By Sara Gasbarra Acclaimed Chicago pastry chef Leigh Omilinsky and I have been close friends for many years, our work and lives intersecting via Chicago’s restaurant industry where Leigh crafts beautiful (and delicious!) Italian-inspired pastries and desserts for Nico Osteria, and I build and tend culinary gardens for chefs and other hospitality clients with my full-service garden […]
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Category: Flower Gardening
Confessions of a Self-Watering Container...
One of the most productive times of the year for a gardener is the winter — when we’re planning and dreaming of what we’ll do in the dirt this year. What to plant where? And when? Of course, some of us are also making travel plans for the spring and summer. Maybe a jaunt to […]
Make Raised Beds Productive: Plant Sprin...
If you’re a raised bed gardener, chances are your beds are empty for a large portion of the year: from the end of harvest through the winter. What if you could squeeze in another crop? Consider fall-planted, spring-blooming bulbs. At the front of our building, we have a set of raised beds and planters, which […]
Not hardy? Not a problem
SOMETIMES new traditions begin with an impulse buy. Last spring, I was at a garden center, struck by the beauty of a pot of blue-violet anemones and yellow ranunculus. The anemones were so gorgeous. And the winter had been so long. Ten bucks didn’t seem like too much to pay for a pot of plants […]
Roll Out the Un-Welcome Mat for Squirrel...
Squirrels seem to be a big problem this year, based on what I hear from customers at our Burlington, VT, garden center. I can substantiate these concerns with my own experience as a dabbler in raised beds and containers. The squirrels are constantly digging up bulbs, mulch, plants and vegetables. No dirt is left unturned […]
What’s Next for Your Garden? Start Dream
What better way to begin the New Year than with a planting (or at least dreaming about) a new garden? Maybe you’re ready to revamp an existing garden. Or, maybe it’s simple: Plant some new, colorful pots on a patio or balcony to enjoy with a morning cup of tea. Whether your project costs $50, […]
Peony Lovers: Who Was Sarah Bernhardt?
Ever wonder how some plants get their names? The romantically fragrant, pink peony Sarah Bernhardt was named more than 100 years ago and remains a garden favorite. The beloved French actress, known as Madame Sarah (born in Paris 1844-1923), is still considered the most famous actress of the 19th century. The peony that bears her name was introduced […]
Dish it Out. Succulents Can Take the Hea...
If you’re looking for a simple, easy-care planter that can endure heat and dry spells, consider filling a pot with succulents.