A change of climate for gardening too


Mon. Feb. 4, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  A change of climate for gardening too

As we talk climate change in the midst of our polar vortex with temperatures that even closed bars in Wisconsin and shut down the US Postal Service,  there’s a change of climate in the gardening world.

I talked last week about the dying trees in a MN State Park, how other areas are measuring changes.  Anecdotally, climate change is changing the way we see trees and the planting of them.

Greg  … [Continue reading]

The Grapes of Cold


Fri. Feb. 1, 2019

Click below to listen to my  2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  The Grapes of Cold

At least in MY lifetime, the thought of vineyards in the North matching anything in Napa was unthinkable!   But here we are and the Grapes of Cold exist and so do the wines!

Just to show you the proliferation of wineries, this tour has been set up through MN, WI and IA!  Here’s the description and link.  The Great River Road follows the Mississippi River from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. We think  … [Continue reading]

The Great American Lawn and Climate Change


Thu. Jan. 31, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  The Great American Lawn and Climate Change

I have good news, lazy lawn folk rejoice, letting your lawn have weeds, mowing less and not bothering with all those loud, gas-powered machines to keep it manicured will help reduce climate change!  Say WHAT? Even though grass sequesters carbon dioxide, the leading human-generated greenhouse gas, tending to your lawn through mowing, irrigating, and fertilizing creates a lot more greenhouse gases.  

Most of the carbon footprint of an urban lawn comes  … [Continue reading]

Teri Knight talks with Carla Beaurline


Wed. Jan. 30, 2019

I had the chance to chat with my friend Carla Beaurline on her show “Around Town” live on Facebook on January 29th, 2019!  We talk about Garden Bite, my philosophy, the trends I’ve seen, the most asked questions and much more!  What fun!!  Please push through the pauses as they came when people commented….  it gets better and they don’t last long!

Tagged: /
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It’s raining climate change in the Big Woods


Wed. Jan. 30, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  It’s raining climate change in the Big Woods

It’s raining climate change in a State Park in Minnesota. The Minnesota DNR’s new Park Ranger for Nerstrand Big Woods, Katie Foshay, recently shared that 12% of the park is experiencing forest death due to lack of oxygen around flooded tree roots. Note:  photos courtesy of MnDNR

The loss of maples, oaks, basswood and more is devastating and, worse, Ash trees, that tolerate wet soil are sprouting up but they’re  … [Continue reading]

Native grasses


Tue. Jan. 29, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Native grasses

Native plants provide for a wide diversity with an established track record in our climate, although things are changing and I’ll talk more about that tomorrow.  

Native plants don’t ask for much, just the right sun/shade conditions and the right soil, wet, moist or dry. We’re lucky to have some very lovely native grasses stretching into zone 3 climate.

Some native grasses that can work in the urban landscape include panicum virgatum or switchgrass!  They are  … [Continue reading]

Native salt tolerant plants


Mon. Jan. 28, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Native salt tolerant plants

While half of us have received little snow, the other half seems to have been inundated.  Temperatures have fluctuated and our climate doesn’t seem too sure WHAT to do!

One thing WE know is that, when our roads get slick, slimy and/or snow-covered, the salt trucks come out.  Something else we know is that our plants are not fond of the seasoning.   Road salt can damage plants by interfering with their water uptake through  … [Continue reading]

Orchid care


Fri. Jan. 25, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Orchid care

Did you receive an orchid as a gift this season?  Phalaenopsis orchids are the most popular indoor houseplant gift.  Catching your eye in the produce aisle of the grocery store or in local garden centers, they can often be an impulse buy.  The good news is they are relatively easy care. Light and watering, however, are always an issue with houseplants.

 The American Orchid Society recommends using a pencil or wooden skewer to determine whether an  … [Continue reading]

2019 Plants from the pink palette


Thu. Jan. 24, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  2019 plants from the pink palette

Last week I shared some lovey blue flowers for your gardens, today will pique your pink palette with new plants from Proven Winners…

It’s another Baptisia in the Decadence series, this one is ‘Pink Lemonade’ and it’s delicious!  Growing in full to part sun up to 4 feet tall, Soft yellow flowers appear atop deep blue-green foliage in spring.

The flowers age to dusty raspberry purply pink, showing both colors at the  … [Continue reading]

Enabling Gardens


Wed. Jan. 23, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Enabling Gardens

For me, there’s no better stress reliever than to go outside and play in the dirt.  (see yesterday’s GB!)

I love watching every moment of life in my yard. From my plants poking up through the cold Spring ground to the last hard frost of the season that takes them into winter slumber.   

I take for granted being able to take care of a garden. Then, several years ago, I was asked to give a talk  … [Continue reading]