Howling Fall displays


Fri. Oct. 19, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Howling Fall displays

GBTK 10-19-18

Some folks grow gourds or specialty squash for howlingly cool Halloween or Harvest displays.  Or those monster pumpkins that, literally, weigh a ton!

Well, maybe not that many of us have room for that, but there are those who grow some unique varieties.   Head to your local farmers markets!!  

If you grew corn this year you have a great tall accent for your decor, cut the stalks and tie them to bamboo  … [Continue reading]

More pumpkin love with seeds!


Thu. Oct. 18, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: More pumpkin love with seeds!

Another tradition we had in my family and probably yours, was to roast pumpkin seeds.  My job, as I told you yesterday was to scoop the goop and separate the seeds.

My mom would leave the seeds soaking overnight in water that had to be saltier than the Dead Sea.  She’d drain them and roast them for what seemed like hours.

My taste is a bit more sophisticated now and I don’t soak  … [Continue reading]

Gearing up for Goblins


Wed. Oct. 17, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Gearing up for Goblins

GBTK 10-17-18

Pumpkin PICKING for carving is an art itself!   For the best results using stencils, you want the smoothest pumpkins.  Choose a nice even color and the stem should be at least long enough to use as a handle for the lid.  If you happen to break off the stem, don’t worry, just cut out the bottom instead. You’ll also want a flat bottomed pumpkin.

Here’s a little video I made in 2010  … [Continue reading]

Falling for the Season of Pumpkin Spice!


Tue. Oct. 16, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Falling for the Season of Pumpkin Spice

Love it or hate, it’s pumpkin spice everything season.  I have a friend who grinds her teeth every time the pumpkin spice comes out at her favorite coffee shop, another who can’t wait for the pumpkin spice creamer and sends her husband to buy as many as a husband is willing to do!  About 3 bottles worth.  In case you’re interested here’s a recipe for Pumpkin Spice Latte!

I happen  … [Continue reading]

Tenacious bulb eaters


Mon. Oct. 15, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Tenacious bulb eaters

Those darn little rodents!

Ya, you!

People have discussed ideas about what to do for as long as we’ve planted bulbs.  The best method so far is to place chicken wire over your bulb bed, secure it with stakes or heavy rocks and then mulch it with woodchips, shredded bark or leaves. The plants will grow up through the wire or hardware cloth.

You could sink the wire into the ground, making a pen around  … [Continue reading]

Grab bag of gardening


Fri. Oct. 12, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Grab bag of gardening

Today we’re revisiting some emails I’ve received.   If you’ve taken advantage of those plant sales but find you don’t have time to plant – Don’t panic.  Find a spot in your landscape and plant those perennials still in their pots.  Sink them into the ground up to the pot level, keep watered till the ground freezes and mulch.

Then come spring, after you’ve decided where you want to plant them, dig them up carefully  … [Continue reading]

Repellex – a later version


Thu. Oct. 11, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Repellex – a later version

Deer are beautiful animals until they mosey over to my landscape and start munching !

As gardeners we’ve used loud noises, Irish Spring soap, pepper spray and a variety of other so-called surefire ways to keep the deer at a distance without consistent results.  

There’s also another critter that creates chaos for young trees in particular, it’s the lowly mouse and it’s cousin the vole.  Mice like to nestle up to young trees  … [Continue reading]

Crocus, hyacinth and iris too


Wed. Oct. 10, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Crocus, hyacinth and iris too

Tulips and daffodils are lovely but oh, there’s so many other bulbs to plant!  From early blooming Crocus to fragrant Hyacinths and later-blooming Alliums which keep the color coming until summer’s perennials start to flower.

I love the look of Spring lawns dotted with naturalized bulbs.  Before the mowing season, there are some little delights.  An early Spring crocus includes ‘BluePearl’ .   White Flower Farm says the blue is pale and opalescent, giving  … [Continue reading]

Planting Spring bulbs


Tue. Oct. 9, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Planting Spring bulbs

I remember many years planting Spring bulbs with my fingers so dang cold they felt like frostbite! Oh but the delight of spring blooms is worth it… most of the time!

There’s a tulip I’m tempted by called ‘Dancing Fairy’… seriously that just sounds fun! This tulip is from the western Alps region of southeast France. Its petite yellow blossoms are brushed with orangey red.  How sweet would this May bloomer look under your  … [Continue reading]

EAB – Chaos and creation?


Mon. Oct. 8, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  EAB – Chaos and creation?

You’ve heard me talk multiple times about Emerald Ash Borer, the bug that will destroy the vast majority of ash trees.  Notice I said, WILL.

The exotic beetle from Asia, was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002.  Since that time, it has been discovered in 33 states and 3 Canadian provinces.  EAB has killed over 8 billion  Ash trees and will continue.

The only places where the  … [Continue reading]