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CJM

Carol J. Michel

location-pin Indianapolis, Indiana

School: Purdue University

Expertise: Landscaping, gardening

Carol J. Michel

  • Writing about gardening on caroljmichel.com since 2006.
  • Author of books for adults including Seeded and Sodded: Thoughts From a Gardening Life.
  • Author of books for kids including The Christmas Cottontail: A Story for Gardeners of All Ages and The Halloween Hare: A Story for Gardeners of All Ages.
  • Awards include two Garden Communicators International (GardenComm) Gold Awards for digital writing and books and a GardenComm Fellow in 2021.

Experience

Carol J. Michel is an award-winning author of several books including five gardening humor books and one children's book. As the holder of degrees from Purdue University in both horticulture and computer technology, she spent over three decades making a living in healthcare IT while making a life in her garden. She started writing about gardening on her blog called May Dreams Gardens which lead to numerous magazine articles, her books, and a podcast called The Gardenangelists. She was recently named a GardenComm Fellow by Garden Communicators International.

Education

Purdue University, BS in Horticulture Production

Birds & Blooms Editorial Policies

For nearly 30 years, Birds & Blooms, a Trusted Media Brand, has been inspiring readers to have a lifelong love of birding, gardening and nature. We are the #1 bird and garden magazine in North America and a trusted online resource for over 15 million outdoor enthusiasts annually. Our library of thousands of informative articles and how-tos has been written by trusted journalists and fact-checked by bird and garden experts for accuracy. In addition to our staff of experienced gardeners and bird-watchers, we hire individuals who have years of education and hands-on experience with birding, bird feeding, gardening, butterflies, bugs and more. Learn more about Birds & Blooms, our field editor program, and our submission guidelines.

Articles

Shutterstock 442011796 how to grow peas

The Backyard Gardener’s Guide to Growing Peas

Homegrown peas are flavorful and you'll be surprised how easy peas are to grow. You can plant peas weeks before your garden is frost-free.
Bright red organic rhubarb stalks shooting from the vegetable garden.

This Is the Right Way to Grow and Harvest Rhubarb

Also known as pie plant, rhubarb is a beloved summer treat. And if you've wondered how to grow rhubarb in your garden, good news — it's easy!
Raw corn cobs. Sweet corn harvest. Corncobs with leaves and husk on dark wooden table. Maize ears and kernels.

Grow Sweet Corn in Your Own Backyard

Growing sweet corn is possible, even if you don't have a huge garden or farmland. Here's how to grow corn.