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Search Results for: espalier

Espalier DIY: A Small Space Garden Solution

November 30, 2017 By Heather Blackmore 2 Comments

Espalier Kefir Pear

In 2012, I was scouting magazine locations and came across a garden along Chicago's North Shore unlike any I had ever seen. What stood out was the tree positioned in a narrow planting bed on a north-facing wall and I was instantly intrigued. So much so that I knew I had to figure out how to put something like that in my small garden. The homeowner, Kim Visokey (a self-proclaimed Garden Freak), had planted an espaliered Kieffer pear tree that produced plenty of edible fruit. Espalier is a pruning technique developed by a French monk, Father Legendre, in the mid 1600s, who stumbled upon the idea purely by happenstance. Food production can be a challenge, especially when you're faced with the task of feeding a monastery. As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. Fruit buds ...

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Filed Under: Gardening Tagged With: espalier, fruit trees, gardening, small space gardening

An Urban Backyard Reimagined

January 17, 2019 By Heather Blackmore Leave a Comment

Urban Garden

One of the perks of my job is receiving permission from homeowners, many of whom I've never met, to poke around in their gardens. I imagine it's a lot like getting a backstage pass to a concert. The thrill is real because I have absolutely no idea what I'll find. I get a little giddy actually and, when a stunning landscape reveals itself, a little choked-up by the beauty of it all. When I walk into a magical place, a space that transports me into another world, well that's pretty cool. And the thing about it is, it doesn't have to be an enormous landscape to elicit an emotional response. I've found that the most memorable spaces are the small intimate ones that make you feel like Mother Nature has enveloped you in her protective embrace. Like the one you're about to experience. I was ...

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Filed Under: Gardening, Top Posts, Virtual Garden Walks Tagged With: edible garden, espalier, outdoor living, small space garden, urban garden

About Heather

Headshot of Heather Blackmore with smile

  For 20 years, I've applied my passions for health, gardening and family to stories for regional and national publications including the Chicago Tribune, Elite magazine, Chicagoland Gardening, Make It Better and the Old Farmer's Almanac. Since 2011, I've been a garden field editor for Better Homes and Gardens magazine and their special interest publications including Country Gardens and Outdoor Spaces. It's a dream job that allows me the flexibility to be the mom I want to be while maintaining my place in the working world. I'm always learning and forever curious. I'm a tomboy at heart and my dog Stella gets excited when I sport my two signature pieces, a baseball cap and my work jeans. She knows I'll be in her territory for the day and we'll garden together. From the ...

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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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When your bedroom windows face south, the sills be When your bedroom windows face south, the sills become seed starting central for us gardeners with limited space. #seedstartingtime #indoorseedstarting #smallspacegardeningideas #gardeningonabudget #onmywindowsill #offandrunning #bringonspring #windowsillgardening #zone5bgardening #chicagogardening #hereshegrows #heatherblackmore
What’s not to love about a flower as big as your What’s not to love about a flower as big as your head?! Summerific Evening Rose hibiscus is a showstopper. Last summer, I had so many neighbors asking about “that giant flower next to the garage.” I love that the garden is such a conversation starter. @provenwinners #summerific #wowthem #perennialhibiscus #perennialgardening #eveningrose #statementplants #inmygarden #zone5gardening #zone5bgardening #chicagogardening #backyardgardeners #smallspacegardens #hereshegrows #heatherblackmore #girlswhogarden
This part of my garden used to be a swamp after a This part of my garden used to be a swamp after a rainfall. With a storm sewer and several adjacent sloped yards draining into our backyard, it was rarely dry. But with good tree choices, like river birch and pussy willow, we were able to remedy the problem. I’d classify this area as dry shade now that the trees are established and hog every last drop of moisture. Thank God for dry shade plants like hellebore, aralia (which is new and quite tiny in this pic), and sweet woodruff! Head to the blog and search “dry shade” for more cool plants for this very challenging growing situation. #dryshade #shadegardening #madeintheshade #toughplants #shadeplants #plantcombos #smallspacegardens #inmygarden #backyardgardening #lowmaintenancegarden #chicagogardening #zone5gardening #zone5bgardening #mixedborders #perennialgardens #hereshegrows #heatherblackmore
Do you see what I see? #buhbyewinter #springscomin Do you see what I see? #buhbyewinter #springscoming #daffodilseason #daffodils #gardenart #lochness #inmygarden #winterisending #springgarden #zone5gardening #zone5bgardening #chicagogardens #backyardgardener #smallgardenspaces #illinoisgarden #smallspacegardens #springbulbs #hereshegrows #heatherblackmore
For me, a rose has to have three attributes. 1️⃣Fragrance 2️⃣Disease Resistance and 3️⃣Pollinator Friendliness. Rugosa roses check all these boxes and a few more like fall interest with their huge orange hips and gorgeous plum-colored foliage. They are the easiest roses in my garden, requiring nothing more than a hit of Rosetone fertilizer a few times each spring/summer (if I remember). No need for foliar spray applications, matter of fact they resent it and will let you know. Aside from the Japanese beetles, these repeat blooming roses are unfazed and perfume the air with the most wonderful clove fragrance. I’ve grown several varieties but this one, Frau Dagmar Hastrup, is a smaller form at 3-4 ft tall and wide that fits my smaller garden. Rugosas are tough and worth a look, especially for us cold climate gardeners. They’re hardy to zone 3/4 depending on the cultivar. #rugosarose #pollinatorfriendly #pollinatorgardens #lowmaintenanceplants #pollinatorsofinstagram #rosesofinstagram #coldclimategardening #floweringshrubs #inmygarden #zone5gardening #zone5bgardening #chicagogardening #hereshegrows #heatherblackmore
CHICAGO HARDY FIG update on the blog! They’re wa CHICAGO HARDY FIG update on the blog! They’re waking up which can only mean one thing...SPRING IS COMING!!! I’ve been growing two figs in a container for four years, overwintering them in a pitch black basement with very little TLC. So easy to do and so worth it for the sweet goodness it produces every September. #gettinfiggywithit #figsfigsfigs #figtree #containergardening #chicagohardyfig #fruittreesinmybackyard #fruittrees #inmygarden #growfigsincontainers #coldclimategardening #gardeningideas #zone5gardening #chicagogardening #zone5bgardening #hereshegrows #heatherblackmore
Over the garden gate. My favorite place in the wor Over the garden gate. My favorite place in the world. #latesummergarden #mygarden #smallspacegardens #backyardgardens #pergolas #gardenpergola #gardenstructures #mixedborder #perennialgardening #zone5gardening #zone5bgardening #chicagogardener #chicagogardens #suburbangardener #lowmaintenancegarden #growwhatyoulove #wildspaces #hereshegrows #heatherblackmore
The pussy willow catkins are swelling and in a lit The pussy willow catkins are swelling and in a little over a month, the sun will shine and the tree will hum with honeybees. I can’t wait! #springtrees #salixdiscolor #pussywillowtree #pollinatorfriendly #pollinatorgardening #springgarden #springgardening #nativeplantsofnorthamerica #honeybees #pollinatorsofinstagram #pollinators #inmygarden #catkins #zone5gardening #zone5bgardening #chicagogardener #midwestgardens #hereshegrows #heatherblackmore
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