Celebrating Farmers Markets and tips for shopping


Mon. Aug. 5, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Celebrating Farmers Markets and tips for shopping

Once again, it’s National Farmers Market week!  What a wonderful opportunity for those who LOVE fresh produce but don’t have a vegetable garden, or room to plant all the veggies they want or  have had their produce poached by Peter Rabbit and his pals!

As you wander the rows of fresh produce, you can’t help but have a different sense of where your food comes from and a connection that we  … [Continue reading]

Garden Bite this and that


Sat. Aug. 3, 2019

Hey Garden Bite peeps!  I have a couple of new videos for you…  Thanks to Gracie Svien, my intern!

In part one of “This and That”, Teri takes you through the process of renewing your bougainvillea in zone 4 and why you shouldn’t give up on a plant you thought was toast! Gardening with containers can be rewarding in our cold climates.

Part 2:   In this episode, we explore sculpture in the garden, the importance of taking photographs and what the heck is fish emulsion and should you use it  … [Continue reading]

Surface root conundrum


Fri. Aug. 2, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Surface root conundrum

Surface roots of trees can be a real pain in the patoot when trying to mow!  I know…  but there are some real DON’TS when it comes to making your mowing life easier.  While I’m  lucky with the yard I have now, I still have a Hackberry that’s not easy to mow around but those roots are actually a GOOD SIGN for your tree.

In a previous residence, I had Silver Maples, they are notorious  … [Continue reading]

August to-do’s in the Garden


Thu. Aug. 1, 2019

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

There are still plenty of things to do in the garden as we wait for those mouthwatering tomatoes to really start producing and I can start roasting!  But that’s another Garden Bite.

Now’s a good time to deadhead those flowers. Blue Salvia tends to flop open…

When you deadhead, you’ll cut the flower off, generally speaking, at the first set of healthy leaves.  What happens is you stop the plant from putting its  … [Continue reading]

Wandering through your gardens – the things you discover!


Wed. Jul. 31, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Wandering through your gardens – the things you discover!

I do love touring my gardens, checking to see what’s going on.  Even though I know what’s supposed to happen, I always feel really delighted when it does!  Like seeing my carpet roses blooming outrageously!

Or watching the progress of my veggie garden. 

And then there’s usually some unwanted stuff hanging out in the garden! Japanese beetles instantly come to mind!

And some cool, interesting, odd things!

Years ago  … [Continue reading]

What goes with Who…


Tue. Jul. 30, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  What goes with Who…

 I love getting questions from listeners, suggestions for Garden Bite topics. Today I’ll address the question of what plants get along and what plants might not…  First thing that comes to mind are invasive plants.

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. 

Monarda and Obedient Plant are at the top of the list, as is Lily  … [Continue reading]

Read the plant label!


Mon. Jul. 29, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Read the plant label!

I’ve had several people ask about replacement plants for plants that have moved on to the garden in the sky.  I’ve advised them about the differing cultural requirements including sun and shade, soil and watering, the usual stuff.  But another thing that must be mentioned when talking about buying plants is to make sure you know what you’re getting. Read the label carefully.  

Take, for instance, these plant labels. This two plants are the  … [Continue reading]

Pinching, is it rude?


Fri. Jul. 26, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Pinching, is it rude?

Only if you’re pinching someONE you ought not to!  Oh, this is Garden Bite and we talk plants!

Pinching, pruning, deadheading are all a good things FOR THE MOST PART.  I would caution you to quit pinching your Mums right now.  If you don’t you won’t have any flowers coming.

Pinching your herbs is a great way to keep them growing bushier.  You want the leaves more than the flowers.  So pinch, prune or  … [Continue reading]

Lake shoreline planting


Thu. Jul. 25, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Lake shoreline planting

We were just at some friends place on a lake in southern Minnesota. Many of the properties had lawns, some had trees and shrubs, in particular where there was no home or cabin, and still others used boulders.

Others where there were homes, planted natives for their shoreline.

Why bother? Well… let me count the ways besides being beautiful.

  1. Shoreline planting provides physical stabilization of a lakeshore or river bank. The extensive root systems of
 … [Continue reading]

Drying herbs


Wed. Jul. 24, 2019

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

I love having fresh herbs!  The aromas are awesome.

I also love having them for the Winter. So, I dry them or freeze them. The dehydrator is my favorite method.

I use it to dry all kinds of herbs including tarragon, parsley and rosemary.  I also dry tomatoes and flowers too.

To prevent mold, don’t pack it too full, you want plenty of air movement, this also helps them dry quicker.

For the best results, cut  … [Continue reading]