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.
A Mother’s Day Gift
A Mother's Day gift that keeps giving is this pink dogwood along the driveway. The yellow shrub is Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora.' Special trees, like dogwoods, take root in your heart By Michael Leach The affair started with the first glance and continues almost a half...
Catch Me If You Can
Debra Knapke on the Spot at Chadwick Plant Sale! It’s plant sale time and you will find me in the role of plant ambassador at the Chadwick Arboretum Sale on Friday morning from 8 to 11 a.m. I will be there to answer questions and find plants that will work in your...
Happy Arbor Day
My dad with an 150-year-old European beech at Lawnfield, the home of President Garfield in Mentor, Ohio. Honoring The Giving Trees By Debra Knapke In her March 27th post, Teresa offered a wonderful selection of books for children. One was The Giving Tree. Shel...
Spring Garden Chores
Plan Your Work And Play For Spring Spring usually goes from: “It’s never, never, never going to arrive” to “I’m weeks behind schedule” in 17 nano seconds or less. Gardeners are body-slammed from the tedium of winter house arrest into a frantic, aching rush tackling...
Children’s Books Plant Seeds
By Teresa Woodard With this week’s launch of Joanna Gaines’ book “We Are the Gardeners,” I’m reminded of the joys of reading garden-themed picture books. Their beautiful illustrations and engaging stories appeal to kids of all ages – including big kids like me. As a...
No Waiting on Spring
Tips for Forcing Blooms Indoors By Michael Leach Buds are nature’s promise that spring is coming — eventually. Pussy willow catkins and plump star magnolia buds practically shout spring long before they bloom. Butif you’re like me, waiting for spring seems...
Mushrooms: Flowers of the Forest
Yes, some food foragers hunt for mushrooms to savor, but I seek out these "flowers of the forests" for other reasons -- the thrill of the hunt, the chance to photograph their beauty and the puzzle of finding their ID. I wasn’t always this way. My first introductions...
Ohio Friend Debuts at Philadelphia Flower Show
“All Along the Watch Tower“- a design by Nick McCullough for the Philadelphia Flower Show – March 2-10, 2019 By Debra Knapke We often look back on a person’s career and think we see the pivotal career-moment: “Ah, this is where it happened”. But Nick McCullough is...
Favorite Valentine Flowers
Choosing a favorite flower to share for Valentine’s Day is a difficult task. Dozens could be given with a list of reasons for each. But we’re trying to keep this simple. Perhaps it’s best to say we’re offering our first among equals as a way to celebrate Valentine’s...