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 ...
Search Results for: succulent
Coffee Tables Are Perfect for Terrariums
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 ...
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 ...
Plant Truck Chicago: Connecting Plants and People
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 ...
Mangave for the Cold Climate Gardener
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 ...
From Fish to Flamingoes, It’s All Garden Art To Me
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 ...
