Spring is a time of resurgence, when dormant creatures — such as birds, insects, the Milwaukee Brewers and gardeners — emerge from their long winter’s nap.
But even the most hyped-up horticulturalists or cheerful cultivators can use some inspiration before another strenuous season of weeding and planting.
Recently Mark Dwyer, the Healing Garden manager at Edgerton Hospital and Health Services, planted himself at WPR’s “The Larry Meiller Show” to recommend his favorite websites and social media pages to “bloomscroll” for anyone needing some gardening get-up-and-go.
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Although the sites and pages are from a variety of experts in a variety of growing climates, Dwyer says they are all sown from the same seed.
“One thing all the sites have in common is a broad applicability to a wide audience,” Dwyer explained. “They speak to a wide range of the gardening public.”
Let the bloomscrolling begin . . .
This site bills itself as “the definitive guide to stylish, sustainable outdoor spaces.” And Dwyer agrees.
“Gardenista has been around for quite some time (since 2012) and has an unbelievable amount of links and articles and is just an amazing resource,” Dwyer said.
Be prepared to dig far beneath the surface when visiting this site run by Jared Barnes, a horticulture professor at Stephen F. Austin State University.
“He leans toward a little deeper reading,” Dwyer remarked. “But he really has his finger on the pulse of horticulture.”
Similarly, web users should plan to stay awhile on this site developed by podcast host and The New York Times columnist Margaret Roach.
“I love the way she writes,” Dwyer said. “She knows a lot about plants and flowers, but the way she phrases things in her writing style is just excellent. So regardless of the topic, I read everything she produces because it’s so good.”
This site is the brainchild of three garden writers — Jessica Walliser, Niki Jabbour and Tara Nolan — living and gardening in three distinct growing climates.
“Their site is just amazing,” Dwyer said. “They’re doing a great job of providing a wealth of information. All three are extremely knowledgeable and have long careers in horticulture.”
This Substack newsletter is from Rebecca McMackin, a self-described “ecologically-obsessed horticulturist and garden designer” who is also the lead horticulturist for the American Horticultural Society.
“Her newsletter is amazing,” Dwyer stated. “She has her own musings and then amazing links of stuff she’s read to check out.”
This site grew from the mind of Brie Arthur, the author of “The Foodscape Revolution” and “Gardening with Grains,” as well as a contributor to the PBS program “Growing a Greener World.”
“She’s an engaging speaker,” Dwyer remarked. “Any content she’s sharing is not only educational, but she’s just very inspiring. She lives and breathes plant material.”
Anyone who needs extra inspiration can check out Brie’s YouTube channel that features more than 1,600(!) videos.
Gardeners wanting fast results will find a kindred spirit in Beloit native Erin Schanen, who manages this site.
“She’s not shy about sharing her challenges and failures,” Dwyer remarked. “And that’s how we learn.”
Another gardener with decades of experience planting in Wisconsin, Myers’s site claims that she is “the real deal” with “the dirt under her fingernails and the degree on the wall to prove it.”
Her site is “amazing,” Dwyer raved, adding that her books are “incredible.”
“Gardener Sue is Susan Martin, and she’s very plant knowledgeable,” Dwyer said. “She posts a lot of inspirational things, a lot of photos of her home garden. She’s someone who gets right into the weeds. She’s really an active home gardener.”
Gercens is employed as the conservatory manager for Longwood Gardens, in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, which Dwyer claims is “probably the premiere garden in the country.”
“His photography is unreal,” Dwyer exclaimed. “It’s monumental. He’s my No. 1 person to follow on Facebook.”
Grimshaw is a gardener from North Yorkshire and is the editor-in-chief of Trees and Shrubs Online and Curtis’s Botanical Magazine.
“This guy is a plant nut,” Dwyer said. “He’s constantly posting images, including some amazing varieties we don’t have yet domestically.”
“It sounds a little self-serving for me to promote my Facebook page,” Dwyer admitted.
But Dwyer’s active page, based on his photos and travels, did lead to the flowering of this “bloomscrolling” list.
“I’m just going to post three nice flower photos a day,” Dwyer explained as the inspiration behind his page.
“I don’t think there’s been a time in our history where it’s been more important for us to connect to the beauty we have around us.”
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