Search Results for: feeding birds

Lake shoreline plantings

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Lake shoreline plantings

I visited friends on a lake and noticed the plantings (or not) of the various properties.

  1. Shoreline planting provides physical stabilization of a lakeshore or river bank. The extensive root systems of native plants embrace the soil and hold it in place.
  2. They also benefit the water ecosystem by filtering-out pollutants from water runoff, creating healthy shoreline habitat.
  3. Attracting birds, butterflies and hummingbirds.

While it’s a great idea to contact your local Soil and Water  … [Continue reading]

A grass for butterflies

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: A grass for butterflies

I’m on a grass kick this week! ‘Eyelash’ grass won’t replace a manicured lawn but it sure attracts butterflies! That’s what the University of Minnesota Extension says. Blue Grama grass, which sounds funny itself, is a native grass that goes by a few other names including ‘eyelash’, ‘mosquito’ and ‘caterpillar’ grass because of its golden sails at the tip of its stems.

Extension Horticulturist, Mary Meyer, says this is one tough short grass.  … [Continue reading]

More 2020 plants

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: More 2020 plants

It never ceases to amaze me how plant breeders come up with some amazing choices. Feast your eyes on these beauties!

 SunSeekers® Salmon Coneflower was introduced by Breck flowers and is hardy to zone 3.  

Its semidouble flowers start as a lovely shade of salmon-pink with some soft yellow petals in the centre. As the aromatic blooms mature, their salmon-pink petals become pale pink and large, dark crimson cones form. Pollinators eat this flower’s  … [Continue reading]

A grass for butterflies

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: A grass for butterflies

I’m on a grass kick this week! ‘Eyelash’ grass won’t replace a manicured lawn but it sure attracts butterflies! That’s what the University of Minnesota Extension says. Blue Grama grass, which sounds funny itself, is a native grass that goes by a few other names including ‘eyelash’, ‘mosquito’ and ‘caterpillar’ grass because of its golden sails at the tip of its stems.

Extension Horticulturist, Mary Meyer, says this is one tough short grass.  … [Continue reading]

Lake shoreline planting

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Lake shoreline planting

We were just at some friends place on a lake in southern Minnesota. Many of the properties had lawns, some had trees and shrubs, in particular where there was no home or cabin, and still others used boulders.

Others where there were homes, planted natives for their shoreline.

Why bother? Well… let me count the ways besides being beautiful.

  1. Shoreline planting provides physical stabilization of a lakeshore or river bank. The extensive root systems of
 … [Continue reading]

Rambling thoughts in a snowfall

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Rambling thoughts in a snowfall

As I write this, the snow is falling and the birds are feeding like crazy at the feeders.  What a beautiful sight. The snow offering that wonderful protective cover for our plants, the moisture it will provide after the thaw.  

Oh, I know, it’s been a really harsh year for commuters and shovelers and school superintendents and parents. But still, if you’re still, it’s lovely.

This is a respite time for gardeners, the  … [Continue reading]

Tough Spring on plants, people and wildlife!

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Tough Spring on plants, people and wildlife

Wow, 2018 will go down as the year without Spring… or at least starting a good 3 weeks late.   FINALLY, this weekend we had Spring!!

Not only have people and plants not been happy but the hungry wildlife are having a difficult time surviving.

In fact, some experts have called this a ‘bird emergency’.  The unusual April storm already killed or severely weakened many migratory birds such as robins, warblers, and  … [Continue reading]