Coral Bells aka Heuchera


Wed. Jul. 27, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Coral Bells aka Heuchera

Sun or shade, there’s a heuchera for you. Also known as Coral Bells, there are SO many different varieties now it really can blow your mind.

These perennials are grown for their amazing foliage. From deep purples to peach. Fire engine red to hues of nearly every color but blue (although the one in the photo below LOOKS blue) ! Where I work we grow and sell over 40 varieties, and there are more! … [Continue reading]

Ground plum and Partridge Pea – 2022


Tue. Jul. 26, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Ground plum and Partridge Pea – 2022

Ground Plum is not a plum… Partridge Pea is not a pea… but they are both wonderful native plants.

Ground Plum’s Latin name is not quite as pretty, Astragalus crassicarpus…sounds like I’m gargling! It IS, however, fabulous for bee lawns. 

 It’s a low-growing, spreading legume that prefers full sun and well-drained soils. It works as a ground cover, and in rock gardens due to its short height and preference for  … [Continue reading]

Plants that play nice and those that don’t


Mon. Jul. 25, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Plants that play nice and those that don’t

A listener asked about what plants get along with each other and what plants might not…  Invasive plants really don’t play well with others. 

IF you don’t mind a plant creating your garden, then buy that invasive or “easy spreader” as they are referred to in plant catalogs.  If you want creative control, then be careful. 

Now, who are the lovely plants that get along? You know my LOVE for  … [Continue reading]

Indian Paintbrush


Fri. Jul. 22, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Indian Paintbrush

On today’s show I’m spotlighting a native plant I would love to have! Indian Paintbrush.

It blooms in part to full sun and prefers a medium wet to medium dry soil. Prairie Moon Nursery describes the plant this way: An annual or biennial, its vivid scarlet bracts nearly hide small, greenish flowers and appear to have been dipped in paint. The vivid red color is clustered at the top of the plants and looks really pretty  … [Continue reading]

Herbicide drift


Thu. Jul. 21, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Herbicide drift

 Herbicide drift, it’s not a dance move but that would sure be more fun!

Herbicide drift could be coming from you or from your neighbors who are trying to kill broadleaf weeds. Either way it can affect your fruits, vegetables and other plants. University of Minnesota Extension Educator, Annie Klodd, says she sees symptoms of herbicide damage on her peppers, grapevines and tomatoes nearly every year in late June.

The leaves grow in strange shapes, curl  … [Continue reading]

The benefits of bats and birds


Wed. Jul. 20, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: The benefits of bats and birds

While some may scoff, bats have benefits.  You may not feel that way as you battle one inside your bedroom, however, before killing it, capture it and set it free.  Then look for the place in the bats are coming in and seal it up!

A bat in the house? What to do by Wildlife Removal USA.

Let’s talk about what bats DO do… not what you’re thinking! This is the  … [Continue reading]

Watering and caring for container plants


Tue. Jul. 19, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Watering and caring for container plants

It’s been hot, it’s been humid and our containers are looking a bit bedraggled. 

It’s mid-Summer and, in my area, we are entering a week in the 90’s. I’m in zone 4. We don’t particularly care for weather this hot. It’s also going to be mostly dry.

I just bought a couple new containers and found some bargains on annuals.

Right about now your petunias are likely getting a bit leggy, you  … [Continue reading]

More on JB and the beetle trap


Mon. Jul. 18, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: More on JB and the beetle trap

I know I just talked about this last week but I have been asked multiple times about those traps. PLEASE, do NOT use them. They only attract more beetles. The ONLY time they may be worth it is if you are on a good size piece of land and you place the trap FAR away from the plants you want to protect and NOT near a neighbor’s place.

The University of  … [Continue reading]

What’s keeping birds from your landscape?


Fri. Jul. 15, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio/podcast show: What’s keeping birds from your landscape?

 I have been so fortunate to get quite a show from the variety of birds in my landscape. From Downy woodpeckers to Blue Jays to Chickadees, Catbirds, several Cardinal couples, finches and more.

This spot is excellent for bird watching. the french lilac gives birds a place to sit, honeysuckle vine has been planted to attract more hummingbirds. My neighbor’s Oak tree is great cover, there’s my crabapple to the left not  … [Continue reading]

Painted Ladies and Red Admirals


Thu. Jul. 14, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min Garden Bite radio/podcast: Painted Ladies and Red Admirals

 I love seeing the butterflies flitting about. Monarchs have been given lots of attention but there are a couple of other types of butterflies that deserve some love.

My Northern Gardener magazine highlights 2 of them. I love Painted Lady.

They are more fascinating as they are found everywhere but Australia and Antarctica. Their migrations are big enough to be spotted on radar! Rhonda Fleming Hayes explains in the article that this is  … [Continue reading]