(and that’s Maisie.)

Four years ago, when my husband and I bought our house, I was daunted by the idea of renovating and caring for a yard that had been neglected for some years. I had never been responsible for such a large piece of land before and I was terrified to mess it up. Growing peppers and tomatoes in my sunny apartment in Washington, DC just wasn’t the same level of responsibility!

With time, dedication, research, and sweat, I learned how to turn our property into a gardener’s playground and built so much confidence in my knowledge and skills. I busted my tuchus getting rid of huge swaths of the lawn covering our 1/3 acre lot , battled (and conquered!) monstrous invasive plants, and began to create the garden of my dreams.

Learning to be a steward of the land where I live has taught me so many valuable life lessons. During a time of deep depression, I found that working in the yard was one of the few things that made me feel alive. I’ve made a lot of mistakes and learned that they usually don’t matter that much. I’ve also had successes beyond my wildest dreams.

I’ve taken courses in sustainable garden design and maintenance and, in 2025, became certified as a Wisconsin Master Gardener.

I have an insatiable thirst for plant, garden, and landscaping knowledge and I’m now working to share that with others.