Professional Advice
Transformation: One Container at a Time
CONTAINEDBRILLIANCE What Containers Teach Us About Transformation Every container garden holds more than soil and plants. It holds a story: who lives there, how the space is used, what season of life they’re in, and a bit of the gardener’s personality. That’s one of the reasons I love container gardening so much. With just…
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Holiday Gift Guide for the Container Gardener in Your Life
CONTAINEDBRILLIANCE It’s December, and like many of you, my inbox is overflowing with “last chance” deals, countdown clocks, and limited-time offers. And while I appreciate a good deal, I try not to let all the noise dictate my spending. Instead of clicking impulsively, I keep a running list of thoughtful gift ideas throughout the…
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Vacation-Proof Your Pots: How to Keep Your Plants Thriving While You’re Away
CONTAINEDBRILLIANCE August is known for its sizzling heat and as the time when our container gardens hit their peak, overflowing with everything we’ve nurtured for months. Right now, mine are bursting with blueberries, crisp lettuce, armfuls of blooms like verbena bonariensis, echinacea, and dahlias. Every glance out my office window gives me a little…
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Seven Summer Sizzlers; Color That Keeps on Blooming
CONTAINEDBRILLIANCE We all want our container plantings to stay full of color and texture, even on the hottest days of summer. With a little care and some smart plant choices, they absolutely can. This week marks both the first official week of summer and National Pollinator Week. As container gardeners, we have a front…
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When Comfort Meets Challenge: The Hidden Gift of Redesign
CONTAINEDBRILLIANCE As designers, whether we’re working with plants, paint, or pixels, we all hit that sweet spot where everything just works. You know what I mean: the combinations you can count on, the go-to favorites you trust to perform. That’s exactly where I was with one of my longtime clients. They loved warm colors.…
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From Ordinary to Outstanding: What Sets Great Container Gardens Apart
CONTAINEDBRILLIANCE Last month, I had the privilege of judging the City Living Gardens at the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival, selecting the winner for All Around Best Container Garden Display. As a container gardening professional, I had the pleasure of judging alongside two incredible women – Grace Hensley, a professional garden photographer, and Barb…
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Beauty, the Brain, and Container Gardening
CONTAINEDBRILLIANCE I learned a new word last week, neuroaesthetics, thanks to Melissa Gerstle at the Digging In Association’s Winter Conference. I’ve always known that a well-tended garden or even just a few plants, can brighten my day. I understand the science behind Biophilia, which explains the proven mental and physical benefits of gardening. But…
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A Fresh Start; Trends, Goals and Inspiration
CONTAINEDBRILLIANCE January is a time to refresh, regroup, and set the tone for the year ahead – perfect time to talk trends, set goals, and embrace learning opportunities. For me, it’s a time to take stock of what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d like to change as I step into the new year.…
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Bring a Sunny Disposition to Your Container Plantings
CONTAINEDBRILLIANCE There’s just something about yellow Last month, I shared that tete a tetes signify the arrival of spring for me. I recently found myself thinking about what is it about tete a tetes that makes me feel so cheerful and happy. Is it something as simple as their color? Yellow symbolizes happiness. One…
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Hot Summer Tips for Water-Wise Container Gardening
CONTAINEDBRILLIANCE The heat has arrived and forecasters throughout the nation are telling most of us that it’s going to be an unusually warm and dry summer. This can be stressful not only for us, but for the container plantings we care for. How do we get the best from our container gardens — which…
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