Champagne History


Mon. Dec. 31, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Champagne History

From “Mad wine” to “the Bubbly” – a history of Champagne – the wine most associated with festive occasions!

The bubbles in the wine are a natural process arising from Champagne’s cold climate and short growing season.  The grapes are picked late in the year. This doesn’t leave enough time for the yeast present on the grape skins to convert the sugar in the pressed grape juice into alcohol before the cold winter temps put a  … [Continue reading]

Deer resistant seeds?


Fri. Dec. 28, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Deer resistant seeds?

I’ll admit, when I first saw the ad for “Deer resistant seeds”, I thought they were genetically modified somehow.  That shocked me as the ad came from a highly respected seed company known for native plants!  They wouldn’t genetically modify?  Would they?  No, of course not.  So here’s what they did do….

Prairie Moon Nursery out of Winona, MN, has rolled out a deer-resistant seed mix for 2019.  They are a native seed company focused  … [Continue reading]

A glimpse of 2019 AAS winners


Thu. Dec. 27, 2018

Click below to hear my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  A glimpse of 2019 AAS winners

As we start getting all those seed and plant catalogs and start plotting our garden plots… I’ll be sharing some 2019 All America Selection Winners.

Veggies are some of my favorites to begin with as I have a penchant for peppers and tomatoes!

‘Sparky’ is first on MY list.  I love tomatoes and this little cherry is one of the few X-tended Shelf Life (XSL) cherry tomatoes available to home gardeners.

‘Sparky’ is  … [Continue reading]

The creation of All America Selections


Wed. Dec. 26, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min Garden Bite radio show:  The creations of All America Selections

The All America Selections for 2019 have been released. 

 The A-A-S designation means those flowers and veggies have been vetted and come out on top!  All America Selections.  

In 1932 a man named Ray Hastings (who owned a seed company) encouraged all seed companies to set up trial grounds, cooperatively test new varieties and agree to develop marketing efforts for new vegetables and flowers.  He recommended a national network of trial  … [Continue reading]

Garden design wrap-up


Fri. Dec. 21, 2018

Click below to listen to my Garden Bite radio show:  Garden design wrap-up

We’re wrapping up our series on the 10 Garden Design Principles as we wrap our heads around this First Day of Winter!  The shortest day of the year….

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.  When someone walks down the path in your garden, give them something to  … [Continue reading]

Garden design part 2


Thu. Dec. 20, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Garden design part 2

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!  It may have worked 5 years ago but now you’re not feelin’ it…. let it go!  Try something new!

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

Garden design principles


Wed. Dec. 19, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Garden Design Principles

Aside from plant diagnostics, Garden Design probably gives more folks a nervous tick.  It doesn’t have to be that way. As we nestle in for Winter and ponder our landscapes, I thought I’d share, once again, Andrew Sankey’s 10 principles of design. 

Many years ago Andrew spoke at the MN Landscape Arboretum.  He is a lovely man and a wonderful speaker!  

  1. Don’t fight nature.  Work with what you have, don’t be too quick
 … [Continue reading]

Houseplants as gifts


Tue. Dec. 18, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Houseplants as gifts

Now it’s not like giving someone a pet as a gift but sometimes giving houseplants can be a bit tricky too!

 There are certainly some easy care plants but there are also some that SAY they’re easy care when they’re actually kinda picky.  

This plant is dramatically gorgeous and a bit picky! The Fiddle Leaf Fig! Say that a few times after some Egg Nog!

In the wilds of its native Africa, the Fiddle-leaf Fig  … [Continue reading]

The American Chestnut


Mon. Dec. 17, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  The American Chestnut

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire… or perhaps a grill…

Jack Frost nipping at your nose….  or Ole hoping for some lovin’

Though it’s been said many times, many ways…. Merry Christmas to you!

We had the opportunity to experience roasting real chestnuts last weekend at a friends home.  They host a wonderful party every year and decided to give it a try.  There’s an art to it!   Our friend, Dave Vesledahl, from Northfield Outdoors … [Continue reading]

Evergreens of another color


Fri. Dec. 14, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Evergreens of another color

Looks like most of us will have a white Christmas!  Snow pack is great for our plants, it acts as an insulation and it came just in time for those frigid temps.  Then in Spring, as the soil thaws it will soak up that snow for a refreshing wake-up call. With all that white, we do appreciate some color in our landscape.  Evergreens generally come to mind first.

But wait… there’s more!

It’s an  … [Continue reading]