Top mistakes gardeners make


Wed. Dec. 28, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Top mistakes gardeners make

 As we nestle in for a long winter …

… I want to talk about the top mistakes new gardeners, and some of we more impatient gardeners make. Skipping soil prep is number one.

Soil is the foundation by which all things grow, so when you don’t take the time for a little prep, you’re giving your plants a shorter life span at the very least. 

You can’t completely change the structure of your  … [Continue reading]

New Proven Winner plants 2023


Tue. Dec. 27, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: New Proven Winner plants 2023

As we reach the end of 2022, we look forward to new plant introductions for 2023! Proven Winners is a brand comprised of leading plant propagators around the world. In North America, they are Four Star Greenhouse in Carleton, MI and Pleasant View Gardens in Loudon, NH.

Here’s a look at a few new Proven Winners perennials for 2023! They will be available at your local nurseries next year. 

A new Astilbe  … [Continue reading]

Birds are feeding!


Mon. Dec. 26, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Birds are feeding!

 It’s full-on winter in much of the country. Last week I talked about ice and snow collected on our trees and shrubs and whether to knock it off.

I admit, the snow DOES look lovely resting on those branches. The birds feeding on some fun ornaments made of seed is also lovely to watch.

Note: the video I have isn’t formatted well for this space so I had to delete it. It’s on my  … [Continue reading]

My Gardeners version of Twas the Night Before Christmas


Fri. Dec. 23, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: My Gardeners version of Twas the Night Before Christmas

It’s Christmas Eve and that means I bring you my gardeners version of an old classic poem written in 1823 by Clement Clarke Moore. I wrote my version well over a decade ago but it still holds true for me.

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,

not a plant was stirring not even a sprout. 

The seedlings were hung by the glow of a grow  … [Continue reading]

Mesmerizing caladiums


Thu. Dec. 22, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Mesmerizing caladiums

I was perusing topics for today when I came across a caladium that screams Christmas! Since this IS Christmas week, I really wanted to share it. Heart to Heart “Mesmerized’ by Proven Winners is SO festive with various shades of greens and reds along with splashes of white in each leaf. This is definitely your Thriller in a container, growing to about 20 inches tall with a 14 inch spread.

Another Christmasy caladium is called ‘Fiesta’ … [Continue reading]

Winter Solstice 2022


Wed. Dec. 21, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Winter Solstice 2022

 The Winter Solstice occurs at 3:48 this afternoon central time! While it marks the shortest day of the year, it also means that the days will start getting longer! YAY. I look forward to longer days, as I know LOTS of people do.

Why does this even happen? Because Earth is tilted. But we’re not alone, all the other planets are tilted with Mercury and Jupiter the straightest.

Western culture owes many of the traditional  … [Continue reading]

American Lotus


Tue. Dec. 20, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: American Lotus

 Prairie Moon Nursery is an excellent native seed and plant company based in Minnesota. I’ve purchased many seeds and plants from them over the years. They just highlighted a plant whose seed pods are very often used in holiday container arrangements and more.

American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea). This aquatic plant is sought after for its huge flower, and also for the decorative dried seed capsules. Very large, 10″ or more across, and  … [Continue reading]

Taking care of our trees


Mon. Dec. 19, 2022

Click on the link below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Taking care of our trees

Last week I talked about how road salt damages our plants and more. I discussed the care we need to use when our trees, evergreens and shrubs are laden with snow and ice. Then I received my Treequality holiday message from my favorite Arborist, Faith Appelquist. She talked about how she loves the Christmas lights but not when they’re strangling our trees. 

The examples of the torture some people

 … [Continue reading]

Knock it off or not? Snow and ice


Fri. Dec. 16, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Knock it off or not? Snow and ice

Should I knock it off or not? A perennial topic. 

When our timbers are shivering, our trees and shrubs are layered in snow and ice, our first instinct is to knock that stuff off, set the branches free, however, you might do more harm than good. 

And put your own safety at risk.  Always proceed with caution as you head out after a wintry mix.  I’ve seen trees that literally  … [Continue reading]

Road salt alternatives


Thu. Dec. 15, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Road salt alternatives

I’ve already had a couple of white knuckle commutes and watched semi’s jackknife and get t-boned.

Road salt and salt alternatives are today’s Garden Bite subject.

We all know by now that salt is NOT good for lawns or most plants. It’s taken years for state Departments of Transportation to figure out how to use it with more discretion and find alternatives. Back in the 1930’s New Hampshire was the first state to use rock  … [Continue reading]