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Here She Grows

Here She Grows

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Here She Grows
Here She Grows

Vines to know…

  • Hyacinth Bean flowers
    Hyacinth Bean Vine: A Budget Friendly Problem Solver
    What’s the first thing you see when you look at this picture? Yeah, me too. When the air conditioner pooped out a few years ago, we had this beast installed. The HVAC guy talked about…

This is the exploratory phase of my shed dream and This is the exploratory phase of my shed dream and for that I need a good visual. I also need to sit in it, let the idea marinate before jumping. It involves easements and one VERY important, scratch that, the MOST important consideration. Can you guess the determining factor on whether or not this little 6’x8’ make-believe shed can come to life? #sheddreams #gardenshed #chicagogarden #hereshegrows
My Royal Purple smokebush has had haircuts but nev My Royal Purple smokebush has had haircuts but never one that took it to within a foot of the ground. I hard pruned it, also known as renovation pruning. Yes, I’m sacrificing “smoke,” as Cotinus blooms on old wood, but I’ll get a better shape and larger foliage and I’m here for the burgundy foliage. This type of cut can be done every year if you’re so inclined. Right now is a good time to prune Cotinus since it’s still cold and the sap isn’t rising just yet. Speaking of sap, Cotinus is related to cashews and poison ivy and though it’s not poisonous, the sap can be a skin irritant so wear gloves. #smokebush #pruning #hardpruning #cotinus #hereshegrows
I’ve started gardens many ways over the last 25 ye I’ve started gardens many ways over the last 25 years. From sheet mulching, double digging 😩 (I’m dating myself with this one.) and just top dressing bare soil and letting the worms 🪱 do the heavy lifting, it all comes down to building soil. My native soil is heavy clay so starting each garden with several inches of compost is how I begin. Then I choose plants that can handle my soil because clay soil always wants to be clay soil, no matter how much compost you add every year. #livingsoil #gardensoil #chicagogarden #compost #hereshegrows
Spring is finally knocking! I potted up a bunch of Spring is finally knocking! I potted up a bunch of tulips and daffodils in containers last fall and kept them in the garage all winter. And here we are, days from meteorological spring, and they’re waking up! 🌷🌷🌷 While spring bulbs have everything they need to get going as soon as winter releases its cold grip, a quick feed as they wake, especially for container grown bulbs, is helpful in my experience. And I really wanted to get out there on this gorgeous day and garden. So the spring bulb containers were my focus! I grabbed my @true_organic_ liquid bloom boost fertilizer and gave them a drink and a feed then set them on the driveway to soak in the sunshine for the afternoon. The NPK ratio for the bloom boost has a slightly higher “P” or phosphorus content which is fine if it’s what you have on hand. The All Purpose liquid fertilizer would be great too. Isn’t it incredible what a few green nubs do for the spirit after a long cold Midwestern winter? Happy Spring!!! #trueorganic #truecrew #springbulbs #hereshegrows
I’ve cut back ornamental grass dozens of times and I’ve cut back ornamental grass dozens of times and cut below the twine, except for this one time when the camera was rolling. 🥴 #gardenhumor #ornamentalgrass #hereshegrows #chicaggarden
My FELCO #2 pruner is one of my most-used tools in My FELCO #2 pruner is one of my most-used tools in the garden. It’s been in my hand or on my hip for over 15 years. But it always felt a little big for my hand. FELCO reached out and asked me to give their #6 Elite a go. And what I noticed straight away is the fit, comfort and weight. It’s light…and sharp! I felt a bit guilty for switching to the FELCO #6 after such a long and loyal devotion to my #2. But hearts change, chapters close. And my FELCO story continues… @felco_official @felco_northamerica #pruningshears
Ode to yellow 💛 I love it. Even the egg yolk yello Ode to yellow 💛 I love it. Even the egg yolk yellows are welcome in my garden. How about you? Where do you stand? 💛 Kogane Fubuki dahlia 💛 American Gold Rush rudbeckia 💛 Unknown dahlia 💛 Sunfinity Double Yellow helianthus 💛 Ringo rose 💛 Scentsation honeysuckle 💛 Butter and Sugar Siberian Iris 💛 Solenia Yellow Begonia 💛 Bees Knees petunias 💛 Ice Follies daffodils 💛 Unknown sunflower #yellowflowers #hereshegrows #chicagogarden
You can grow food anywhere. I’ve always enjoyed gr You can grow food anywhere. I’ve always enjoyed growing things that made my kids curious. Like these Magic Molly potatoes that actually retain their color when cooked and make the most delicious purple mash. Just a 15 gallon @smartpots and some chitted potatoes and you’re good to grow! It really is that easy. And you know they’re ready to dig when the top growth looks dead…because it is. But the tubers below are lovely. #suburbangardening #foodgarden #organicgardens #homegrownpotatoes #hereshegrows
If I had to pick one annual that’s a must-have in If I had to pick one annual that’s a must-have in my garden it would be the zinnia. From the short front-of-the-border Magellans and Profusions to the reaching Giants and the in between Queenies, my garden is never without them. They’re great for direct sowing, are very drought tolerant and the pollinators love most of them. Plant them in full sun anywhere in the garden for constant color. I love low growers like @aasgardenwinners Profusion Red Yellow Bicolor in the veg garden where it adds constantly changing color to the edges of my raised beds. And last summer’s Senorita cactus zinnias were phenomenal in the side yard garden! #zinnias #cutflowergarden #pollinatorgardening #waterwisegardening #hereshegrows
Sounds of summer. No matter how hard I try to film Sounds of summer. No matter how hard I try to film when it’s quiet in the garden, a lawnmower or leaf blower always fires up. One of my favorite plants of 2025 was Monarch Magic ageratum which truly lived up to its name in planters and in the ground. Drought tolerant and easy to grow, it’s truly a must-have! @ball.floraplant #pollinatorgardening #gardenideas #monarchbutterfly #containergarden #hereshegrows
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  • Blog
  • Gardening
    • Trees and Shrubs
    • Perennials
    • Groundcovers
    • Vines
    • Annuals
    • Fruits and Vegetables
    • From Seed
    • Tropicals
    • Bulbs
    • Containers
    • For Pollinators
  • Houseplants
  • Videos
  • Recipes
  • Health
    • SIBO (pronounced See-BO)
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