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Spring-blooming bulbs are perfect for planting with your lawn. Enjoy their flower in the spring, mow them down to grass-level when they’re done! It’s sooo easy! I love how they’ve planted sporadic groupings of bulbs along the flagstone sidewalk in this front lawn. If you’re not a fan of daffodils, Better Homes and Gardens has nine other options to choose from!

Would you be so daring to plant bulbs in your lawn?

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While I’m sure I could find space for these gorgeous, columnar planters on my suburban lot, the rustic feel to them and size to which I’d like them to be might lend better in a larger space.

What do you think? Would you use this as “statement” containers?

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Generally my style is one filled with reclaimed, rustic, galvanized objects, chippy doors and burlap. It’s only fitting my interior style be reflected in my exterior spaces. It’s a design tip that many forget to follow. If you enjoy eclectic pieces showcased on your fireplace mantel, then take those elements to your outdoor space.

More on topic — I’ve always daydreamed of having a greenhouse, escaping to its warmth in the dead of winter, tending to immature seedlings reaching for the light of the day. It would be my escape.

If you lived on an acreage, what would you have?

If you don’t know, you soon will. I am obsessed with hydrangeas.

Obsessed.

Here are a few, new hydrangeas I’m hoping to get in my garden this spring.

Paraplu hydrangea from Spring Meadows Nursery
What I love: Doubled florets! They are gorgeous. And this shrub is suppose to stay under 3 feet tall and wide. Learn more here.

Tiny Tuff Stuff hydrangea from Spring Meadow Nursery

What I love: Reblooming. blue lacecap variety growing barely 2 feet tall. Perfect for the edge of my hydrangea bed. Learn more here.

Gatsby’s Star Oakleaf hydrangea from Proven Winners

What I love: Panicle hydrangeas keep getting cooler and cooler. It started with the Limelight hydrangea and they just keep getting garden play! What I really love about this variety is again — the double florets. Also, this year, I’m crushing on white flowers. It’s a fresh, neutral color I think my garden needs more of. Learn more here.

Incrediball hydrangea from Proven Winners

What I love: So speaking of white. This hot-head is sure to make an impact in my garden with blooms reaching upwards of 12 inches across! While this isn’t a new variety for 2013, I’m finally coming around to appreciating it. Probably has something to do with its color. Learn more here.

Nantucket Blue Hydrangea from Garden Debut

What I love: Truth-be-told, I’m loving this hydrangea because Garden Debut is behind its production and I’ve got a soft spot for them. I have no doubt it will be a knockout in the garden. And of course — who doesn’t love blue hydrangeas?!? Learn more here.

Do you have a favorite hydrangea? Please share! I can always find room for one — or several more.
See more fun plants on my Pinterest board: Plant Geek.

Last spring I was fortunate enough to film 10 container gardening courses for a venture between Better Homes and Gardens and Craftsy. Here’s a preview of the courses…including snapshots of wild make-up and hairstyles (the first day of shooting I mistakenly let someone try to style my hair—bad idea–curls only respond to their master)

If you’re interested you can purchase the gardening package for only 20 bucks! It’s a steal! (right?) Plus you’ll get access to the course materials outlining the plants we used and if that’s not enough you can ask whatever (gardening related) questions you want in the forum and I’ll answer.

Happy planting!

Katie

Everyone knows vegetables are good for you. Just how good? I can’t answer that, but Burpee can with their BOOST collection showcasing six exclusive, delicious and nutritious vegetables. It’s hard these days to eat a healthy, balanced meal at each sitting, particularly when you don’t know how much goodness that little cherry tomato carries. That’s why I’m intrigued by this line of Burpee veggies that tell you — ‘right on the label’ — just how nutritious they are.

For example: Tomato, Solar Power Hybrid

According to its label, this tomato has ‘more than three times the level of healthy beta-carotene of the average tomato‘. Begging the question, why would you go with an ordinary tomato?

Are you excited yet? No?

Do you eat lettuce? What health-nut doesn’t? Could you see yourself harvesting mixed leafy greens weekly (with sufficient amount of plants and proper management) from your backyard or even apartment balcony? Introducing Burpee’s Healing Hands Mix of Lettuce packed full with ‘20% more lutein and 30% more beta-carotene than the average salad mix‘.

It just seems growing your own {healthy} grub just got a whole lot easier. I’m all about making things easier. This year I’ll be getting a BOOST by chomping down on the Power Pops tomato, Cherry Punch tomato, and the Hot, Sweet Heat Pepper. I’ll let you know how how much healthier I am by the end of the season.

If you’re interested–order your seeds (or plants) now!

Occasionally I’m asked

“Where’s the best place to buy plants?”

I thought I’d share with you where I like to peruse for plants…and of course some shopping secrets.

Listed in no particular order….

TimberPine Nursery

Of course I’ll plug you with love for TimberPine Nursery. Say hello to my hubs–Jay–when you go out there.

Nice thing about TimberPine–they try to grow most of their plants to cut down on the freight cost of shipping finished product. {I hope that wasn’t too much industry jargon there–basically means the cost is less}. Where this will really hit your pocket is in the tree department. Good quality trees at a fraction of the cost from other local garden centers.

Secret Tip: If there is something special you’re looking for and don’t see it initially, ask an employee if they have it “in the back-40″ or if they can order it.

Loki’s Garden

Formerly known as Heirloom Gardens–now under new ownership, Loki’s brings to the Des Moines area what I’ve been dying to have–the latest plant varieties as well as a few oddball plants you can’t find anywhere else. If you want a landscape nothing like your neighbor’s, head over to Loki’s Garden and talk with Justin Hancock.

Secret Tip: Challenge them to be different and be prepared to be blown away. Proof is in the pictures–on facebook.

Herndon’s Des Moines Seed and Nursery

I bet few of you actually know where Herndon’s is located. And who could blame you–they have no website–no way to know what’s going on. Let me tell you…..the plant selection is wonderful, the quality is phenomenal and the prices show for it.

Secret Tip: I would go in the spring to see all that they have to offer–but hold out until fall for their blow out sale. Unless of course you’re like me–in that you can’t wait–need to have it now!

There you have it–my first round of local garden centers worth perusing! Did I miss you’re favorite? Let me hear it..or hold out for round two!

Happy Planting!

~Katie

I’m fairly certain heaven is laced with hydrangeas–at least that’s what my heaven will look like. Want a peek?

I cannot wait until these Limelight Hydrangeas fill in! Their blooms are magnificent and last FOREVER! Little Lime also has my interests peaked–would be perfect specimen for a smaller landscape or focal point.

Let’s not forget Endless Summer Hydrangea–tried and trued miracle plant that brought new life to the hydrangea world. Just a quick tidbit–don’t get too anxious this spring and cut back on your Endless Summer. Pruning could make or break your bloom period so be sure to trim appropriately.

Twist and Shout Hydrangea has yet to “wow” me contrary to other gardeners.  But I’m not giving up–I’ll try to give her a lil extra loving this year.

And finally–the last hydrangea piece of heaven (so far)….

Pinky Winky. Last summer I made this gal work too hard for her water–so that’s why you get only a bloom shot.

Today’s spring teaser has me dreaming of ways to expand my hydrangea collection and thanks to Ball Ornamentals, my wish list is off to a pretty good start. Check out their latest introductions and let me know if you’ve found a favorite!

You all know I love living…vertical walls.

So much so I conned my husband into building me one…..or three. But I think I’ve got room for more–there is approximately 2000 square footage of interior real estate just waiting to host some plant life at my house–and I’m game.

Fortunately for my plant-geekdom Bright Green is rolling out with a more residentially-friendly module for me to plaster throughout my home. I love the basic module but add in the wood frame (or metal, re-purposed, get creative) and I’m sold!

Just imagine the possibilities!

That’s all I ask people! Get creative in your spaces–outdoor and indoor!

At last week’s ANLA Management Clinic I learned Bright Green will soon be rolling out with a catch basin attachment for your interior module to capture any water that filters through. They’ve also got watering figured too-the module comes irrigation ready (or they’ll provide you with it) as well as a “watering attachment” if you have a smaller feature.

What I think you’ll find most functional is the ability to grow, vertically, your herbs right next to your stove.  Could you get anymore efficient in the kitchen? I think not.

For more information on where you can get your hands on a Bright Green living wall…contact your local garden center and beg for it! Or contact Bright Green.

Photos courtesy of Bright Green-see more on Facebook!

As the season changes…so too does my lifestyle.  I’m moving on and hopefully up.

Friday was my last day at TimberPine Nursery.  It was bittersweet.

TimberPine was my first real job out of college.  It was where I learned what landscape design was like in the real world.  It’s where I met my husband.  It’s where Katie Ketelsen marinated for the last 7 years.

I am very thankful for TimberPine as they have helped lead me to where I stand today.

The movement to buy fresh buy local will only grow stronger in the years to come and I’m ready to climb on that bandwagon by joining Urban515.  Formerly my efforts with Urban515 can be seen on Twitter, Facebook and occasionally blogging.  I hope to bring you the behind-the-scenes view of the local businesses you may not even know exist.  To learn more about Urban515 and the membership benefits for you as a consumer, please check out their website and if you have any questions, drop me a line at Katie@Urban515.com.

Staying true to my horticulture roots, I will also be joining the Better Homes and Gardens group working to add content to their website, help bring garden trends and best practices to your inbox and contribute to their Everyday Gardeners blog .

I’m so excited for this new journey.  It too is bittersweet.  Thank you for sticking along with me.

Katie