Welcome to the
Middle Garden
The Middle Garden is a patch of earth nestled in Evanston, IL. Here, the gardener (Ellen) chronicles the lives of seedlings, garden experiments, the ways plants thrive, and making the most of a garden. Settle in for the love of plants, bugs, birds, soil, and every small discovery waiting in our backyard ecosystems.
Plant Spotlight: Verbena Bonariensis
This is one of the few plants where the botanic name is more delightful than the common name (Purpletop Vervain? snooze). ‘Verbena Bonariensis’ happily bounces off the tongue, as do my praises of her as an easy, reliable, and stunning flower beloved by both humans and pollinators.
Hardscaping for Fantasy Fiction Lovers
So when I sized up the Privet, I felt like I was staring down a hedgerow of Orcs. But I was well-hydrated, well-booted, and Lady Galadriel had just handed me some dry bread. Axe (loppers) in one hand, shield (shovel) in the other, I blew the horn of Gondor and charged.
Plant Spotlight: Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
And so, my first impression of Blanket Flower was gratitude, and a budding appreciation not unlike the first watch of a cult classic film.
Seedling ID #3: Nigella (Love in a Mist) Sowing Difficulty Meter: 2/10
Nigella is also commonly known as Love in a Mist, which has to be in the top five best names for a plant. How apt and whimsical.
Garden Experiment #2. I want edible crops in the winter. Is it wishful thinking in Chicago?
And here’s what else I’ve discovered: I can make a greenhouse within my greenhouse (exploding head emoji).
How to have your Dahlias and keep them too! 8 simple steps for overwintering these tubers
So if you’re like me, here’s how to have them even in the colder zones (at or lower than zone 8). Dahlias are considered a tender perennial. This means that they can come back every year but they cannot stand sub freezing temps.
Free Plant Adoptions from the Middle Garden
It was two summers ago when I put out the first free plants on my front lawn. I had sown too many tomatoes and couldn't bring myself to dump them in the compost heap.
5 Reasons not to have a greenhouse in Chicago. And the real reasons I still have one.
I’ve mentioned before how my stubborn ass refuses not to have a greenhouse in my backyard in a Chicago suburb.
Seedling ID #2. Genovese Basil. Sowing Difficulty: 2/10
As you harvest, be sure to get all those smells in, it probably helps prevent cancer.
Plant Spotlight: Common Blue Violet
Common Blue Violet. I really wish this would take over my lawn.
Garden Experiment #1: Sowing perennial seeds nature’s way, well, close to it.
The sheer thrill of perennial seeds popping up is not easily surpassed. It means I got everything right: enough water, enough light, just-right temperate, right timing, right planting depth, etc.
Let’s meet our gardens! 5 need-to-know conditions for thriving plants
All of this boils down to the classic “right plant, right place” methodology. Once you know your growing conditions, you can find the right plants to fit in.
Seedling ID #1: Cilantro. Sowing Difficulty 1/10
This Seedling ID bank will help you and me ID our seedlings and prevent us from getting super excited over some damn Buckthorn.
Why the Middle?
But I think Goldilocks was onto something. Not too hot, not too cold; not too hard, not too soft; not too poor, not too rich; not too hungry, not too full. Somewhere in the middle, that’s humanity’s sweet spot
Welcome to the Middle Garden and Post #1
This is the Middle Garden, at least how it lives in Blog Form.