Michele Christiano
Michele fell in love with gardening while working in the annuals department at a nursery in southeastern Pennsylvania while pursuing an undergraduate degree in biology. She continued her career by completing a Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Plants at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. She has worked in public gardens for most of her career, including Winterthur Museum, Gardens, and Library in Winterthur, Delaware, and Longwood Gardens and is currently an estate gardener maintaining a Piet Oudolf garden. She loves to spend as much time outdoors as possible with her husband and two children.
1. What do you like most about gardening in your region?
I love gardening in all four seasons of the Mid-Atlantic region. The garden looks so different throughout the year. Using the four seasons to design and garden in the Mid-Atlantic allows so much diversity in choosing a plant palette.
2. What’s the biggest challenge to gardening in your region?
By far the biggest problem is our beautiful white-tailed friend, the deer. Unfortunately, overpopulation and decreased habitat make for a very challenging time for gardeners in the Mid-Atlantic region.
3. What plant are you jazzed about in your garden right now?
I am so excited to grow ‘Amazing Grey’ poppy (Papaver rhoeas ‘Amazing Grey’, annual) this year! I plan on trying this annual in my garden in the upcoming season.
4. What was the last plant you killed?
I just killed my poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima, Zones 9–11). It’s a post-Christmas tradition for me to neglect them.
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsRecap of the 2021 Philadelphia Flower Show
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) has hosted the Philadelphia Flower Show since 1829. Traditionally held indoors in early March at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the show was moved outdoors in…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsExploring Native Lawn Alternatives That Thrive in the Mid-Atlantic
Jeff Lorenz and his team at Refugia Design specialize in creating native landscapes in the Philadelphia area. In addition to looking better than turfgrass, the gardens they design also manage…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsMarch Garden To-Do List for the Mid-Atlantic
Spring is just around the corner, and there is much to do in the garden. The weather can be finicky in March, but there will be plenty of mild days…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsPruning Shrubs for Winter Color
As winter wears on in the Mid-Atlantic, tasks in the garden are few and far between. However, one task that always remains is pruning. Winter is the perfect time to…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsNemours Estate Brings Formal French Elegance to the Mid-Atlantic
Nemours Estate, once the country home of Alfred I. duPont, is located on 300 acres in Wilmington, Delaware. Both the mansion and the beautifully interpreted formal French gardens that surround…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsMid-Atlantic: February Garden To-Do List
As every gardener knows, February is a bittersweet month. Yearning to be outside while the garden is dormant and often snow covered can be depressing for those who spend most…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsCreate Winter Tussie-Mussies With Cuttings From Your Garden
Tussie-mussies are small flower bundles that were worn, carried as fashion accessories, and given as gifts during the Victorian era. They were popularized by Queen Victoria, who often carried around…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsFabulous Fall Grasses for the Mid-Atlantic
It is that time of year again when the days become shorter and the temperatures drop. Autumn brings some of the most brilliant garden displays of the year, and there…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsShrubs with Spectacular Fall Fruit for the Mid-Atlantic
As the hot, Mid-Atlantic summer winds down, gardeners look forward to the mild weather of fall for a well-needed break. This is a good time to reevaluate the garden with…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsMid-Atlantic November Garden To-Do List
In November, the Mid-Atlantic is deeper into fall and nature is winding down. However, there are still things to do in the garden. From planting those bulbs you still have…
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