Introducing Amanda Thomsen - Midwest Garden Guru

Hey, I’m Amanda Thomsen the blogger behind the goofy garden/action adventure blog, Kiss My Aster! I live just a skosh North of Chicago where I work in landscaping. It’s my job to make sure everyone has the prettiest containers on the block. I also write a blog for Fine Gardening magazine’s website and I’m really proud of that...almost as proud as I am of my wee baby daughter!

Here in Chicagoland (zone 5) we have unique challenges in our gardens, like 8 months of winter (it sure feels like it), super hot and sweaty summers, Al Capone impersonators and wind that has ruined many a garden just minutes after it has gone into bloom. Thankfully, we have pizza deep enough to swim in and that’s enough to make up for the lousy weather.

I consider myself a bit of a fashionista as well, although many who see my kooky get-ups would argue that. I think that my interest in what’s new and hot in fashion has something to do with how much I like Proven Winners- It’s just the newest, most au currant stuff I could dream up and I just SWOON when I get to see what they are going to offer next season!

My own garden is usually a little off kilter due to the fact that a) I have unusual taste in garden accessories and plants and b) I’m always working in everyone elses' gardens. Between long hours at work and being the mom of a youngling, the garden suffers. I love how easy it is to spruce things up by popping a few flowering annuals (from Proven Winner, natch!) in the ground to make it look cared for and loved. Some people I know only use annuals in containers...well, that’s like saying that chocolate should only be used in chocolate chip cookies and it doesn’t belong anywhere else!