with Teri Knight
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: What goes with who?
Recently I posted on Facebook that I’d like to hear from YOU on what topics you’d like me to cover. I got some great suggestions including what plants get along and what plants might not… First thing that comes to mind are invasive plants. Monarda and Obedient Plant are at the top of the list, as is Lily of the Valley for shade.
IF you want don’t mind a plant creating your garden, … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio feature: Read the plant label
Sounds simple doesn’t it? Well…..
Let’s take Viburnum for instance. This group of shrubs consists of more than 150 species and cultivars. Light preferences can vary from full sun to shade, heights vary from 2 feet to 30 feet and, some berries are edible while others are not! You really need to know what cultivar will fit your needs.
The Viburnum called ‘Highbush Cranberry’ is known as Viburnum Trilobum in latin. This bush will … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show; August to-do’s
There are still plenty of things to do in the garden as we wait for those mouthwatering tomatoes to really start producing and I can start roasting! But that’s another Garden Bite.
Now’s a good time to deadhead those flowers. I really went after my Blue Salvia. It was flopped open…
When you deadhead, you’ll cut the flower off, generally speaking, at the first set of healthy leaves. What happens is you stop the plant from … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Allergy “free” garden
AHCHOO! Runny nose, runny eyes don’t make for a fun day in the garden. If you’re a sufferer, there are some plants that are less problematic!
Plants to nix for the nose due to their “Achoo” factor:
Some tips to silence the sniffles are to wash your hands often and rinse your eyes … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my Garden Bite radio show: My butterfly garden and other natives
I planted a butterfly garden earlier this year. The rabbits got some of that too. They’re prolific enough this year that I’ve contemplated severe measures, but I don’t think it’s legal in my neighborhood! Anyway, there are some species growing as you can see! I bought 48 plants from my County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Here’s a LINK to my May Garden Bite on the above garden with cost and exactly what plants … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my Garden Bite radio show: Drought tolerant plants
It’s coming… the “dog days” of summer. 90 some degrees will brings on crackling lawns and drooping flowers
Characterisitics of a drought tolerant plant:
And one of my favorites! Sea Holly
While large fleshy roots hold water underground, succulent leaves like those on Sedums, hold their … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my Garden Bite radio show: Host plants for butterfly larvae
When I first saw the red long-horned beetles all over my milkweed plants, I freaked out and went on a mass killing spree. And they’re back. The jury is out on whether to kill them, they’re pretty easy to squish this time of year while they’re trying to procreate. 
As Milkweed are host to the Monarch butterfly larvae, I don’t want to use any chemical to rid the plant of those bugs!
If you like … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my Garden Bite radio show: Mosquito Eaters
I get up very early and am on my way to work at about 4:45 in the morning. It’s about the same time the bats are flying back to their homes after a grand night of feeding. Let me introduce you to the Little Brown Bat.
Little Brown Bat
This little fella can munch down 1200 mosquitoes in an hour and when you live in Wisconsin or Minnesota, you gotta give props to ‘em. They may not be … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my Garden Bite radio show: Vines to shade
The caveat to “vines for shade”, is that they all need SOME sun. That said, here are some lovely options.
Honeysuckle vine is just lovely! I have quite a bit of it. It gets morning sun and afternoon shade.
It blooms repeatedly all summer and the hummingbirds LOVE it!
I’ll be cutting it back in late winter!
Virgin’s Bower is a native clematis that’s been growing in another Master Gardeners garden quite nicely. It flowers from July … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my Garden Bite radio show: Garden bed renewal – choosing plants and elements
Selecting the plants for your new bed is the fun part! Keep in mind your sun/shade conditions. The type of soil you have (amend if necessary). As I said yesterday, I added 2 inches of compost into the top 8 inches of soil. This added nitrogen and helps fluff the soil for better drainage.
Adding garden sculptures “pauses” your eye, as Jennifer Wolcott describes. She’s the creator of these grass sticks that … [Continue reading]