The seed journey 2023 – so far!


Sat. May. 6, 2023

Good morning on a cloudy, drizzly Saturday! May 6th, 2023

I started planting seeds I received from All America Selections on April 1st. Here’s a link to that Garden Bite.  PS, Coast of Maine stinks. Just so ya know.

Then….

I used a lighter mix when transplanting.

  • Transplant seedlings that outgrow cell packs into larger containers. Larger peat pots or plastic cups with holes punched in their bottoms work well.
  • Lift seedlings by the rootball using a spoon or plant tag for support if necessary.
  • Never hold the seedling by
 … [Continue reading]

Garden Bite closes a chapter


Fri. Apr. 28, 2023

Click below to listen to my  2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Garden Bite closes a chapter

In March of 2007 I started this 2 minute radio program after being approached by a local media distribution company. My background in radio and television along with becoming a Master Gardener in 2003 cemented my desire to create this show.

I have loved producing a space for home gardeners who yearn to learn without feeling judged. Providing a fun, inclusive atmosphere and sharing my “nibbles of knowledge on all things in the  … [Continue reading]

Arbor Day 2023, diversity and the Musclewood tree


Thu. Apr. 27, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Arbor Day 2023, diversity and the Musclewood tree

As mentioned yesterday, tomorrow is Arbor Day. Celebrated on the 4th Friday of April. Nebraska newspaper editor, J. Sterling Morton had an enthusiasm for trees and advocated strongly for individuals and civic groups to plant them. That link gives some differing information on Arbor Day’s origin, nonetheless, it’s “mostly” correct! Ahh, research always leads to more research! 😉 

When he became secretary of the Nebraska Territory, he further spread  … [Continue reading]

Trees and grass, can they relate?


Wed. Apr. 26, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Trees and grass, can they relate?

 I have often quoted information from my friend, Faith Appelquist, an arborist with her own company Treequality.  She puts out a great newsletter and in one of them she discussed grass and trees.

Friday is Arbor Day and I thought this would be a great topic. Faith says, “trees and turf grass were never meant to live together”. Trees evolved in the forest with twigs and leaves as a ground cover.  … [Continue reading]

Prairie up and enjoy


Tue. Apr. 25, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden  Bite radio show/podcast: Prairie up and enjoy

Another author I’ve interviewed, and a MAJOR advocate of normalizing prairie lawns, Benjamin Vogt, has a phrase: Prairie Up. He’s referring to eliminating your lawn that offers pollinators nothing and is not the natural state of things. He uses ONLY natives. I have cultivars too.

While lawns have a purpose for those who play yard games, have pets or maybe used as a path, etc. the era of the Great expanse of lawn  … [Continue reading]

Re-thinking No Mow May


Mon. Apr. 24, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2  min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Re-thinking No Mow May

 As I close the chapter on my Garden Bite radio show this week, I’m going to focus on rethinking our lawns and my own gardening philosophy. Today I want to focus on a popular initiative that is getting a 2nd look. That is No Mow May.

The idea of it was to assist pollinators by allowing early flowering, however, I recently received information from University of Minnesota Extension turfgrass educator, Jon Trappe, wherein

 … [Continue reading]

Earth Day 2023


Fri. Apr. 21, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Earth Day 2023

Tomorrow is Earth day. During the pandemic we saw what our industry has done to the planet. We’ve noted how climate change has, literally, changed our climate zone map and we’re seeing a lot of native species become extinct. More on global warming from NOAA. 

However, I want us to focus on how beautiful Earth is and celebrate it. As Van Gogh said “if you truly love nature you’ll see beauty everywhere”.  It’s  … [Continue reading]

Pond and bog gardening with natives


Thu. Apr. 20, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Pond and bog gardening with natives

 I don’t have a bog or a pond but I know folks who do! Today I’m sharing some great ideas from my new favorite book, “A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators”.

Bogs and ponds are unique in that those areas are consistently moist so the plants that thrive in that environment have to be cool with wet feet.

Diversity in planting is not only more pleasing to the  … [Continue reading]

More fun plants for 2023


Wed. Apr. 19, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: More fun plants for 2023

Everyone I talk to is SO excited for gardening season this year. I love it! I spotted a beautiful verbena I plan to use in at least 1 container! ‘Sparkling Amethyst’ is a stunner in part to full sun with blooms from Spring to Fall.

Seriously! This Proven Winners addition is part of their Superbenas series which are their most vigorous, heat tolerant, and mildew tolerant plants.

The white and amethyst bicolor  … [Continue reading]

Annuals for 2023


Tue. Apr. 18, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Annuals f0r 2023

My local gardener friends are giddy. The 2022/23 winter was long but finally we’re on the other side with warm temperatures and drought conditions over, our local garden center flowers are on full display. Aisles of pansies and violas, petunias and impatiens, snapdragons and more coming out every day!

It takes years of trialing at various locations to finally introduce a new plant to the public although accessibility may still be a bit challenging!

Some  … [Continue reading]