Grounded Design – most exciting blog discovery in a long time

By Susan Harris|2021-02-03T18:51:25-05:00December 18, 2010|11 Comments

When I happened upon the blog of landscape architect Thomas Rainer my first thought was: Why isn’t he guest-posting on GardenRant? Or alternatively, is his blog the Rant of landscape architecture? Seriously, look these thought- and passion-provoking posts:

The New Manliness: Machismo through Dirty Diapers and Gardening
His Earth Day Challenge to Loosen up the Landscape.
The End of Groundcovers
Native Plants for the Cottage Garden

In fact, I emailed these stories and more to myself for rainy-day reading, and now that I’ve gone back for a closer look I discover that his most recent post was in September – eek!

So Thomas, what’ll it take to keep your blog going? Anyone with this credo has GOT to be heard.

By Susan Harris|2021-02-03T18:51:25-05:00December 18, 2010|11 Comments

About the Author: Susan Harris

Susan co-founded GardenRant and also wrote for national gardening magazines and independent garden centers before retiring in 2014. Now she has time for these projects:

– Creating and editing the nonprofit website Greenbelt Online to serve her adopted town of Greenbelt, Maryland (a “New Deal Utopia” founded in 1937); and managing the Greenbelt, Maryland YouTube Channel. She’s also on the Board of Greenbelt Access TV.

– Video-blogging about hoop dancing on her channel Susan’s Hoop Dance Journey, which launched in 2023.

– Founding two resource websites: Good Gardening Videos that recommends science-based gardening videos on YouTube; and DC Gardens, the nonprofit campaign to promote the public gardens of the Washington, D.C. area, and gardening by locals.

Here Susan rants about anything that misinforms or discourages gardeners – from old-school quacks to mistaken do-gooders to local laws that mandate conformity – and reports on news from the world of gardening.

Contact Susan via email or by leaving a comment on one of her articles.

11 Comments

veratrine December 18, 2010 at 7:32 am

I’m sure it’s to do with the fact he and his wife just had their first baby! Which means, no doubt, he’ll be back to blogging in 18 or 19 years 😉
Tara Dillard December 18, 2010 at 8:01 am

“The quality of our environment affects our health & spirit.”

This isn’t mumbo-jumbo. It’s science.

Recent studies prove a connection between increased white blood cell counts and being amongst plants.

And other such stuff…….but I’m busy & gotta go.

Thanks Susan for posting this.

Garden & Be Well, XO Tara
BooksInGarden December 18, 2010 at 8:08 am

Wow! Awesome blog. Can we bribe him?
Gardener on Sherlock Street December 18, 2010 at 8:20 am

I’m sure the baby is keeping him busy!
Patricia Hill December 18, 2010 at 9:47 am

Glad to see that there is at least one other person who designs with native plants.

I am the author of the book Design Your Natural Midwest Garden that features 32 designs–some of them cottagey-and over 200 photographs of midwest native plants.

I just put my new web site on line in mid-November along with a weekly blog that features descriptions, photographs, and cultural requirements of midwest native plants that are showy that week..

Take a look.
http://www.midwestnaturalgarden.com

My book can be purchased from my website or Amazon.com. The Chicago Botanic Garden also carries it.

Live green!
Michelle D December 18, 2010 at 10:31 am

Love his philosophy.
great reading blog
thanks for the intro.
greg draiss December 18, 2010 at 12:22 pm

I prefer gardening in my underwear with a beer in one hand slice of pizza in the other

The TROLL
tibs December 18, 2010 at 12:26 pm

But Greg, if you have both hands full, what are you gardening with?
greg draiss December 18, 2010 at 4:28 pm

Watching the grass grow still counts as gardening….doesn’t it?
Actually walking on my lawn in aerator sandals
the TROLL
Hoover December 18, 2010 at 10:21 pm

He’s probably changing dirty diapers.
Thomas Mickey December 20, 2010 at 8:15 am

This is one of my favorite blogs. I am so glad you are mentioning it here for the Rant readers.