Resolutions


Tue. Dec. 31, 2013

ACK!  Resolutions?!?  NOooooooo…………..

Alright, it’s probably not that dramatic but we tend to feel like we HAVE to resolve something at the beginning of the year.  I’m of the mindset that we can resolve anything we want at any time, we don’t need a specific date on a calendar.  BUT, since it is a New Year, how about starting a Garden Journal? ;-)

OH, I can HEAR your GROANING from here!  I can’t tell you the number of times, having a journal has prevented me from purchasing a plant I’d already  … [Continue reading]

Number one mistake in the garden


Mon. Dec. 30, 2013

Soil is the foundation by which all things grow.  Without decent soil prep, you’re not giving your plants their best opportunity to give YOU their best.  The number one mistake of new gardeners (and some of us who’ve been doing it a while) is to not prep the soil.

You can’t completely change your soil’s make-up, but you can amend it.  Adding organic matter is optimizes your plants chances of delivering whatever it is you’re hoping to get from them.

Chemical-free grass clippings, dried/chopped leaves, manure and compost can be  … [Continue reading]

2014 AAS Vegetable winners


Fri. Dec. 27, 2013

Click below to listen to my Radio Show:  2014 AAS Vegetable winners

As we talked yesterday about pumpkins and squash, my first thought was to share with you this “magical” new pumpkin that won the AAS designation.

Straight from AAS:  ‘Cinderella’s Carriage’ is a dream come true for any princess-loving child who wants to grow their own fairy tale type pumpkin. This bright reddish-orange pumpkin is the first hybrid Cinderella-type pumpkin on the market which results in a higher yield as well as Powdery Mildew resistance in the garden. Robust  … [Continue reading]

Pumpkin or Squash?


Thu. Dec. 26, 2013

Click below to listen to my Radio Show:  Pumpkin or Squash?

What’s the diff?  Not much…

There are 3 different types with hundreds of cultivars.  From orange to green to yellow to white, from large to small from thick skin to thin; these beautiful veggies/fruits are filled with fantastic fiber and much more!

  • Cucurbita pepo – have very hard stems.  Includes some pumpkins and Delicata squash
  • Cucurbita maxima – have wider, softer, pulpy stems.  Includes Buttercup and Hubbard squash
  • Cucurbita moschata is the buff colored Butternut squash – which is
 … [Continue reading]

Merry Christmas


Wed. Dec. 25, 2013

There’s no Garden Bite today.  I hope that you and your loved ones are having a joyous day.  I wish you every good thing in the coming year.  Thank you so for stopping by.

Merry Christmas wreath … [Continue reading]

Gardener’s version of The Night Before Christmas


Tue. Dec. 24, 2013

Click to listen to my radio show:  Twas the Night…

“Twas the Night before Christmas – the Gardener’s version” by Teri Knight

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house

not a plant was stirring not even a sprout

The seedlings were hung by the glow of a grow light

in hopes they’d spring-up-in-summer to the gardeners delight

The poinsettias were nestled all snug in their pots

with dreams of some moisture but certainly not rot

When out in the yard there arose such a clatter, the gardener  … [Continue reading]

The American Chestnut


Mon. Dec. 23, 2013

Click to listen to my radio show:  The American Chestnut

In the 1800?s the American Chestnut was the most important tree in America.  There are reports that it could grow straight for 50 feet with no branches, it was rot resistant and lighter than oak.  The lumber of ONE tree could fill a train car!

Then in the early 1900?s a bark eating fungus arrived in America from an Asian Chestnut and by 1950 the American Chestnut was all but extinct.  Since then, plant pathologists and breeders have been working  … [Continue reading]

Garden design wrap-up


Fri. Dec. 20, 2013
   We’ve talked about using what you have, working with the soil you’ve been given, keeping it simple, planting in mass and trying not to overwhelm yourself by becoming too ambitious.
    9.  Paths should lead somewhere.  Be it a bench, an herb garden or an accent plant, take your visitors to a destination.
   10.  Use few impact plants.  These are your accent plants.  These are the only plants you can be “dotty” with!  Hot colored plants, like reds, oranges and yellows make your garden look smaller.  Cooler colors like  … [Continue reading]

Garden Design principles 2


Thu. Dec. 19, 2013

bench garden

The above garden has plenty of room for more designing but isn’t that the fun of it!?!  After all, the garden, I’ve found, is never really done as you can see below…

Shade garden planted

Andrew Sankey’s Garden Design Principles continue:

5.  Use the whole plot.  Keep in mind the entire area including your lawns, the kids sandbox, birdbaths, etc.

6.  Don’t be afraid to change.  Your plants OR your design.  Sometimes that’s part of the fun!

7.  Don’t be dotty!  In other words, plant in mass.  At least 3  … [Continue reading]

Garden Design Principles


Wed. Dec. 18, 2013

Garden Design can give the novice a nervous tick!  No worries, I have the 10 garden design principles from Andrew Sankey, a cottage gardener, historian and humorist  from England, with an eye for simplicity.  If you ever get a chance to listen to him speak – GO!

Andrew Sankey, English gardener, historian and humorist

 

Garden Design Principle:

  1.  Don’t fight nature.  Work with the soil you have.  Yes, add peat moss and compost to fluff your soil but don’t expect it to change the entire structure.
  2. Retain the main features. 
 … [Continue reading]