Heartland Gardening bloggers (left to right: Michael Leach, Debra Knapke and Teresa Woodard)
Why should we launch another garden blog? Aren’t 2,000-plus an overload? If you’re living the garden lifestyle in the vast territory from Milwaukee south to Louisville and Pittsburgh west to Kansas City, you probably feel neglected, no matter how many blogs are out there. We certainly do.
That’s why we’re reaching out with our magazine-like blog. We feel too much media attention focuses on the coasts and Sun Belt. There’s good reason for that. Wonderful gardens — and growing conditions — make East and West coasts and the South and Southwest naturals for horticultural achievements.
But hey, there’s more. Heartland gardens — and gardeners — flourish. If anything, we think it takes more chutzpah, savvy and plain bullheadedness to succeed here. Trouble is, those of us living in the Heartland are the only ones who realize it. We feel our part of America is overlooked or looked down upon by those unfamiliar with the Midwest. Not us. We grew up here, garden here, write here and teach here.
We’re garden enthusiasts as you are — or will be after spending time with Heartland Gardening. We’re planning to share our experiences in the garden, on the road, in the kitchen and with other Midwest gardeners. We’ll recommend books, tools and plants. And of course, we’ll share your thoughts and comments, too. Half the fun of gardening is talking about it.
heartlandgardening
heartlandgardening 
Hello, I have been trying to find what a flower was that my grandmother used to plant every year. I really can’t remember what the bloom looked like but it had kind of watery stems on it and the seed pods were sort of shaped like a football and segmented. What I remember most was that when the seedpods were ripe if you touched them or just barely squeezed them they would burst open and had round brown or sometimes white seeds in them. I think the seeds sort of resembeled an okra seed. I can rember the smell of them but couldn’t begin to explain it. If you can help I would love it…Thank you!
Hi, Paula. Debra and Michael think its touch-me-not or bizzie lizzie, otherwise known as the balsam impatiens (Impatiens balsamina).
Probably she did not plant it every year but it planted itself. If you disturb the soil too much or lose your shady spot (dead tree, removed an object like a privacy fence..)you can make it difficult for jewelweed (the common name) to grow. It is also called “touch me not” because of that quality you remember.
Spread those seeds in a shady spot or wait for it to appear naturally! If you have honeysuckle, you will not be able to get much else to grow, especially a native plant like this one.