Our backyard ecosystem


Tue. Feb. 25, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Our backyard ecosystem

Our gardens support so much more than the plants and our bellies!  They support wildlife we don’t even see, including some we really don’t want to see and some we wish weren’t there!

However, it’s an ecosystem that relies on each other. Let’s consider that term, ecosystem. What’s the definition?

The “sort of” simple explanation is a system, or a group of interconnected elements, formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their  … [Continue reading]

Planting a rainbow of vegetables


Mon. Feb. 24, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Planting a rainbow of vegetables

Different colors of vegetables and fruits offer different nutritional value.  Although continuing studies are being done on the full value of these power-packed plants, here’s a primer for you.

Here’s a quick overview of what the colors offer:
  • RED – lycopene and anthocyanins – may reduce risk of cancer and heart disease
  • ORANGE/YELLOW – carotenoids – good for your eyes, good for your heart
  • GREEN – lutein – good for your eyes, protect
 … [Continue reading]

Hostas are bad A&s


Fri. Feb. 21, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Hostas are bad A&s

Hostas are backbone of nearly every shade garden, and for good reason! We can count on this plant no matter what!

There are big ones, little ones, large leafed, wrinkled leaf and so many varying shades of green and cream and even blue, that it will make your head spin! Get this, there are 6,100 registered cultivars or varieties according to the American Hosta Society with many more likely to exist that are not  … [Continue reading]

New weeds for the Midwest


Thu. Feb. 20, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: New weeds for the Midwest

As if we didn’t have enough! HA! Each year the Department of Agriculture adds new “weeds” to their lists. There are specifics on how these weeds are classified. While this comes from the Minnesota Dept. of Ag, it goes for all of the Midwest, in fact, Wisconsin put the hex on one of them a while ago!

“Prohibited Eradicate – Most serious threat; remove all parts of the plant above and below  … [Continue reading]

Pussy Willows are for pollinators


Wed. Feb. 19, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Pussy Willows are for pollinators

This native shrub provides some of the earliest flowers which means pollen for our native bees and honey for we humans! The foliage is also host to native butterfly caterpillars!  And they love cold climates! 

Catkins are typically downy, pendulous, composed of flowers of a single sex, and wind-pollinated.

 

Pussy Willows (the native variety is Salix discolor) are fast growing, up to 15 to 20 feet tall and prefer wet sites but  … [Continue reading]

Vegetables for part shade


Tue. Feb. 18, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Vegetables for part shade

Yes, it’s possible to grow some vegetables in part shade! Wahoo!  Certainly warm season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and melons need full sun (8 hours of direct sunlight), there are plenty of delicious options for less sun!

Jeff Gillman (former U of M Hort Professor and currently Director of the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens in Charlotte North Carolina) points them out in his book ‘Decoding Gardening Advice’.

Gillman says these vegetables/herbs need as little  … [Continue reading]

Prepping and pruning in late Winter


Mon. Feb. 17, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Prepping and pruning in late Winter

Late Winter is a good time to prune trees and shrubs… if you can get at them!

Timing is everything! Do NOT prune any spring blooming shrubs now, however, it IS a good time to prune any summer or fall flowering shrubs. First rule of pruning – THINK TWICE, PRUNE SECOND

I have a lot of icicles from my front porch… the lilac and grasses take the attack of the ice

Dogwoods,  … [Continue reading]

Valentine’s Day history


Fri. Feb. 14, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Valentine’s Day history

Uh… today is Valentine’s Day!  Just a reminder in case you would like to make an impression on a loved one… today would be a good day for that!

The history of Valentine’s Day is a bit convoluted as there are plenty of versions!

There were 3 Christian martyrs all named Valentine and in 500 AD, Pope Gelasius created St. Valentines Day to commemorate the martyrs.  At that time there was no romantic meaning to  … [Continue reading]

The message of roses and more


Thu. Feb. 13, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: The message of roses and more

While there are plenty of gorgeous flowers, most choose to give their Sweetheart roses  for Valentine’s Day.  There are messages in the COLOR you choose!

Red is the most popular color and means “I love you”.  Simple and sweet. But the other colors… well, let’s check them out!

  • Coral represents desire
  • Lavender means enchantment.  This is a good choice for a newer relationship or love at first sight!
  • Pink stands for perfect
 … [Continue reading]

Foliage plants with flare


Wed. Feb. 12, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Foliage plants with flare

Under layers of winter, I’m thinking of my gardens. 

As I do, I ask you, have you ever looked out at your garden in the waning days between Spring and Summer, Summer and Fall and thought, man, my garden looks pooped?

It’s a great time to consider adding foliage plants to your landscape! Sipping on a hot beverage and perusing catalogs or the internet.

These foliage plants are workhorses of a sort, not only  … [Continue reading]