Our Story

Our story began in 1980 in a small southern Maine high school, when Michele moved from London, England, and joined Caroline's ninth-grade class. We were teenagers who quickly became best friends, sharing dreams, laughter, and the everyday adventures of growing up.

Although Michele's family moved away a few years later, our friendship continued across the miles. First, through long letters by snail mail. Sometimes they required extra postage on those fully stuffed envelopes! We had rare phone calls in those days, because long-distance charges were expensive. But then came email and cell phones, so we could talk daily. 

More than four decades later, we have lived in different states, followed different paths, raised kids and pets, and watched our lives change in countless ways, but we have remained as close as sisters.

Gardens have always been one of the threads connecting us. Michele's love of gardening began in her London childhood, inspired by neighbors who shared their passion for growing things. Caroline has spent her life gardening in coastal Maine, surrounded by the changing beauty of New England's seasons.

In 2011, we created Sprouts: Two Friends, Two Gardens, Two Coasts as a way to share our gardens and stay connected despite the distance between us. From the beginning, our blog has been a little like a book of letters between friends, with garden discoveries, photographs, and stories shared across the miles.

Life has changed since those early days. Michele gardens in Maryland now. Our gardens have changed, too. Today, we find beauty in different ways: in a garden visit, a container overflowing with flowers, a favorite plant blooming outside the window, or visiting other gardens. 

Over the years, many readers have become part of our garden circle, sharing their own stories, memories, and love of plants with us. We hope you'll feel like a friend stopping by the garden gate, where there's always room for one more person to share in the conversation.