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 ReportsDesigning With Fall Natives in the Mid-Atlantic
As temperatures drop, plants in the Mid-Atlantic are displaying some striking characteristics. From fall foliage to richly colored fruit, the features of native plants during this time of year are…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsMid-Atlantic October Garden To-Do List
Summer has loosened its grip here in the Mid-Atlantic. As we breathe a sigh of relief from this long hot season, we can now step back and enjoy the garden…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsTough Summer Stars for the Mid-Atlantic
Drought conditions, high temperatures, and humidity make August in the Mid-Atlantic a tough time to be a gardener. The garden is looking a little crispy no matter how much you…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsWater-Wise Tips for the Heat of Summer
Midsummer can be brutally hot and dry in the Mid-Atlantic region. Frequent heat waves and dry spells result in the biggest chore of the summer—watering. However, a few changes can…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsMid-Atlantic August Garden To-Do List
August can be one of the toughest months for gardeners. It’s hot and often very dry. So while you are watering, weeding, and trying to stay cool, here are a…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsNative Flowers for a Mid-Atlantic Cutting Garden
Who says only annuals can make up a cut flower garden? By now gardeners know that native perennials are sustainable pollinator attractors and are necessary to support wildlife. In addition…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsMid-Atlantic July Garden To-Do List
July has arrived and the garden is buzzing. The trees and shrubs are planted. The annuals and perennials are staked and blooming. The vegetable garden is lush and ready to…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsMid-Atlantic June Garden To-Do List
Add and subtract from your garden. June is a great time to assess what you have in the garden. By now the garden has filled in, and you can add…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsNative Ferns for Moist Shade in the Mid-Atlantic Garden
I recently spoke with Laura Cruz, a horticulturist at Stoneleigh garden in Villanova, Pennsylvania. Laura is passionate about gardening with native plants and uses natives almost exclusively. With a strong…
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Mid-Atlantic Regional ReportsMay Garden To-Do List for the Mid-Atlantic
May always looks like the busiest month of the gardener’s year, and there seems to be a never-ending list of chores. These are just a few tasks that can be…
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