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Lessons Learned

secret garden guru

Lessons Learned

I can’t believe it’s October 1st. I can’t believe it’s nearly been a year since I moved back to Central Florida from the northeast. After one of the hottest, soggiest summers yet, things are finally cooling down here and I’m embracing a new first: a FULL fall planting season. And I don’t mean sowing a few cool-weather-loving leafy greens. For the first time in 11 years, I won’t be hustling to harvest every last late-summer bloom, clearing and cleaning and putting the garden t

Last of the Season

secret garden guru

Last of the Season

Below is an excerpt from @secretgardenguru on Instagram, following the end of the Spring/early Summer season. Midday the storms rolled in, turning the skies dark and sending small rivers of water down the leaves and into the grass. It flattened the bed and the flowers, as though some giant passing through had seen the pretty spot and dozed off upon it. After dragging my feet on clearing this last wild patch, this carefree season of blooms, I finally knew it was time. My famil

Power Flowers

secret garden guru

Power Flowers

Another week, another flower! Last Thursday I shared about some of the more unusual flowers and fillers I grow in my garden and use in my design work. This week, I'm happy to share about the "power flowers" in the garden - the work horses that provide endless color and charm, season over season. I can't imagine my garden without these key players, and whether you're a gardening newbie or a dirt-streaked vet, these beauties will inspire. Similar to my last post, all of the flo

Mother's Day Recap & Flower Roundup

secret garden guru

Mother's Day Recap & Flower Roundup

Guys – I can’t believe it’s been almost a week since Mother’s Day, and I’m still floating on a flower cloud over here from all of your amazing support! By the time Saturday morning rolled around, my kitchen and most of my living room was literally full of bright jars of blooms ready to be delivered to your loved ones. I am so grateful to you all for trusting me to create something special, and it was the best way to kick off my floral design work here in Central Florida! Whil

Dreams Become Reality, Part II

secret garden guru

Dreams Become Reality, Part II

Happy Friday, friends! It’s early May and the garden is rolling right along! Every time I step outside, I can feel summer speeding closer, the garden right at its heels drinking in every drop of heat and sunshine, wind and water, standing on the precipice of full riotous bloom. It's hard to believe that only two months ago this same space had no flowers or vegetables at all. As I mentioned in a previous post, back in March I had four large raised planting beds installed along

Starting from seed; everything you need to know in 10 easy steps

secret garden guru

Starting from seed; everything you need to know in 10 easy steps

If you live in the Northeast, you know it’s been one heck of a haul towards something remotely resembling spring these days. With mornings still hovering in the 30's and 40's and afternoons barely scraping the 50 degree mark, it’s hard to make a case for any early spring planting in the garden. However, for those of you who read my last post about keeping busy while it’s still cold outside, you’ll know there’s nothing idle about these winter-esque days. With nearly four weeks

Is it spring yet? Garden projects to keep you busy while it's still cold outside

secret garden guru

Is it spring yet? Garden projects to keep you busy while it's still cold outside

If you’re anything like me, I’m sure you’ve spent your fair share of time between November and now staring longingly out the window or wandering the garden in every frigid condition, bundled and waiting, crouching, poking and prodding in the hopes that some magical (if not improbable) bit of green is lingering just below the surface. To say we’ve all been dying to get outside and start planting already is probably the understatement of the century! With winter officially behi