Radiant Leaf Consulting

10/09/2026

An unexpected opportunity to visit a Japanese garden that has been on my bucket list for ages! The Mytoi Gardens 🌿

I made my way over to Chappaquiddick Island (yes, there were ferry rides involved ⛴️) to finally see this 14-acre garden for myself.

Hugh Jones created Mytoi in 1950, and after Hurricane Bob in 1991, landscape architect Julie Messervy redesigned and restored it.🌪️

I wandered the winding paths past an incredible Japanese cryptomeria, a wonderful collection of dwarf conifers, and topiary (!) redvein enkianthus. 🌸

I crossed the raised bridge to the pond's island, home to a variety of turtles, frogs, and goldfish. 🪷

If you ever find yourself on Martha's Vineyard, I'd say it's worth the (second!) ferry ride.

10/07/2026

🐦 Early bird rates are open!

Book by December 18th and lock in 2026 pricing.

🌿 Over 12 Foundational to Advanced Modules
🌿 Hybrid learning: Online + hands-on practica
🌿 Simultaneous Spanish/Portuguese Interpretation
🌿 Continuing Education Credits (CEUs)
🌿 Workforce Training Fund Program (WTFP) Training Provider
🌿 MA Certified Woman Business Enterprise (WBE)

Book a call with me: https://scheduler.zoom.us/radiant_leaf/pro

10/05/2026

I spent five years caring for the Leventritt Garden at the Arnold Arboretum, and it's a great place to stroll if you're figuring out which shrubs belong in your own garden.

Here we took a look at:

🌱 P*e Wee oakleaf (Hydrangea quercifolia 'P*e Wee'): a dwarf oakleaf, about 20 years in and only hip height
🍂 Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia): the full size species, starting its amazing fall color
🤍 White Dome smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens 'Dardom'): big, bright white lacecaps
💜 Blue Billow mountain hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata 'Blue Billow'): periwinkle lacecaps and a personal favorite (sometimes classified as a macrophylla).
🌸 Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens): the species, with creamy white to blush pink flowers o
☀️ Quick Fire panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Quick Fire'): white flowers that age to rich fall color, plus serious drought tolerance. Perfect for a hot, dry, full sun spot.

Huge thanks to the Arnold Arboretum!

10/02/2026

🍂 Autumn Updates from Radiant Leaf 🍂 -

Are you loving these autumn colors?

09/30/2026

Hydrangeas are the shrub Massachusetts gardens rely on most, and that's exactly why we can't afford to guess with them. The more you understand them, the better they perform. 🌸

I'll be giving my talk Hydrangeas 360 at the NEC-ISA 2026 Annual Conference & Trade Show, where arborists and green industry pros come together for education, demos, and networking. 🌳

Here's what we'll cover:
🌿 The species behind the hot trade names
🔎 Year-round identification tips
✂️ How to prune to maximize flowering
🐝 Which hydrangeas are drought-tolerant or benefit pollinators
🌱 Other essential growing tips

🕝 Hydrangeas 360: 2:15pm · Monday, October 5
📅 October 4-6, 2026
📍 Crowne Plaza Hotel · Warwick, RI

Register here:
https://www.newenglandisa.org/events/2026-new-england-isa-conference-and-tradeshow

09/28/2026

Excited for NEC-ISA next week!

NEC-ISA's Annual Conference & Trade Show is the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture's flagship event, bringing together arborists and green industry professionals for days of education, demos, and networking. If trees are your trade, this is the one to be at.🌳🌲

🕝 I'll be presenting at 2:15 on Monday· Hydrangeas 360 · A deep dive into hydrangea care, from selection to pruning to troubleshooting the questions clients ask most. 🌸

📅 October 4-6, 2026
📍 Crowne Plaza Hotel · Warwick, RI

Grab your tickets here and come find me!
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/k4uemd4/lp/e4dff62c-3866-451e-add8-a0bc2c853427

07/13/2026

Last call for Down to Earth tickets!

DTE26 is MNLA's annual summer conference for green industry professionals, a full day of education, hands-on demos, and networking with 600+ landscape pros, growers, garden centers, and designers.

I'll be presenting two sessions:

🕗 8am · Beyond the "Builders' Special" · Rethinking legacy foundation plantings and exploring a more refined woody plant palette.

🕐 1pm · Restoration after Malpruning · Recognizing improper pruning and strategies to bring those trees and shrubs back.

📅 July 23, 2026
📍 Tent A · Savage Farms, Deerfield MA

Ten days out. Grab your tickets here before they are gone:
https://mnla.com/events/2026-down-to-earth/

06/30/2026

Excited to be back at Down to Earth this July!

DTE26 is MNLA's annual summer conference for green industry professionals. It's a full day of education, hands-on demos, and networking with 600+ landscape pros, growers, garden centers, and designers. If you're in the trade, this is the one to be at.

I'll be diving into two practical horticulture topics packed with useful takeaways:

🕗 8am · Beyond the "Builders' Special" · Rethinking legacy foundation plantings and exploring a more refined woody plant palette.
🕐 1pm · Restoration after Malpruning · Recognizing improper pruning and strategies to bring those trees and shrubs back.

📅 July 23, 2026
📍 Tent A · Savage Farms, Deerfield MA

Grab your tickets here:
https://mnla.com/events/2026-down-to-earth/

06/27/2026

Carolina Allspice (Calycanthus floridus): I warn every client about this plant.

Not because it's a problem. Because once they see it, they want it everywhere! 😃

Here's what's out there:
🌸 'Aphrodite' - large, deep rose-pink blooms
🌺 'Hartlage W**e' - rich burgundy-red flowers, one of the longest bloom seasons in the genus
🤍 'Venus' - creamy white blooms with a scarlet center, hybrid with Calycanthus chinensis
🌼 'Athens' - soft yellow-green flowers, one of the few yellow-flowering selections
🌸 Chinese calycanthus (Calycanthus chinensis) - soft pink blooms

The fragrance alone stops people mid-stride, with the scent of crushed strawberries. It's a native shrub with a cultivar range that suits almost any design palette, blooming on old wood in late spring with some selections re-blooming into summer.

Let's talk about where we should put some Carolina Allspice in your garden!

06/25/2026

AI may be a great tool. But it doesn't know your yard. 🤖

It can't see your soil, read your light, or understand why that shrub keeps struggling year after year. That kind of insight comes from someone who's been working with plants in the field for years. 🌿

If you're a homeowner with a laundry list of questions, that's exactly what a consultation is for. Your local arborist or fine gardener shows up ready to problem solve.

Tap the link in my bio and let's actually solve the root (no pun intended) of your problem. 🌱😄