Spruce tips/tops 2022


Mon. Nov. 21, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Spruce tips/tops 2022

I know, it’s not Thanksgiving yet but already all the spruce top pots and decorations are being sold. Perhaps because it suddenly got REAL cold.

In fact, since I was sick when it was warm I didn’t get out to disconnect my hoses from the hose and empty them before they froze. UGH, I did get to them later but I’m just hoping they’ll be fine. Shout out to Dramm hoses! Oh, and another irritant,  … [Continue reading]

Planning perennial edibles for next year


Fri. Nov. 18, 2022

Click to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Planning perennial edibles for next year

When planting our edible gardens, most of us think of them as annuals. Here’s a look at 3 perennial edibles and 1 herb hardy to zone 4 climates. 

The first is one I’ve never been a huge fan of but almost everyone I know loves it. Asparagus. It takes commitment to grow this guy but once established, your asparagus bed will yield for years.

They prefer a neutral pH soil. Choose a  … [Continue reading]

Infused sugars – party gift


Thu. Nov. 17, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Infused sugars – party gift

Party season is upon us. Now that we are back to gathering a lot more in person, that means more parties, which means, as guests, we like to bring a little something for the one hosting the festivities.

In my department at work, we sometimes give each other a little something. Last year I gave small jars of infused sugar. 

I made the following videos back in 2018. I have additional info  … [Continue reading]

What holiday is your cactus blooming in?


Wed. Nov. 16, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: What holiday is your cactus blooming in?

I hate to disappoint you but your “Christmas” cactus is not an overachiever…

 I changed my cover photo on my personal Facebook page and got a lot of comments so I thought it was time to revisit this subject. 

Every year people are mixed up on what kind of flowering cactus they have. If yours is blooming now, like mine is, it’s a Thanksgiving cactus.

It’s not just because that’s the  … [Continue reading]

UMN 2022 Annual flower trial results


Tue. Nov. 15, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: UMN 2022 annual flower trial results

Yesterday was about AAS Landscape Design winners, today I’m sharing the results of the University of Minnesota Extensions Annual flower trials!

With November being the “cloudiest” month, I wanted to brighten it up with pretty flowers.

The U’s Horticulture Display Garden is in Morris, Mn. which is located in Zone 4. Each year, the Top Ten Performing Annuals are selected from the hundreds of cultivars trialed.

Annual flowers are evaluated on

 … [Continue reading]

AAS Landscape Design winners 2022


Mon. Nov. 14, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: AAS Landscape Design winners 2022

 I have often talked about All-America Selections. They are an independent non-profit organization that tests new, never-before-sold varieties of edibles, annuals and perennials for the home gardener.

AAS also has a landscape design challenge each year for their Display Gardens around the country. This year’s theme was Games in the Garden.

For the challenge, AAS provides the gardens with recent AAS Winner seeds and plants. The gardens have the option to  … [Continue reading]

Veterans Day & the healing properties of nature


Fri. Nov. 11, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Veterans Day & the healing properties of nature

Today is Veterans Day aka Armistice Day. World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” – officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the  … [Continue reading]

Amaryllis – the Art & Soul of winter


Thu. Nov. 10, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Amaryllis – the Art & Soul of winter

Amaryllis, the “art and soul of winter”. I just came across that line from a company out of Connecticut and thought it was pretty appropriate!

Amaryllis bulbs are usually in garden centers in early October and online even earlier. Some varieties are already sold out, but there’s still time!

Amaryllis are synonymous with the holidays as we watch their growth and those incredible blooms!

Bulbs take 4 to 6 weeks  … [Continue reading]

Quit bugging me! Boxelders and Asian lady beetles


Wed. Nov. 9, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Quit bugging me! Boxelders and Asian lady beetles

The swarming of Boxelder bugs on our homes and garages means they’re still looking for a cozy place to spend the winter.

Annoying, most definitely. Harmful, nope. Then again, who wants to walk into a swarm of bugs? 

While some bugs bury themselves in leaf debris, which is much more preferable than our homes, these two annoyances seek out any opportunity to come indoors.

You can bet there are plenty  … [Continue reading]

Moving indoors and thinking houseplants


Tue. Nov. 8, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Moving indoors and thinking houseplants

Winter approaches as daylight savings time just ended Sunday. So we get dark an hour earlier. To me that just means I have one less hour of getting things done since it feels like it’s time to go to bed an hour earlier also! It also means that many of us are putting more focus on our indoor plants.

Greenery during winter is proven to lift spirits. And that’s not all, studies have

 … [Continue reading]