Through her Instagram and YouTube channel, she shares container gardening tips, seasonal lessons, and immersive garden tours—creating an inviting space for urban gardeners to grow confidently and creatively in smaller spaces or balconies.
About You:
How did your love for gardening begin?
My love for gardening began with helping my grandparents in the backyard of their home in Indiana. I would follow behind my grandpa as he walked up and down the rows, and he would hand me fresh peas, tomatoes, and rhubarb to munch on. From that moment on I knew I always wanted to have my own garden when I grew up.
Can you describe your current garden?
What are some of its key features or the plants you're most proud of right now?
My current garden is all in containers on a deck. I moved to Chicago in 2012 with no access to a yard which I thought was required to have a garden. In 2019 I decided to stop waiting and start gardening with a few pots on my rooftop deck. From there, it has expanded to multiple elevated beds with hundreds of plants growing on my rooftop.
What does gardening mean to you personally?
Is it a form of relaxation, creativity, connection with nature?
It is a way for me to connect with nature while living in a city. From the moment I walk outside to my garden in the morning to watch the sunrise, I feel at peace surrounded by beautiful flowers and the sounds of birds chirping. Not only do I get to connect with nature, but I also feel like I’m giving back by providing food for pollinators in urban areas.
Garden Inspiration:
What are some often-overlooked elements that can add significant visual interest to a garden, regardless of size?
When gardening in a small area, you’ll find more options to expand your garden up instead of out. I look for vertical planters to fill with flowers or vegetables which not only means I can grow more but adds beauty to my space. I also look for plants that grow more vertically, like columnar fruit trees or vining plants to grow up a trellis.
What inspired you to start balcony gardening?
I was originally waiting to have a yard in order to create the garden I always wanted but got tired of waiting and started gardening on my deck in 2019. I’m glad I didn’t wait because six years later I still don’t have a yard, but I do have a beautiful and productive container garden.
Are there any gardening books, artists, or historical periods that have influenced your aesthetic?
I really love cottage style gardens which are relaxed and informal, where flowers, fruit. To me, this type of garden feels more whimsical than a neat and orderly garden.
classic obelisk
classic obelisk
Personal Experience and Wisdom:
What has been your most challenging gardening experience, and what did you learn from it?
My most challenging experience has been carrying everything I need to garden up to my rooftop. I learned to opt for lighter weight pots, no matter how pretty I think large, ceramic pots are and start with smaller plants to make it easier to get up to the roof.
What are some of the most surprising or unexpected things you've learned from gardening?
The most surprising thing I’ve learned is that I can grow anything I want in containers. I thought my options would be much more limited, but there hasn’t been one plant I’ve wanted to grow that I wasn’t able to. I might have to grow a compact variety or opt for columnar fruit trees, but I have everything I want in my garden!
What's a gardening "rule" that you've learned is okay to break, or even beneficial to break, in certain situations?
I have learned to break the rule of spacing requirements. When you have a small garden, you often have to grow plants closer together in order to fit them in your space. Surprisingly, growing plants closer together has been beneficial as they help support each other against the strong winds we can get on the rooftop deck.
