Blooming Garden & Home

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day 🌍

Spending time in the garden is a daily reminder that caring for the earth doesn’t have to be complicated, it’s in the small, consistent choices. Planting with intention, supporting pollinators, building healthy soil, and working with the seasons instead of against them.

As a garden coach, I see every garden as a chance to give something back. When we care for the land, it gives right back to us.

Every day is Earth Day when you’re growing with purpose.

04/20/2026

Daffodils bring spring sunshine and built-in deer defense

These bright, cheerful blooms aren’t just pretty, they’re one of the most reliable and deer-resistant bulbs you can plant. Daffodil bulbs and foliage contain a toxic alkaloid called lycorine that makes them bitter and unappealing, so deer (and other wildlife) tend to leave them alone.

I love to plant daffodils in large groups along borders or around more vulnerable plants (like tulips) to create a natural barrier. It’s one of the easiest ways to add color and protection to your spring garden.

04/19/2026

Spring at the Milwaukee Art Museum

Walking through the galleries filled with floral interpretations of artwork is such a refreshing, creative way to welcome the season. The level of detail, movement, and intention in each arrangement is truly inspiring.

So much appreciation for the floral designers who pour their talent into this event. Your work brings art to life in such a beautiful, fleeting way.

04/02/2026

Don’t you love it when they’re already sprouted and ready to go?! 👀😂

03/30/2026

Giveaway Time: American Pink Basketflower Seeds!

Lovers of unique and quirky flowers, these dreamy pink blooms aren’t just beautiful, they’re absolute pollinator magnets and one of my favorite flowers to grow and dry. These soft, thistle-like blossoms have the cutest little “cactus basket” shapes.

Even though they’re native to the south-central U.S., they thrive right here in Wisconsin gardens. especially in dry sunny spots with heavier, clay-rich soil. Easy, unique, and incredibly rewarding for both you and your local pollinators.

I saved several hundred seeds from my garden last season and will be sharing 30 seeds in this giveaway packet. The seeds I’ve tested from this batch are showing an amazing 99% germination rate so far!

Open to everyone in the continental United States
Local pickup available or I can ship.

Want to win a pack of seeds? Here’s how to enter:
• Like this post
• Comment your favorite flower & pollinator
• Follow my page

Bonus entries:
• Share to your page or story
• Tag a friend (each tag = 1 extra entry!)

Winner will be chosen Monday, April 6th at 8 p.m. central time.

I can’t wait to hear what you all love growing and which pollinators you adore!

03/27/2026

Stay tuned… something special is coming this weekend

Hint: it’s inspired by the little pollinators that do the most. Yes, our endangered rusty patched bumblebee friends 🐝

If you love gardens, pollinator plants, and supporting what keeps them all going… you’re going to want to see this.

03/26/2026

03/26/2026

We’re usually a lot further along with crocus by now…

The yellow ones are pushing through, but every purple bloom that’s tried so far has been “taken care of” by the local deer and rabbits. Living next to a park definitely has its trade-offs.

03/24/2026

One person’s “I don’t have room for this” is another plant lover’s dream

I rescued this gorgeous Kimberly Queen fern from the recycling center last fall. Someone was sadly dropping it off because they couldn’t overwinter it. I offered to take it, and you should’ve seen the excitement on their face.

Fast forward to now… she’s been thriving all winter and clearly has no plans of slowing down. I’ve started thinning her out to prep for dividing. Let’s just say, when fronds start growing out of the drainage holes, she’s definitely letting me know she’s ready 😂

Garden lesson: healthy plants will always tell you what they need, you just have to know how to read the signs.

03/20/2026

Happy first day of spring!

These are native Virginia Bluebells, one of Wisconsin’s early-season wildflowers that bring soft color to woodland gardens while supporting early pollinators emerging from winter. Although they don’t bloom until April, they’re a beautiful reminder that the growing season is officially here.

As we step into spring, what are you most excited to grow this year?