About | Emily Plants

Photo: Emily Steinwehe plants a peach tree in the front yard of one of her customers in Madison, Wisconsin. — *Emily Steinwehe plants a peach tree in the front yard of one of her customers in Madison, Wisconsin*

Emily loves to plant, especially trees, shrubs, and native plants. It is her life’s ambition to bring edible landscapes into people’s lives, yards, and schools. Emily earned a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Biology from Valparaiso University in 2001. She has been an avid gardener since 2005. Emily started pursuing her business idea in 2011.

Emily is a professional naturalist. In addition to Emily Plants, she works at Door Creek Orchard, an established commercial orchard east of Madison, where she provides visitors to the orchard with an orientation of apple production and varieties.

Emily and her husband, Greg Dixon, maintain two pear trees, one cherry tree, four honeyberries, five mushroom logs, gooseberries, strawberries, and four serviceberry (juneberry) plants. All of these food plants, plus native plantings and a vegetable garden, fit comfortably in their backyard in Madison’s southeast corner, providing organic food throughout the growing season.

Photo of a peach tree after one year of growth. People are often surprised that you can grow peaches in Southern Wisconsin. With a little care and protection, they often do very well. And pears have beautiful pink flowers every spring! — This is the same peach tree after one year of growth. People are often surprised that you can grow peaches in Southern Wisconsin. With a little care and protection, they often do very well. And pears have beautiful pink flowers every spring!