Garden2Blog and Humble Pie

Since garden blogging has given me the drive to share my thoughts and enthusiasm with the world, it could be said that it was gardening that cured my shyness. But even now it rears its ugly head and knocks me back down to earth when I least expect it, smacking me with a much-needed wallop of humility when I get too big for my own britches.

A (Probably Biased) Review of Indoor Plant Decor

Having just finished a book on houseplants myself, it’s refreshing to see that someone else has made it a point to portray houseplants as more than just an afterthought in a well decorated home, but focal points on par with a prized piece of art or a favorite piece of furniture. Admittedly, it’s even more exciting to see that the authors of such a book were my good friends Kylee Baumle and Jenny Peterson.

Consider the Lilies

This is a story of two plants, told over the course of two years. It tells of what they witnessed, as well as how they managed to keep time and continuity through the most important days of my life. It's a story about how through all of our anxiety and trials in this lifetime, nature still carries on with the same selfless routine day by day and reassures us through chaos and discord. Time marches on.

Starting a Vegetable Garden for My Community

It's only been a little over a year since I turned some of our apartment complex's dying grass into a community garden, yet it's flourishing and bringing a touch of paradise to the lives of my friends and neighbors. But now I'm ready for the next phase: A community vegetable garden. I want to grow vegetables, fruit and herbs so that neighbors can have a free and gourmet alternative to the fast food and limited offerings of our grocery store, and I need your help.

Gourmet Cooking Lessons... at the Supermarket

I've been meaning to incorporate more of the tastier side of garden living into this blog, but with such a busy life, who has time to get creative with gourmet meals in the kitchen? It turned out to be a lot easier than we thought. Along with Mrs. Rainforest Gardener, I took a cooking course in a professional grade kitchen and learned to make steamed spring rolls, three kinds of dumplings, a dipping sauce and green tea ice cream... all at our local Publix supermarket.

Lessons Learned from the Desert

My trip to Arizona marked the first time I had been to the desert since 6th grade, and from the moment I knew I was going to Phoenix for the Troy-Bilt #Saturday6, the desert was all I could think about. Following the trip, I've had dreams about the desert almost every single night. If you could have seen me darting around the Desert Botanical Garden with my camera perpetually glued to my face, you would have seen a little boy caught up in the miracle of the natural world.

Win My Illustrated Seed Packets!

Last year I illustrated the covers for over 40 Lilly Miller seed packets, and yesterday I received seventeen of them (two of each) in the mail just in time for my birthday. Since Ferry Morse was purchased by another company, many went unreleased, but I am beyond thrilled to know that at least seventeen of them saw the light of day. So to celebrate I'll be giving all seventeen of them to you!.

My Arizona Adventure with the Saturday 6

It reads like the plot of a comic book: Six drastically different bloggers with their own unique abilities were one day summoned to the desert by a mysterious benefactor, and assembled to become a super team with remarkable powers. Together, they formed a group of superfriends called the #Saturday6; capable of crushing rocks with a single tiller, riding technologically advanced lawnmowers at epic speeds and cultivating rocky clay soil in a single instant. I was one of those six – and this is my story.

Container Garden Artisan: Candice 'Sweetstuff' Suter

Today’s container garden artisan is none other than the sensational Candice ‘Sweetstuff’ Suter of Sweetstuff’s Sassy Succulents, who is probably best known for upcycling unusual things into succulent stuffed works of found art. No object is safe from Sweetstuff and her playful ingenuity; birdcages, barbecue grills and handmade pottery are all fair game! Read on to learn more about Sweetstuff and to take a peek at some of her colorful projects.

Container Garden Artisan Kris Blevons

While I'm working on the book, I thought it would be appropriate to share the work of other 'Container Garden Artisans' so that you can see all of the different ways to artistically combine plants. First up is Kris Blevons, who manages the boutique chic Oak Street Garden Shop in Birmingham Alabama. Her arrangements are filled with drama and thoughtful touches, and range from bountiful blasts of orchids and curly willow to modern pairings of snake plant and Tillandsia. You guys are in for a treat!