First, I must thank my editor Alyssa Bluhm for bringing her idea to me and asking me to write this book. She felt there needed to be a book for people who live in low-light situations, helping them find plants that work and learn how to make them happy. I loved working with you! Thank you to the team at Quarto for bringing our ideas to life.
Secondly, I need to thank Heather Saunders for adding her beautiful pictures and unique perspective to the book. It was a joy to work with you! We would both like to thank her sons Harrison and Julian Saunders for their youthful exuberance and might helping move plant friends (and pots, photography equipment, potting medium, plant stands, and more) in and out of locations.
To Danielle Dirks for the usage of her gorgeous Detroit Airbnb units as the featured locations, and also for her assistance with being a model for a few pictures. To Tim Travis and Jim Slezinski for allowing us to use their gorgeous houseplants, containers, and garden center for photo shoots. To Jay Atwater and Chelsea Steinkopf for allowing their plant friends to be supermodels. To Kelly Ardito for her extraordinary photo assistance on this project. To Chelsea Steinkopf for her assistance with photo shoots.
I also would like to thank some wonderful people who were of much assistance with the plant list and the botanical lingo: Justin Hancock from Costa Farms; Brett Weiss, horticulturist from the Vivarium; and Jeremy Kemp from the Belle Isle Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory. To my good friend Nancy Szerlag, who assisted with technical potting medium and fertilizer questions and also with editing.
Of course, thank you to my family and friends for putting up with me while writing another book and all that it entails—forgotten appointments, missed events, and added stress. To my heavenly Father for bringing this opportunity my way and getting me through every minute of every day.
And though he is last, he is the most important: my husband, John, my rock, my biggest fan, and the love of my life. Thank you for putting up with the house that hasn’t looked its best since the first book and even more houseplants than before taking over the window space. Did you want to see into the backyard anyway? Love you!