This summer has been one of the hottest (and wettest) that I can remember… and if your garden is feeling the heat, know that you’re not alone. But don’t worry – I’ve learned 4 key tips for keeping your gorgeous kitchen garden growing in the heat that I’m excited to share with you. And just […]
4 Chicago Gardening Heat Hacks Read More »
In the world of gardening (and Instagram), we so often see pictures of massive gardens with more raised beds than we can count. And harvests? Martha-Stewart-esque baskets overflowing with fresh veggies seemingly just picked from the garden, still with their morning dew. Those gardens might be intended to be aspirational, but they can be a
Myth: You Need a Big Garden to be a Great Gardener Read More »
The age old question! Every gardener finds their own balance here, but there are a few general rules that can help you strike the perfect balance for you: What if my garden is a few containers on my patio or balcony? Buy your plants from your local nursery. If you garden on a small scale,
What Seeds to Start, What to Direct Sow, and What to Buy From a Nursery Read More »
January is the season of the glossy, gorgeous seed catalogues! Every gardener loves receiving them in the mail. It’s hard not to love looking at a preview of our abundant summer harvests when it’s such a stark contrast to the snow and frigid temperatures of the weather outside. Though I have a blog post about
Read This Before You Buy Seeds Read More »
Sometimes, I get to add gardens to landscapes that have been lovingly tended for years. It’s such a fun challenge to design a garden that looks like it’s been there for years with the rest of the garden. And it’s an honor to add my signature to part of a landscape that will be so
A Fresh Midcentury Modern Twist with Native Landscaping Read More »
My favorite days in the garden are the ones when I get to garden with other gardeners! This installation was so much fun and even more rewarding. The Arlington Heights Garden Club reached out to me to consult on the kitchen garden for Northwest Compass Inc’s new community garden. I was so honored to be
A New Kitchen Garden Paradise for Non-Profit Northwest Compass Read More »
Near the end of each growing season, I throw a Garden Party for my wonderful client gardeners and everyone who helped me grow my business this season. Bringing all my Patio Produce people together in one place easily makes this one of my favorite days of the year! I loved watching my favorite new gardeners
A Glorious Garden Party Read More »
Fall gardens are one of the most rewarding gardens that you can plant. I love the time of the year where the weather shifts from unpleasantly hot to downright beautiful for a few weeks (and those beautiful few weeks are why we live in the Midwest, right?!) I would love if this year, you celebrated
How to Plant a Fall Garden Read More »
Can we all agree that life is ridiculously busy? Sometimes it feels like we’re always multitasking, on the go, trying to fit more into our 24 hour day, and hoping that somehow we’ll come across a mythical 30 hour day where we’ll “catch up.” Figuring out how to slow down and actually doing it are
Creating Space For Yourself in a Kitchen Garden Read More »
Sometimes necessary parts of our landscapes, like sheds, can look a bit out of place. How do you fix that? Add a garden! Your shed will look like it was always meant to be there, gently placed in the landscape. I designed and installed this garden for a gardener who has been trying for many
A Kitchen Garden Pairs Perfectly With a She Shed Read More »
