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.
Twelve Days of Christmas: #6
Six Geese A Laying Reposted from Dec. 19, 2014: Get Your Goose -- But in a Humane Way By Michael Leach Six geese a laying — preferably in someone else’s yard. Wildlife-friendly gardens offer many pluses. But as the word wildlife suggests, nature’s creatures can be...
Twelve Days of Christmas: #5
Five Golden Rings Repost from Dec. 16, 2014: Golden Conifers Brighten the Winter Landscape By Teresa Woodard Gold -- the color of extravagance – is a rich addition to the garden, and golden conifers are the perfect choice for this season. Plant them as shining...
Twelve Days of Christmas: #4
Repost from Dec. 17, 2014: Four Calling Birds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LNexIoCW0 By Teresa Woodard Have you ever wondered what bird is making that caw, screech, cuckoo or who-cooks-for-you sound? Well, celebrate the Fourth Day of Christmas by downloading one...
Twelve Days of Christmas: #3
Three Repost from Dec. 16, 2014: French Hens By Teresa Woodard While French hens like our Cuckoo Maran – or even American ones like our Black Javas – might make great gifts, I'm not convinced December is the ideal time for such gift giving. Yes, these beautiful hens...
Twelve Days of Christmas: #2
Two Turtle Doves Repost from Dec. 14, 2014: Winter Bird Notes By Debra Knapke The choice of the turtle dove for the second day of Christmas is significant. Turtle doves form very strong pair-bonds which, I believe, is the basis for their association with love. The...
Twelve Days of Christmas: #1
A Partridge in a Pear Tree Repost from Dec. 14, 2014: Landscape Trend Foretold in Song Lyric By Michael Leach Partridges have gone the way of powdered wigs, but producing fruit is uber trendy. From potted herbs on windowsills to towering nut trees in the backyard,...
All I Want For Christmas
By Debra Knapke If you are wondering what Santa should be bringing to your favorite gardener, here are a few suggestions based on what I would like. Many gardeners would be happy with a load of compost, but if you want to give something that lasts longer, here are a...
The Biltmore’s Fifth Season
A Taste of A Biltmore Christmas By Debra Knapke While I have visited the incredible Biltmore House and gardens in all four seasons, this year I had a chance to tour it in its “fifth season” (to borrow the phrase from Adelma Grenier Simmons in Herb Gardening in Five...
Silent Summer
Hawks spoil the garden party By Michael Leach When I told people, “Hawks are nesting in my garden this year,” they seemed awed and a bit envious. But if you’ve had hawks in the backyard, you know it’s lonely at the top of the food chain. With hawks around, there’s...