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Search Results for: succulent

My Succulents Have a Case of the Fuzzies

January 10, 2019 By Heather Blackmore Leave a Comment

succulents in container

Every fall I bring in several plants from the patio to overwinter as houseplants and most fare well indoors. Except for my terracotta teacup full of succulents. I love the way the burros tail spills over the edge and the senecio stretches like steam. All goes well for those first few weeks in my south-facing window. Until one day, fuzzy critters (aka mealybugs) arrive and I'm forced to deal some death. All. Winter. Long. Protected by a soft, fuzzy exoskeleton, mealybugs camp out in clusters along the undersides of leaves and reproduce rapidly. A single female lays anywhere from 400-500 eggs in her short life. She dies after egg laying. Piercing-sucking mouthparts enable them to extract nutrients from their host and diminish its vigor. They tend to favor fresh new growth. A ...

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Filed Under: Gardening Tagged With: houseplants, mealybugs, succulents, white bugs

Coffee Tables Are Perfect for Terrariums

February 19, 2021 By Heather Blackmore 2 Comments

Terrariums on coffee table

In February, my coffee table suddenly becomes incredibly interesting with the addition of several terrariums. It's a winter thing. Remotes, pretzel crumbs, and the everpresent hint of dust are still there, of course. But the table is situated such that the morning sun hits it so perfectly that I can't resist the urge to grow something under glass. Who am I kidding? I can't resist growing anywhere! I find that as I get older, I become more in tune with light. How it moves. Where it rests the longest. But really, I'm assessing what I can grow. The thought process is the same whether I'm gardening indoors or out. It's just that in winter, I prefer the simple pleasure of looking into a self-sustaining little world, moisture dripping down the inside of the glass. The occasional tip of the ...

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Filed Under: Gardening Tagged With: gardening under glass, glass cloche, houseplants, how to make terrariums, Indoor gardening, terrariums

Portfolio

It’s been my pleasure to linger in all of these gardens, get to know their gardeners, and tell the story of how these lovely spaces evolved. I’ve worn many hats – writer, photographer, stylist, producer – to bring these gardens to life in regional and national publications. From rebuilding a flooded garden the night before a shoot to coordinating 20 dogs and their humans for a garden party, it fulfills my insatiable desire to experience beauty and the unique ways gardeners express it in their spaces. Country Gardens Early Spring 2018 Article: The Early Show - Written and Produced Synopsis: Drifts of spring-blooming bulbs and perennials are the key to creating a garden seemingly designed by Mother Nature herself. Chicagoland Gardening Jul-Aug 2018 Article: When Great Garden Minds ...

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Plant Truck Chicago: Connecting Plants and People

December 12, 2019 By Heather Blackmore Leave a Comment

Plant Truck Chicago

What do you get when you cross a 1974 GMC van with an artist and one of the biggest names in the Chicago gardening scene? A plant truck, of course. While attending a garden media event in August, I ran into my friend Tony Abruscato, aka Mr. Green Chicago. He owns the Chicago Flower and Garden Show and was excited to tell me about his latest garden venture, Plant Truck Chicago. Think food truck, minus the food. As I tried to envision a mobile greenhouse, he told me to get over to the IGC (Independent Garden Center) show where the truck would make its official debut. It's pretty cool! The truck was the brainchild of artist Jason Verbeek. As Tony was telling me the story of how he acquired the truck, I had to stop him once he dropped the artist's name. It sounded so familiar. Turns out ...

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Filed Under: Gardening Tagged With: Chicago, Chicago gardening, community outreach, education, Get Growing Foundation, houseplants, Plant Truck Chicago, Tony Abruscato, truck, urban gardening

Mangave for the Cold Climate Gardener

October 31, 2019 By Heather Blackmore 6 Comments

Mad in Love Mangave mix

Have you ever purchased a plant that wasn't originally on your list? Dumb question. We're gardeners. Lists are a distraction and feel so limiting. Therefore, I rarely stick to them. Which was the case last May when my mom and I visited Sunrise Greenhouse in Grant Park, IL. In addition to the coleus, banana plant, clematis and roses, a mangave landed in my cart. I've grown plenty of succulents and had heard of it before but I can hardly say I knew what to do with it. All I knew was that I had to give it a go. How hard could it be? As it turns out, mangave is one of the most undemanding, and quite surprising, plants I've grown. What Is Mangave? It's basically the love child of the manfreda and agave plants. The result is a faster growing colorful succulent, thanks to the manfreda ...

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Filed Under: Gardening, My Garden Tagged With: low maintenance plants, mangave, mission to Mars, succulents

From Fish to Flamingoes, It’s All Garden Art To Me

February 21, 2019 By Heather Blackmore Leave a Comment

St. Francis garden art

Several years ago, my mother-in-law, a devout Catholic, gave me a St. Francis of Assisi statue for my garden. As the patron saint of nature and those who care for the environment, she thought it perfect for my little Eden. And it is in so many ways. I'm not religious, but I deeply appreciated the sentiment behind the gift and for this reason he stands among the phlox and rudbeckia every year. I think it suits him. To me, he is art and a reminder of the loved one who gave him to my garden. It never occurred to me that someone could be so deeply moved by my garden art. It was an awkward moment but in a way reiterates the point of art. To evoke a feeling or emotion, no matter how kitschy or trite. A neighbor asked to see my garden and I eagerly invited her in. What gardener doesn't jump ...

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Filed Under: Gardening Tagged With: art in the garden, garden art

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Hi there!

I'm Heather and I love to grow stuff. LOTS of stuff. Most importantly, a healthy family. I'm a stay-at-home mom with a passion for playing in the dirt. Read More…

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My Hydrangea serrata has chlorosis, a common issue My Hydrangea serrata has chlorosis, a common issue with trees and shrubs in areas with heavy clay soil and an alkaline pH. Pretty typical in Illinois.

Plants with chlorosis will have yellowing leaves with veins that remain green. And it indicates an absorption issue in the soil. While it won’t kill ☠️ the plant, it does hinder its ability to produce chlorophyll so the sooner you respond the better.

I submitted a soil sample to a lab 🔬 before applying amendments to know exactly what I was lacking and you can find more on that on the blog. 🔗Just hit the link button for more.

The test revelaved a pH of 7.6, no surprise. 

Where the chlorosis begins is a good indicator of what’s going on below. The new growth on my hydrangea was chlorotic and the leaves further down were completely green. That told me I was dealing with an iron issue.

So I loosened up the soil around the drip line of the plant, added compost and top dressed with a ring of @espomaorganic Iron-Tone. Scratched it in and watered. I’ll added a few inches of mulch to help with moisture retention and keep an eye on it. 

A soil test is an invaluable tool for diagnosing problems and it prevents you from adding amendments you may not need.

Happy Gardening!

#chlorosis #hydrangea #soiltesting #soiltest #ironchlorosis #gardenproblems #gardentip #soil #ph #highph #organicgardening #smallspacegarden #chicagogarden #alkalinesoil #gardening #zone5b #hereshegrows #soilamendments
This combo is giving me all the feels today. Wench This combo is giving me all the feels today. Wench is the only bearded iris I grow and I love how she looks paired with Wildberry heuchera, Mini Saffron barberry in the foreground and Seducer hosta bringing up the rear. I love how they grow into each other and the way the chartreuse color of the barberry makes everything around it pop. @provenwinners @pwcolorchoice #plantcombinations #smallspacegarden #beardediris #purpleandyellow #perennialgarden #inmygardentoday #gardening #zone5b #chicagogarden #heuchera #irises #hosta #barberry #hereshegrows
“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” My “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” My Scarlet O’Hara peony opened today and unlike Rhett Butler, I DO give a damn. She’s a beauty. #peonies #scarletohara #peonyseason #gonewiththewind #garden #inmygarden #zone5b #chicagogardening #hereshegrows #smallspacegarden
The wren is singing his little heart out while the The wren is singing his little heart out while the hummingbird takes advantage of my fountain I scrubbed and plugged in yesterday. I start every day during the garden season sipping coffee and enjoying this space. What’s the point of having a garden if you don’t take time to absorb all the beauty it invites? #myhappyplace #inmygarden #hummingbirdsofinstagram #rubythroatedhummingbird #gardenfountain #birdbath #pollinatorgarden #pollinatorgardens #smallspacegarden #waterfeature #birds #zone5bgardening #chicagogarden #hereshegrows #backyardgardener #fountain
Some of my favorite things this morning…🌱Dolc Some of my favorite things this morning…🌱Dolce Wildberry heuchera is all about the foliage and I’m here for it…🌱I can’t remember the name of this monarda (it was a trial sent a few years ago) but it blooms in May every year and Peter Rabbit wants nothing to do with it…🌱And while I’m on the fence about whether or not the Sicilian Honey Garlic will be around much longer (they flop and grow in all sorts of weird contorted ways) I love the bell flowers. What are you loving  in your garden right now? Tell me in the comments! #maygarden #springgarden #smallspacegarden #wildberryheuchera #heuchera #monarda #allium #sicilianhoneygarlic #chicagogarden #gardening #gardenvignettes #zone5bgardening #perennialgarden #hereshegrows
If you need me, I’ll be in the veg garden. The s If you need me, I’ll be in the veg garden. The soil in my @vego_garden raised beds is 70 degrees and ready for the climbing zucchini, baby butternut squash, salad slicer cucumbers and nasturtium I started from seed in late April. What are you planting in your veg garden? Tell me in the comments! #vegogarden #sustainabilitymyway #vegetablegardening #raisedbeds #smallspacegarden #potager #growwhatyoulove #foodgarden #eattherainbow🌈 #youarewhatyoueatdaily #gardenlife #gardening #growveg #gardentotable #growyourown #chicagogarden #urbangardening #suburbangardening #zone5b #hereshegrows
Just a few moments from my garden this morning… Just a few moments from my garden this morning…

🌱The Musa basjoo banana is leafing out following winter storage in my basement. A good feed and plenty of 💦 woke him up! I love the alliums surrounding it right now.

🌱Can’t beat the purpley goodness of Cat’s Pajamas nepeta in the foreground. The yellow on the Autumn Frost hostas in the background just pops next to the grey Adirondack chairs.

🌱The most recent addition to the shade garden, Fun and Games ‘Eye Spy’ heucherella, has fabulous foliage and brightens up the space.

🌱And last but not least, the Salvia argentea is about to pop any day now! I grow it from seed and the foliage was gorgeous last year. It’s biennial and will peter out once it completes flowering. But I have a tray of fresh starts waiting in the wings to replant. 😉 

How are things coming along in your garden? 

#springgarden #inmygardennow #musabasjoo #alliums #backyardgardener #smallspacegarden #chicagogarden #zone5b #garden #gardening #hereshegrows
🐰Rabbits and voles, no matter how cute, can rui 🐰Rabbits and voles, no matter how cute, can ruin your hard work in a blink 👀! I’ve experimented with a lot of stuff but have had great results with @plantskyddrepellents and it’s not just effective for small nuisances. I’m fortunate to not have deer pressure, but it works on them too. It’s 💯% organic, won’t harm your pets or the little critters you’re trying to keep out. In my experience, I’ve only had to reapply it after a heavy rainfall. It also comes with a satisfaction guarantee. If you’re having critter issues, give it a go and let me know what you think! #plantskydd #rabbitrepellant #gardenpests #rabbits #gardenissues #gardentip #rabbitinthegarden #rabbitproblems #rabbitskeepout #freeloaders #inmygarden #chicagogarden #zone5b #hereshegrows #smallspacegarden
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