Arbor Day 2026


Thu. Apr. 23, 2026

Click below to listen to my podcast: Arbor Day 2026

 Happy Arbor Day! The first Arbor Day was celebrated in 1872. Proposed by J. Sterling Morton, a Nebraska journalist and politician, the holiday was designed to encourage tree planting for fuel, building materials, and environmental benefits, with over 1 million trees planted on the first day.

 

Why are trees so important? Trees play a vital role in combating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) and storing the carbon while releasing oxygen back into the air.  In  … [Continue reading]

Dwarf Trout Lily – protected species


Sun. Apr. 19, 2026

Click below to listen to my Garden Bite podcast: Dwarf Trout Lily – protected species

 My area has had glorious days along with days that the wind and cold kept me indoors. It IS spring after all!

On a recent walk along a local creek I was able to enjoy MY IDEA of a Spring Opener! Viewing spring wildflower natives, one of which is, as the Minnesota DNR explains is an endemic spring ephemeral restricted to Rice, Goodhue, and Steele counties in southeastern Minnesota. 

It is the only known vascular  … [Continue reading]

Wild Blue Phlox appearing soon


Sat. Apr. 11, 2026

Click below to listen to my Garden Bite podcast: Wild Blue Phlox

This spring feels different in many ways which has sent me out into nature more often. I’ve also had more time to do that as I retired from the Monday thru Friday workforce last October.

Wandering the woods along the river and streams within my community we will very soon be seeing a wonderful welcome to spring. Wild Blue Phlox, also known as Woodland Phlox, is an early welcome sight in shaded areas.

It is a native  … [Continue reading]

Blowback on Algae praise


Sat. Apr. 4, 2026

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 Hooo boy did I get blowback on my praise of algae. Thank you to my listeners!!! You made me want to do a deeper dive and, as always, too much of a good thing turns into a bad thing.

This is from the University of Minnesota extension: Algae occur naturally in almost all surface waters. They are an essential source of food for many aquatic organisms and come in many shapes and forms.

Under the right temperature and water conditions, blue-green  … [Continue reading]

Oh you beautiful Burl


Thu. Apr. 2, 2026

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My neighbor and I frequently walk in the woods along our nearby river. We like to go “off roading” and skip pavement, generally there are some bicycle trails we can find … or not… Basically we wander…

We were noticing a number of trees with small multiple bumps growing up from the trunk and continuing up the tree almost like steps.

I’ve seen singular large bumps called burls and LOVE the look of them. What I didn’t realize was many could  … [Continue reading]

The importance of Algae


Fri. Mar. 27, 2026

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I posted on Instagram recently about the role of algae and I promised to explain further on my next garden bite. Let me set this up first. My neighbor, Corliss and I go walking nearly every day that is above 45 degrees. I’m very fortunate to live about a quarter mile from the entry to 2 lovely trails along each side of a river. Corliss doesn’t like the “ugly” algae that is growing right now.

Granted it doesn’t necessarily look pretty  … [Continue reading]

The winter of 25/26 and pruning


Fri. Mar. 20, 2026

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For most of the country this winter has been erratic to say the least. Temperatures all over the place, storms that caused chaos. While we seem to be over the worst of it, now is a time you can get out and do some damage control and some light pruning on summer/fall blooming shrubs.

From temps dipping down to 30 below zero in December to 55 degrees in March, no snow to heavy snow… the Winter of 2025/26 has been one  … [Continue reading]

Winter of Woes & Wildlife


Fri. Jan. 30, 2026

Nothing gets gardeners more agitated in winter than double digit below temperatures with a puny layer of snow that doesn’t provide much insulation. 

And/or rabbits having to eat. You remember my pet wild rabbit, Eve? Yes, her…

She has chowed down my Diervilla ‘Kodiak Orange’ shrubs I planted in early May of 2024. So much for rabbit resistant. I get it though, this winter has been brutal on people, pets, plants and pipes too. Yes, mine froze and burst. Sorry, I got sidetracked there.

Not only have Eve and her  … [Continue reading]

Book Review: A Year Full of Pots by Sarah Raven


Sun. Apr. 21, 2024

Click below to listen to my review: A Year Full of Pots by Sarah Raven

As we plan and prepare planting our seasonal containers, I was given the opportunity to review Sarah Raven’s book “A Year Full of Pots”. It is a tome of information and amazing photos for each season of the year.

From her Sussex property, she starts with spring and takes us through winter. Calling her containers the “bubbles in champagne, the cherries on the cake” on a property .

After decades of perfecting her container  … [Continue reading]

Don’t scratch that Garden Itch YET


Tue. Mar. 5, 2024

Click below to listen to today’s Garden Bite: Don’t scratch that Garden Itch Yet:

I KNOW you’re itching to get out and start Spring Cleanup. Please, DON’T. I’ve been cringing as I watch people out raking and cutting back perennials. UGH…

This affects the insects and critters that have been sheltering in your “debris”. I know, a 74 degree day seems like it should mean “Go Time”. If this were May or even late April it would be, but this is early March 2024 and that means we can still  … [Continue reading]