November to-do’s


Fri. Nov. 1, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: November to-do’s

Garden cleanup… what to do and other tips for November

Debris removal is important particularly if you’ve had any disease. As  I talked about a couple of weeks ago, I had tomato leaves with septoria leaf spot in my vegetable garden. 

Another area of concern is the fallen leaves and rotten fruit at the base of your fruit trees.  Oftentimes, that debris is a hiding spot for disease that overwinters and then presents itself next season. … [Continue reading]

Traditions of Halloween and Samhain


Thu. Oct. 31, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Traditions of Halloween (Samhain)

When Halloween was started, I doubt they figured that retail sales in the United States would be predicted at nearly $9 BILLION!!!  That’s what the National Federation of Retailers are predicting for 2019.

Through the years, traditions were brought to America through European immigrants and the celebrations changed in a number of ways. Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treating was  revived.

Trick-or-treating was a way for an entire community to share  … [Continue reading]

Nature’s nocturnal creatures


Wed. Oct. 30, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Nature’s nocturnal creatures

When I lived out east, the night before Halloween was called “Mischief Night”, the night the older kids went out and soaped windows, tee peed trees and got into trouble!  Halloween lore from 1970 to 2000….. (this link tells the story… but also has swear words!)

What creatures create nighttime mischief in our backyards?

The top prankster has got to be that cute little bandit, the Raccoon!  From tossing our garbage to making their  … [Continue reading]

Storing chemicals


Tue. Oct. 29, 2019

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

While there’s a big movement against the use of chemicals for our landscapes (gardens, etc.), there are still plenty of folks who use them.    Proper storage also INCLUDES your organic products.

If you’ve got chemicals in dispensers, it’s best to use them up according to directions, then rinse out your sprayers and allow them to drip dry.

Be sure you know what’s in your containers.  Don’t mix chemicals, even if they’re the same thing, if they  … [Continue reading]

Orchid love indoors and out


Mon. Oct. 28, 2019

Click below to listen to my  2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Orchid love indoors and out

While there are plenty of “grocery store” orchids (mostly phalaenopsis)  there are also a number of native orchids for our Upper Midwest area.

Yes, natives in Wisconsin and Minnesota.  In fact, the Showy Lady’s Slipper is Minnesota’s State Flower. Found living in open fens, bogs, swamps, and damp woods where there is an abundance of natural light, there are 17 orchid species that grow in Minnesota. The feminine-looking ‘Lady Slipper’ orchid grows slowly,  … [Continue reading]

Pumpkin seeds


Fri. Oct. 25, 2019

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

Carving pumpkins is a tradition for nearly everyone I know.  When I was little, my mom would save the seeds, rinse them, soak them in a salt-laden bowl of water overnight and then bake them.  They were a treat then, but I’ve discovered a much tastier way to enjoy those seeds.

There are  a variety of methods to toast/roast your pumpkin seeds. While I don’t soak the daylights out of my seeds, I do clean them  … [Continue reading]

Gearing up for goblins


Thu. Oct. 24, 2019

Click below to listen to my  2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Gearing up for goblins

Tis the season to gear up for goblins or gourds or pumpkins and such!   One of my favorite things as a kid was pumpkin carving time. As the youngest one with the smallest hands, it was my job to pull the guts out of the pumpkins while my brother and sister wielded the knives.  Luckily mom was nearby to make sure they used the knives on the pumpkins and not each other. Now no  … [Continue reading]

Fall landscape


Wed. Oct. 23, 2019

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

Some folks grow gourds or specialty squash for howlingly cool Halloween or Harvest displays.  Once, many years ago, I grew one of those super large pumpkins. I was so proud! The local grocery store was having a contest and I got it loaded up in the pick up and off we went.  The grocery store manager says, “Ya that woulda won!”

Huh?

“The contest ended yesterday”.

If you grew corn this year you have a great  … [Continue reading]

Tool attention


Tue. Oct. 22, 2019

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

A perennial topic! Tool attention. With temperatures up and down and precipitation here and there, we’re headed to Winter and putting our gardens to rest. That means putting the tools away too.

You’ve been abusing your trowels, shovels, pruners and hoes all season, leaving them scattered about your yard and gardens to let mother nature do what she will to them, or maybe that’s just me.  Regardless of who’s been naughty or nice to their tools,  … [Continue reading]

Fall journaling


Mon. Oct. 21, 2019

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

I love the smell of a fire in the crisp autumn air.  After getting your chores done for the day, take a little time for yourself.  Build a fire in a pit, grab a hot mug of coffee or cocoa with or without a little adult beverage added, and relax to recount your garden joys and woes of the season. 

Between the nearly non existent Spring with more winter-like temperatures and snow and the wet summer  … [Continue reading]