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Hello , fellow gardeners ! I wish I could assure you that I ’m a seasoned Master Gardener , an established generator of dozens of books on horticulture , or that I ’ve toured some of the most acclaimed gardens from around the creation . But the fact is , I ’m just like many of you — someone who loves to putter around in the garden and learn by doing , which is what I ’ve been devoting my spare fourth dimension to for the last 30 years in my small backyard garden in northerly Illinois . I ’ve somehow been able-bodied to turn my passion into a profession and have had the great fortune to write for GardenDesign.com for nearly 10 year now and share what I ’ve learned with all of you .
Gardens are often stand out of necessity , and mine began as a commission to translate a scraggly , overgrown landscape left to me by the former homeowners into my own slight paradise . I read every gardening book I could get my hands on ( my go - to is theIllinois Gardeners Guideby Jim Fizzell ) and spent countless hours browsing through plant and seed catalog and stray through local nurseries and botanical garden .
You ca n’t undervalue the time value of first - helping hand experience in the garden , observing how plants respond to different photo conditions and marveling at their resilience even when you do everything ill-timed . And it ’s really the only path to discover your own gardening style ( mine is definitely bungalow garden , with a touch of whimsy ) as you determine which plant delight your senses , play well together , and thrive in your yard ’s microclimate .
As Fizzell enjoin in his Word of God , “ We make our misapprehension , and we have our successes . We correct our mistake and go on . ” Often gardening is more about perseverance and patience than noesis . Simply put , a true gardener never gives up .
In addition to writing for GardenDesign.com , Anne is also a regular contributor toConcreteNetwork.comandLandscapingNetwork.com .
" Pathways are a marvelous way to beckon people into a garden and invite geographic expedition . Here , my minute side grounds was transform by an arbor ( covered by Dr. Ruppel clematis ) and stepping endocarp that lead to the backyard . "
" I ’ve pay a belittled plot of ground of demesne to plant bang by pollinator , such as imperial coneflower . It ’s located in a sunny spot near my backyard deck , so I can follow the parade of visitant at close range of mountains . "
" I hump perennials that have beautiful flower and leafage because they leave interest all time of year , even when not in bloom . One of my favorites is lungwort ( Pulmonariaspp . ) , which has gorgeous silver gray - speckle leaves transcend by clump of delicate bell - shaped flowers in give . "
" My cottage - mode shade garden is a pastel color pallet of pansies , impatiens , fern - leaved bleeding gist , Funka , lady ’s mantle , ' Palace Purple ' heuchera , and lungwort . It ’s a peaceful place for shuttle and Angel Falls likewise . "
" The cheery faces of Viola are pure heaven after a retentive wintertime in my northern Illinois mood ( USDA Zone 5a/5b ) . They are by far my favorite bounce efflorescence , and if I could , I ’d plant them in every colour . "
Some of Anne ’s most pop articles on GardenDesign.com :
