Foliage-rich pond garden: Kuster Garden at Madison Fling

Foliage-rich pond garden: Kuster Garden at Madison Fling

July 10, 2022 We visited a number of gardens with ponds at the Garden Bloggers Fling in Madison, Wisconsin, last month. Tom Kuster, who was not a gardener at the time, inherited his pond with the house he and wife Cheryl purchased in 1990. Did the pond work its magic ...
Japanese-inspired garden of Linda Brazill and Mark Golbach, Part 2

Japanese-inspired garden of Linda Brazill and Mark Golbach, Part 2

July 08, 2022 In my last post I shared the Asian-style front garden of Linda Brazill and Mark Golbach, whose Madison, Wisconsin, garden of 28 years I toured on the recent Garden Bloggers Fling. (I first saw their garden back in 2010.) Today let me lead you on a tour ...
East meets Midwest in the garden of Linda Brazill and Mark Golbach, Part 1

East meets Midwest in the garden of Linda Brazill and Mark Golbach, Part 1

July 06, 2022 Back in 2010, my husband traveled to Madison for the IRONMAN Wisconsin race (which he finished!), and I tagged along as cheerleader. Oh and also to see gardens. I was a big fan of the design-focused blog Each Little World by Linda Brazill and Mark Golbach and ...
Kicking off Madison Fling: People, badgers, barns, and a bountiful rooftop garden

Kicking off Madison Fling: People, badgers, barns, and a bountiful rooftop garden

July 04, 2022 Farm country scenery at the Flower Factory near Madison In late June I joined approximately 50 garden bloggers, Instagrammers, podcasters, and YouTubers in picturesque Madison, Wisconsin, for the 13th annual Garden Bloggers Fling. After a COVID hiatus of two years, and a heroic display of patience, stamina, ...
Magical mosaics in the garden of Wouterina De Raad, Part 2: Minneapolis Garden Bloggers Fling

Magical mosaics in the garden of Wouterina De Raad, Part 2: Minneapolis Garden Bloggers Fling

August 05, 2016 Yesterday I shared Part 1 of my visit to Wisconsin artist Wouterina De Raad’s mosaic sculpture garden, which was the final garden — and my favorite — on the recent Minneapolis Garden Bloggers Fling. Today I’ll end my Fling series with Part 2 about Wouterina‘s delightful, exploratory ...
Garden artistry at Wouterina De Raad's Mosaic Sculpture Park, Part 1: Minneapolis Garden Bloggers Fling

Garden artistry at Wouterina De Raad’s Mosaic Sculpture Park, Part 1: Minneapolis Garden Bloggers Fling

August 04, 2016 Each year at Garden Bloggers Fling, there’s at least one garden that moves me deeply, that creates a lasting mood and feels like an extension of the gardener him- or herself. At this year’s Fling in Minneapolis, that garden was the creation of Wouterina De Raad. (As ...
Intimate views at Olbrich Gardens

Intimate views at Olbrich Gardens

September 25, 2010 Most of my earlier posts about Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin, have shown long views, like the cleome border above. But I do have more-intimate images to share as well. A yellow jacket or some other type of wasp gathering nectar Swamp sunflower, I believe Simple ...
Thai sala at Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Thai sala at Olbrich Botanical Gardens

September 23, 2010 While my husband rested up for his big race in Madison, Wisconsin, two weekends ago, I stole a few hours with my friend and local guide Linda Brazill of Each Little World. Our first stop was Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Knowing I was short on time, she attempted ...
Tropicals & more at Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Tropicals & more at Olbrich Botanical Gardens

September 22, 2010 Boy, was I surprised to see agaves in Madison, Wisconsin, at Olbrich Botanical Gardens on my recent visit. Well, sure, they’re in containers and must spend the winter in a greenhouse, but still it was fun to see these familiar faces out of context. This border surrounds ...
Olbrich Botanical Gardens: Favorite scenes

Olbrich Botanical Gardens: Favorite scenes

September 21, 2010 Architecture in the garden makes me happy, especially when I’m taking pictures. It can be used to frame a view, like this series of doorways. Walls are nice too, and they don’t have to be made of stone. The courtyard garden at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, ...
Fall grasses at Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Fall grasses at Olbrich Botanical Gardens

September 20, 2010 Continuing my series of posts about Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin, what could be more natural or more stunning for a midwestern garden in early fall than swaths of ornamental grasses in full bloom? A mix of natives and exotics, like this stand of Miscanthus sinensis, ...
Monday morning butterflies: Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Monday morning butterflies: Olbrich Botanical Gardens

September 20, 2010 Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, WI, was a butterfly’s paradise last week. The monarchs will be migrating south soon, and they were fueling up. Gomphrena attracted this little white butterfly. I believe this is some sort of skipper butterfly enjoying the Verbena bonariensis. Another look Butterflies improve ...
Curly willow hideaway at Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Curly willow hideaway at Olbrich Botanical Gardens

September 19, 2010 A week ago I was on my way home from a visit to Madison, Wisconsin. I am still going through all my photos from the captivating Olbrich Botanical Gardens, set on 16 acres alongside Lake Monona, one of two lakes that frame the city. I plan to ...
In the garden of Each Little World

In the garden of Each Little World

September 17, 2010 Each Little World is one of my regular reads. Written by Linda Brazill and illustrated with gorgeous photos by her husband, Mark Golbach, their blog gives me tantalizing glimpses into the green, serene garden they’ve created together in Madison, Wisconsin. When the garden blogger meet-up was held ...
Foliage with wow power at Allen Centennial Gardens

Foliage with wow power at Allen Centennial Gardens

September 16, 2010 During our visit to Madison, Wisconsin, last weekend, I noticed that big, bold tropical plants were used everywhere to great effect far from their natural climate. For this month’s Foliage Follow-Up, I’ll show you what caught my eye at Allen Centennial Gardens on the University of Wisconsin ...
Bloom Day at Madison's Farmers Market

Bloom Day at Madison’s Farmers Market

September 15, 2010 Having just returned from a trip to Madison, Wisconsin, where my husband competed in his first Ironman triathlon, I want to treat you to pics from the delightful Dane County Farmers’ Market on the Capitol Square last Saturday. Overcast skies and a little rain could not dampen ...