their name implies, aren’t afraid of being among the first blooms of the year. By Michael Leach My garden spends months waiting to exhale into green tips and tiny blossoms. This breath of life is held captive all winter beneath a crust of cold, wet soil,...
Natural Beauty
A Border Brings Splendor and Pollinators By Teresa Woodard Two years ago, Debra and I had the opportunity to revamp an outdated 85-foot border with a natural-style one at the entrance of Hidden Creek, a 600-acre conservation development west of Columbus. While the...
Book Notes
From Orchids and Weeds to Succulents By Debra Knapke So often you hear books are a thing of the past, but there is no sign of that in my home. Winter – quiescent garden, staying indoors, wearing soft sweaters – sparks the need to settle into a good book while holding...
Garden Resolution Fail
"Bonsai" Brussel Sprouts New Year’s garden goals already at risk By Michael Leach This year I resolve to give up vegetable gardening. Too often I’ve been victimized by foolish, optimistic voices (usually the loudest and most persistent is in my head). But no...
Growing Gratitude
Gardeners harvest more than flowers and food By Michael Leach Plants star as Thanksgiving Day traditions. From cranberries to pumpkins, flora rivals fauna when it comes to menu musts on festive dinner tables. Gardeners value flora for more than traditions. Those of us...
Flower Power
America in Bloom Communities Flourish By Teresa Woodard Across the country, flowers are transforming downtowns, attracting tourists to once sleepy river towns and becoming the centerpiece of communities' destination events. And, for the past 18 years, America in Bloom...