Stretching your zone with a gorgeous grass


Fri. Jan. 14, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Stretching your zone with a gorgeous grass

I talked about microclimates on Tuesday. This zone 5 grass is one you might consider in YOUR microclimate.  Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ is a lovely grass for shade. 

It’s often used in Japanese gardens, where it originated. Variegated but nearly all yellow, the leaf blades have narrow green stripes, mostly near the margins. The leaves cascade, arching in the same direction. Makes it look a bit like a golden waterfall.

It would  … [Continue reading]

NGB Bulb of the Year 2022


Thu. Jan. 13, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: NGB Bulb of the Year 2022

Each year the National Garden Bureau chooses a bulb, an annual, a houseplant, a shrub, an edible and a perennial of the year. Plants are chosen because they are popular, easy-to-grow, widely adaptable, genetically diverse, and versatile.

For 2022, they chose Gladiolus for the bulb of the year. Glads are as American as apple pie! They are, however, actually native to Africa and other arid regions.

For those of us in cold  … [Continue reading]

Nativars


Wed. Jan. 12, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Nativars

Reading my favorite magazine, Northern Gardener, I came across an article titled ‘Nativars’ by the Editor, and a friend of mine, Mary Schier. These are plants which are cultivars of our native plants. There are a LOT of them. 

Think coneflowers alone and you’ll think of plenty from that native purple one.

The question posed in the article is how much a native plant can be changed and still perform it’s environmental functions like providing food  … [Continue reading]

What is a microclimate?


Tue. Jan. 11, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: What is a microclimate?

I mentioned having a microclimate in your landscape last week when I talked about a zone 5 plant. However, what exactly IS a microclimate?

It is a small area that’s different from the rest… makes sense!

The area may be as small as a part of your yard or as large as a city. For instance, in my yard, the west side next to my home is a microclimate due to heat from  … [Continue reading]

Perennial of the Year 2022


Mon. Jan. 10, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Perennial of the Year 2022

 The Perennial Plant Association announced their winner for Perennial of the Year 2022. It’s Schizachyrium scoparium and its cultivars. It’s common name is Little Bluestem and there are some real gems.

One in particular for our zones 3 and 4 was created at the University of Minnesota Department of Horticulture by Mary Meyer. ‘Blue Heaven’ grows to 4 ft. tall at maturity.

The foliage is dark blue to burgundy during summer turning purple,  … [Continue reading]

Garden planning


Fri. Jan. 7, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Garden planning

Odds are pretty good you’ve already been getting catalogs in the mail from plant and seed companies.

Here’s to a bigger, bolder, saucier YOU in 2022! HA!

As you peruse those catalogs, it’s also a  good time to look over last year’s journal.

As you page through those wish books, jot down some of your favorites and do some research or email me with your questions, tkgardenbite@gmail.com.

Most catalogs paint a glossy picture of the  … [Continue reading]

Epiphany and what to do with the Christmas tree


Thu. Jan. 6, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Epiphany and what to do with the Christmas tree

Today is the official last day of the twelve days of Christmas. It’s the Epiphany, the time when Christians around the world remember the three Wise Men.  January 6, according to Merriam-Webster, is observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ.

Other  … [Continue reading]

More 2022 plants


Wed. Jan. 5, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: More 2022 plants

I’m having fun looking at new plant introductions for the 2022 season! One I came across is called ‘Drumsticks’ in its native Australia, an apt name! I lived in the Northern Territory for a couple of years when I was a kid. Great place, great people!

On to Drumsticks, also known as Craspedia globosa. The cultivar ‘Sun Ball’ is new from Johnny’s Selected Seeds.

One inch sunny yellow globes sit atop long, stiff stems. The  … [Continue reading]

Peperomia plants


Tue. Jan. 4, 2022

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

Oh peperomia how I love your vast foliage options. I recently treated myself to a new plant and sassy pot.

‘Watermelon’ peperomia argyreia, is a sweet little beauty. The leaves are green and silver while the stems are red!

Peperomia like bright, indirect light, a bit of warmth and humidity in our cold climate homes but not too much water. They are tropical plants, native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. You can see from  … [Continue reading]

Clean your plants, clear the air – vice versa


Mon. Jan. 3, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Clean your plants, clear the air – vice versa

Uh, you might want to give that plant a bath. I’m not saying that there’s an odor, but… no, seriously, that crusty layer of dust and, maybe cooking residue, diminishes the plant’s ability to clear your air! Which I talked about last week!

I wiped down my snake plant yesterday!

Periodically cleaning the leaves of your houseplants is actually less work than letting it go until a year  … [Continue reading]