Crown Imperial: Planting the Fall Bulb That Gets Neighbors Knocking in Spring
Allow me to introduce you to the spring bulb that will make your neighbors envious. Ok, so envy is not exactly the sentiment I’m encouraging here. I’m hoping for more …
Mickey Gast
I like to think of myself as a writer who gardens and a gardener who writes. I was hooked into this lifestyle more than a decade ago, when I decided that my new husband’s tomato patch had to be extended into a full-blown suburban veggie paradise. It was a classic story of “city girl trades concrete jungle for kale jungle.”
Before that, it was a humble peace lily that gave me the houseplant bug, so I have her to thank for 15+ years of houseplant obsession. I get a kick out of saving and reviving houseplants that others write off, although my greatest sin is still overwatering.
When we went back to renting in cities, I gardened in community gardens, campus gardens and post stamp-sized balconies. Setting up gardens from scratch in three different (micro)climates taught me to stay humble and to always keep learning.
Nowadays, when I’m not writing, you’ll probably find me pottering around my suburban backyard where I’m creating a pollinator paradise, complete with herbs, veggies and flowers.
If you’re nosy like me, you can follow my plant experiments on Instagram @greenwithpurpose. I also write about plants, gardens and books on my website, GreenWithPurpose.com
Don’t Plant Your Tulips Yet: 5 Things Gardeners Get Wrong Every Fall
You’d think that after fifteen years of planting tulip bulbs in the fall, my enthusiasm would have tapered off by now. Alas, it hasn’t and probably never will. Not only …
5 Reasons Amaranth Will Be Your New Favorite Plant to Grow & Eat
Over the past couple of years, I’ve become slightly obsessed with bringing more edimentals into my garden. If you’re not familiar with this term, it refers to plants that are …
Joe Pye Weed: 5 Reasons This Native Perennial Should Grow in Every Yard
I have a theory that there are two types of gardeners in this world. Those who see a plant they don’t recognize, think ‘what’s this doing here?’ and then pull …
Skip the Fall Cleanup: 10 Plants That Should Stay Standing Until Spring
Wait, wait … Don’t prune it! My other half often jokes about me having a panel show in the style of Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me! Except it would …
Don’t Cut Back Black-Eyed Susans This Fall – Do These 4 Things Instead
I have the following phrase written down in my gardening journal for this coming weekend: Decide what to do with BES! What the helianthus does that even mean, Mickey? Who’s …
How to Save Marigold Seeds So They Actually Grow Next Year
It’s September, and I have marvelous marigolds on my mind. Of course I do: they’re right there as I open the living room window, looking back at me every morning …
Move Over, Mums! These Fall Flowers Come Back Every Year
Let me clear the autumnal air here and get one thing on the record: I love mums! Their curvy shape. Their warm colors when everything else in the garden is …
5 Mulching Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs
Many of my articles are inspired by real-life conversations I have with gardeners, and this one is no different. I found myself in a … ahem … let’s call it …
6 Reasons Why Your Hydrangea Leaves Are Turning Brown & How to Fix It
We love our hydrangeas around here. And judging by the popularity of our articles on this topic, we think you might be just as infatuated with these magnificent shrubs as …
7 Things You Should Never Do to Your Perennials During a Heat Wave
As we’re burrowing deeper into the thick of this crazy summer weather, I can’t help but feel that this is the true test of the garden. Everything I’ve been working …
9 Perennials to Plant with Hydrangeas (and One to Keep Away)
The inspiration for this article on hydrangea plant pairings came to me courtesy of golden hour. I was sitting on a bench next to a pink mountain hydrangea that looked …
Lupines Finished Blooming? What You Do Now Decides Next Year
If you have lupines planted in your front yard and see a stranger walking up and down the street every hour gawking at them, rest assured, I mean no harm. …
4 Reasons to Prune Your Perennials This June (Even Though It Feels Wrong)
Sometimes, I like to do counterintuitive things in the garden. I let the buttercups grow unplucked because they’re generous food sources for early pollinators. I cherish the moss between the …
The Post-Bloom Iris Care That Decides Next Year’s Flowers
A few years ago, I opened an article on iris care by stating that “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who actually bought irises to plant in their garden.” …
Now’s the Time to Prune Your Lilacs (& How To Fix One That’s Been Ignored For Years)
When I had a much smaller garden, I could only fit a couple of small shrubs along a fence. Lilac was not one of them. And yet, I still knew …
7 Plants to Grow If Your Lavender Keeps Dying
I’m a big fan of garden troubleshooting guides. You know the one: “What to do if your [insert plant here] is dying.” or “How to revive your [plant].” I have …
9 Flowering Shrubs You Need to Prune in Late Spring
There’s a saying in gardening that goes like this: “We prune for a reason, not for a season.” This means that there are no set times to prune plants, only …
8 Bushes to Grow For a Privacy Hedge You Can Eat
I’m a big fan of a plant with multiple functions. Does it feed me? Great! Does it feed pollinators too? Even better. Does it look pretty in addition to all …
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Perennials
Ah, good! You’re here! I hope you’re wearing your comfiest pair of shoes, dear reader, because today, we’re going plant shopping. I’d like to take you with me and point …
15 Tall Flowers to Plant for Privacy and Months of Color
The idea for this article stemmed from a list of tall plants that I made for my own garden. I’m of the firm belief that good fences make good neighbors, …
7 Low-Effort Ways to Make the Best of Messy Garden Corners
There’s an episode of the beloved 90s sitcom Friends, where it’s revealed that Monica (self-proclaimed neat freak) has a secret closet jam-packed with stuff. A hodgepodge of knick-knacks, tucked away …
15 Flowers to Sow in April for Rich Summer Color
Now that my tomato seedlings are underway, I’m turning my attention to planting flowers once again. I have two large boxes of flower seeds that I’ve saved over my years …
6 Things to Consider Before Planting a Shrub
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I believe every single garden needs at least one shrub. I still like perennials and annuals, but shrubs just tie the room together. …