Dwarf trout lilies


Mon. Jan. 15, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Dwarf trout lilies

Last weekend I had the opportunity to walk in the Big Woods State Park in Nerstrand, MN.  The frozen tundra that the Upper Midwest was locked in, gave us a glimpse of warm weather!  WHEW, we needed that respite!

While there, a friend who lives in the area told my husband and I that the roped off areas were to protect the Minnesota dwarf trout lily, an endangered species.  Now, the regular trout lily is  … [Continue reading]

Cultivar wishes and Spring dreams


Wed. Jan. 3, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Cultivar wishes and Spring dreams

I can’t hardly contain myself as I peruse my plant catalogs!  I fold over so many pages as I see plants I want to try.  Now, there’s no way I could possibly put all of those in my yard.  I call it “cultivar wishes and spring dreams”, if you ever watched  Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, you’ll understand.

I found a really wonderful new dogwood shrub called ‘Neon Burst’.  That should  … [Continue reading]

Conservation Districts – why are they important?


Thu. Dec. 28, 2017

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Conservation Districts – why are they important?

The United States has 3,000 Conservation Districts.  Many are called Soil and Water Conservation Districts.  They work with millions of cooperating landowners and operators to help them manage and protect land and water resources on private and public lands in the United States.

The association was founded on the philosophy that conservation decisions should be made at the local level with technical and funding assistance from federal, state, and local governments  … [Continue reading]

The art of Wabi Sabi in the garden


Wed. Dec. 20, 2017

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  The art of Wabi Sabi in the garden

What’s Wabi-Sabi?  Well…, I just found out, it’s the art of imperfect beauty.  And it’s a 2018 trend to carry into the garden!  I think I’ve already done that…

Wabi Sabi is an ancient Japanese practice that appreciates the imperfections in life and the ability to age gracefully.  Wabi Sabi gardens imitate nature in a way that allows you to relax and appreciate their humble, imperfect forms!  I can dig  … [Continue reading]

Recycling greywater


Thu. Nov. 16, 2017

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Recycling greywater?

It’s pretty clear that our world is changing in many ways.  One of the great changes is in the way we’re teaching our kids about recycling, reusing and reducing.  We’re also moving ever closer to taking better care of our natural resources.  One idea that I find interesting is something called recycling greywater.

First let’s define it, greywater is your homes waste water… no, not THAT waste water.  Toilet water and food preparation water (your kitchen  … [Continue reading]

Stressed plants create aspirin


Wed. Oct. 18, 2017

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Stressed plants create aspirin

Let’s talk about aspirin.  Seems like a rather odd choice for a garden show, however, I’m not talking about Bayer.  I’m talking about plants that produce their own aspirin like chemical. Researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research stumbled upon this in 2008.  They  were surprised to discover that stressed plants produce an aspirin-like chemical that can be detected in the air above the plants. The scientists speculate that the chemical may be  … [Continue reading]

Peaches in zone 4 and more


Fri. Oct. 6, 2017

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Peaches in zone 4 and more

There you are eating a ripe juicy peach you plucked from your backyard!  Or front yard.  Say it can’t be done?  Well, it can!  Peaches in Minnesota.  Peaches in Wisconsin.

I’m going to tell you a little story.  I was bragging to some folks years back  about the wonderful Honeycrisp apples I had from a property I lived on years ago when this woman says, Oh, Alice has peaches!  Really?   … [Continue reading]

Peony division


Wed. Oct. 4, 2017

Click below to listen to my Garden Bite radio show:  Peony division

Whatever your peony pronunciation proclivity, soon will be the time to dig and divide them!  Wait for the tops to be killed by frost, cut the stems to near ground level then, using a spading fork, dig out the rhizomes.

peony rhizomes

peony rhizomes

Peony root!

Peony rhizomes from old plant.

Make sure you dig a hole wider than the plant to avoid damaging the root system.  Take out the entire clump with as much of the root system as possible, cut  … [Continue reading]

It’s a nutty year


Wed. Sep. 27, 2017

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  It’s a nutty year

This has been one nutty year.  I have 2 black walnut trees at the edge of my property. I have cleaned up a ton of them this year, seriously about 100 pounds worth so far.

My neighbor across the street is complaining that the squirrels are coming over to eat nuts on her porch!  So what can you do with all those nuts.  Well, some say, the black walnuts are delicious.  I found a  … [Continue reading]

Downed trees – was it wind? Or did it start long ago?


Thu. Sep. 21, 2017

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Downed trees – was it wind?  Or did it start long ago?

We’ve been lucky in the upper midwest, while other parts of the country have suffered unimaginable destruction due to storms, we’ve seen (mostly) downed trees.  But perhaps the wind didn’t seem like it should be so strong as to knock that 20 year old maple tree down.

The problem could really have started a long time ago.  Indeed, in the tree’s infancy.  When plants, in particular  … [Continue reading]