Growing roses can be easy. Most gardeners tell me they want a rose garden. Time constraints today demand easy steps to see quick results and the considerable cost that we invest in our gardens require lasting success. When asked why they don’t grow roses most people tell me they think Continue Reading
Vignette II: Changing The World One Garden at A Time: The Peterson Garden Project
One person can make a difference in the world by teaching people how to grow their own garden. They do work that matters. They change communities. That’s what LaManda Joy is doing in Chicago one garden at a time. Have you heard about it? It’s called the Peterson Garden Project. Continue Reading
Vignette One: The Chicago Flower and Garden Show’s ‘Appeal’ of John Gidding
Vignette. I like the sound of it, don’t you? A French word, it can be used as a noun or a verb. To bring you the wonders of the Chicago Flower and Garden Show, a Tony Abruscato Flower Show Production* that I was a speaker at last week, I Continue Reading
Rose Pruning Primer: A Guide To Pruning Roses
 Pruning post traumatic stress disorder (PPTSD) Remembered Kids do say the darnedest things.” Traveling South on the N. Dallas Tollway,  5 year old Ella said, “Gaga, I’ve been thinking ’bout goin’ to church but my parents don’t even know what day it is.” “Gabi always knows what day it is Continue Reading
Reflections of A Desert Rose
Can you love a plant? Is it possible to love a finicky, difficult, worrisome plant? Let’s see how that could be possible. Just like some people in our lives plants can be finicky, difficult, and worrisome and yet still surprise us I never wanted houseplants. The plan was to direct Continue Reading