My Story
I was born and raised in Oklahoma, where we “make” gardens — we don’t plant them. It all started with a vegetable garden plan that I found in Kitchen Gardener magazine over 30 years ago (The bunnies ate my first attempt, but I kept trying.)
Or maybe it started when I earned my bachelor’s degree in Journalism–Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma with an emphasis in Botany. I’m probably best known as the creator and writer of my blog, Red Dirt Ramblings, where I tell the ongoing story of making my garden on the 7.5 acres surrounding my home.
I also take my readers along as I travel around the world and bring them into the kitchen with me for my gluten-free culinary creations. I’m a new beekeeper, so I share my adventures in beekeeping along with my experiences raising and releasing Monarch butterflies.
With a helping hand from my husband, Bill, who enjoys hardscape building more than gardening, I keep expanding my garden — and writing about it. In addition to my blog, I also write for green-industry businesses that need website content, product descriptions, newsletter articles, and more. I also love hitting the road as a garden speaker, sharing stories, techniques, and laughs with regional and national audiences. Learn more about my speaking topics here.
My Books & Writing
My first book, The 20-30 Something Garden Guide: A No-Fuss, Down and Dirty, Gardening 101 for Anyone Who Wants to Grow Stuff
I’m also a frequent contributor of articles and photographs to Oklahoma Gardener magazine. I’m a columnist for Oklahoma Living magazine, and I’ve written for Organic Gardening magazine, Fine Gardening, flower magazine, The Edmond Sun, The Oklahoman, the Oklahoma Horticultural Society’s Horticulture Horizons, and The Daylily Journal.
Other clients have included:
American Meadows, Fiskar’s Corporation, Garden Design magazine, HGTVGardens, Lowe’s Home Improvement, and other green-industry businesses.
Red Dirt Ramblings
Red Dirt Ramblings won the Garden Writers Association’s Gold Award for Best Electronic Writing in 2014. Better Homes and Gardens named RDR one of its Top Ten Gardening Blogs in 2014, and Southern Living magazine named me one of its 30 Bloggers to Follow in 2015 and 2016.
