About Me

My love of gardening started long before I ever owned a home or planted a flower bed of my own.

Growing up, my grandmother lived next door. She was old-school in every sense of the word, having been raised on a farm in Iowa where her family grew corn and soybeans. She was an incredible cook and baker, but she also loved spending time outdoors, tending to her yard and growing whatever she could.

Some of my earliest gardening memories come from watching her work. Long before composting became popular, she was burying kitchen scraps in the garden. Years later, I learned she would often tuck pieces of potato into those scraps, knowing that before long potato vines would emerge from the soil. At the time it seemed almost magical. Looking back, I realize she was teaching me one of gardening’s most important lessons: with a little patience, something wonderful can grow from the simplest things.

Sadly, she left us far too soon, but those early experiences sparked a lifelong fascination with growing plants.

As I got older, I created my first successful vegetable garden in a corner of our backyard. While I was captivated by vegetables, flowers, and anything I could grow from seed, my mother had a different gardening style. Living on California’s Central Coast, we enjoyed a climate that was perfect for succulents. They were easy to grow, required very little maintenance, and she embraced them wholeheartedly.

We often approached gardening from opposite directions. I was always chasing color, blooms, and new plants to try. My mom preferred plants that were beautiful but uncomplicated. Looking back, both perspectives taught me valuable lessons. A great garden doesn’t have to be complicated, but it should bring joy to the person who creates it.

As an adult, my passion for gardening only continued to grow. What began as curiosity became a hobby, then a lifelong pursuit. Over the years I’ve experimented with vegetables, annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, containers, and landscape design. I’ve had successes, made plenty of mistakes, and learned something new every season.

Today, I garden in the Pacific Northwest, where the climate offers incredible opportunities—and a few unique challenges. This website is a place where I share what I’ve learned along the way: plant recommendations, garden inspiration, lessons from experience, and practical advice for fellow gardeners.

Whether you’re planting your very first flower bed or have been gardening for decades, I hope you’ll find ideas, inspiration, and encouragement here.

After all, every gardener starts with a single plant—and a little curiosity.