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Farewell Michelle: Changes at Gardenista

Michelle Slatalla and Josh Quittner at home in Mill Valley. Photo by Matthew Williams.
Above: Michelle Slatalla and Josh Quittner at home in Mill Valley. Photo by Matthew Williams.

In 2012, we were lucky enough to have Michelle Slatalla join our team as Gardenista’s founding editor in chief. Many of you probably remember her 10-year run at the New York Times as a columnist for the Style section, probably the most anticipated weekly feature in the paper. So when she agreed to launch our new gardening site (as a seasoned expert on the subject), it was a thrill.

After almost a decade with us, Michelle is stepping down to write a novel (we can’t wait to read it), pursue other projects, and spend more time in her own Mill Valley garden. (Don’t despair; she will be continuing her monthly Wall Street Journal design column; read her latest here.)

outdoor room by Matthew Williams
Above: Michelle and Josh’s backyard garden in Mill Valley has a bluestone-paved seating area. Shrubs line the perimeter, creating a private entertaining space. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.

In her time with us, she wrote and produced the best-selling book Gardenista: The Definitive Guide to Stylish Outdoor Spaces (from Artisan, with photography by Matthew Williams), made Time magazine’s list of the Year’s 25 Best New Blogs, wrote a blockbuster post on how to keep a fiddle leaf fig alive (see The Fig and I: My First Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree), spoke at garden events all over the country, and tackled unglamorous (but essential) subjects such as pea gravel and French drains. She also launched what we consider the definitive online Plant Guide, covering everything from azaleas to zinnias.

Michelle’s first fiddle leaf fig tree.
Above: Michelle’s first fiddle leaf fig tree.

We will continue posting on Gardenista, so we hope you’ll check in and stay up to date on what’s new in the world of garden design/curb appeal/hardscaping, and more—including bulletins on how to keep a fussy fiddle leaf fig alive and other urgent horticultural matters.

For more on Michelle’s Mill Valley garden, see:

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