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: Inside Out
By Teresa Woodard Inspired by interior design ideas at a recent homes tour, I realized several could work just as well outdoors: Black furnishings and accents add drama outdoors. Lattice print fabrics for poufs, cushions and pillows fit perfectly in a garden...
Snapshots: Happy 4th of July!
Trendspotting: Blooming Rivers
By Teresa Woodard Imagine a river of blooming geraniums winding through your garden. At the keynote presentation at last week’s American Public Gardens Association conference, nurseryman Adrian Bloom shared his signature “river” designs. He’s created these rivers at...
Catch Us If You Can
September 2012 Michael Leach Michael will present "Celebrate the Seasons -- Make Your Garden Festive from Labor Day to Easter" at 3 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 9) at the Home & Garden Show and Holiday Fest at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. The show also features...
Guest Blog: Justin Hancock
Highlights from Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden The Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden® is one of the coolest corners of downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Located at BHG headquarters, the Test Garden is a half-acre display of new varieties mixed with tried-and-true...
Gardens to Drive For: Columbus, Ind.
By Michael Leach My childhood dream of becoming an architect ended when I failed pre-calculus twice, the second time despite tutoring. Yet I still harbor one dream from that freshman year in college: Explore the architectural treasure trove in Columbus, IN. Turns out...
The Dirt on Roots: Compost Magic
By Michael Leach More than 50 springs have passed since I began gardening but planting seeds remains my favorite part of the process. Science says germination results from the right combination of light, temperature, moisture, soil conditions and time. I don't know...
Garden Happenings: Garden Tours
Here's a quick way to steal gardening ideas 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 motivation to spruce up...
Favorite Flora: Serviceberry
By Debra Knapke What makes a plant desirable? The answer to that question varies with the gardener. Good fall color, beautiful flowers, winter interest, edible - tasty - parts, and wildlife attractor are attributes that come to mind. All of these can be found in...