It’s raining climate change in the Big Woods


Wed. Jan. 30, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  It’s raining climate change in the Big Woods

It’s raining climate change in a State Park in Minnesota. The Minnesota DNR’s new Park Ranger for Nerstrand Big Woods, Katie Foshay, recently shared that 12% of the park is experiencing forest death due to lack of oxygen around flooded tree roots. Note:  photos courtesy of MnDNR

The loss of maples, oaks, basswood and more is devastating and, worse, Ash trees, that tolerate wet soil are sprouting up but they’re  … [Continue reading]

Native grasses


Tue. Jan. 29, 2019

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

Native plants provide for a wide diversity with an established track record in our climate, although things are changing and I’ll talk more about that tomorrow.  

Native plants don’t ask for much, just the right sun/shade conditions and the right soil, wet, moist or dry. We’re lucky to have some very lovely native grasses stretching into zone 3 climate.

Some native grasses that can work in the urban landscape include panicum virgatum or switchgrass!  They are  … [Continue reading]

Native salt tolerant plants


Mon. Jan. 28, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Native salt tolerant plants

While half of us have received little snow, the other half seems to have been inundated.  Temperatures have fluctuated and our climate doesn’t seem too sure WHAT to do!

One thing WE know is that, when our roads get slick, slimy and/or snow-covered, the salt trucks come out.  Something else we know is that our plants are not fond of the seasoning.   Road salt can damage plants by interfering with their water uptake through  … [Continue reading]

Orchid care


Fri. Jan. 25, 2019

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

Did you receive an orchid as a gift this season?  Phalaenopsis orchids are the most popular indoor houseplant gift.  Catching your eye in the produce aisle of the grocery store or in local garden centers, they can often be an impulse buy.  The good news is they are relatively easy care. Light and watering, however, are always an issue with houseplants.

 The American Orchid Society recommends using a pencil or wooden skewer to determine whether an  … [Continue reading]

2019 Plants from the pink palette


Thu. Jan. 24, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  2019 plants from the pink palette

Last week I shared some lovey blue flowers for your gardens, today will pique your pink palette with new plants from Proven Winners…

It’s another Baptisia in the Decadence series, this one is ‘Pink Lemonade’ and it’s delicious!  Growing in full to part sun up to 4 feet tall, Soft yellow flowers appear atop deep blue-green foliage in spring.

The flowers age to dusty raspberry purply pink, showing both colors at the  … [Continue reading]

Enabling Gardens


Wed. Jan. 23, 2019

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

For me, there’s no better stress reliever than to go outside and play in the dirt.  (see yesterday’s GB!)

I love watching every moment of life in my yard. From my plants poking up through the cold Spring ground to the last hard frost of the season that takes them into winter slumber.   

I take for granted being able to take care of a garden. Then, several years ago, I was asked to give a talk  … [Continue reading]

Vegetable garden cost comparison


Tue. Jan. 22, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Vegetable garden cost comparison

I’ve talked about this many times before and continue to get the question…

Do you really save money planting your own vegetable garden?   That depends.  Things to consider:

  • how much effort will you put into creating your garden
  • how much you spend on seeds and/or plants
  • are you buying soil?  amendments?  fertilizer?
  • your time spent watering, weeding and harvesting
  • will you be building a raised bed
  • do you need to buy equipment

Your first  … [Continue reading]

A habanero that won’t set your lips on fire and a tomato called ‘Get Stuffed’


Mon. Jan. 21, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  A habanero that won’t set your lips on fire and a tomato called ‘Get Stuffed’

I’ve been talking about the All America Selection Winners but there are also plenty of new offerings that, while not winning a title, are part of the National Garden Bureaus 2019 list!  There’s a new habanero out there and it may be more palatable to those of us who don’t like our mouths and lips on fire! Habanero ‘Primero Red’ is one of  … [Continue reading]

Stretching your zone with a gorgeous grass for shade


Fri. Jan. 18, 2019

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

Stretching your zone

As I was wandering through the perennials of the year, there’s a grass I just love but have been a little leery about planting it since i live in zone 4b and it’s a zone 5 rated plant.  Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’.

This lovely grass is great for shade.  It’s often used in Japanese gardens, where it originated. Variegated but nearly all yellow, the leaf blades  … [Continue reading]

2019 Perennial Plant of the Year


Thu. Jan. 17, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  2019 Perennial Plant of the Year

Since 1990, the Perennial Plant Association has chosen a “perennial of the year”. 

Perennials chosen are suitable for a wide range of growing climates, require low maintenance, have multiple-season interest, and are relatively pest/disease-free.  In other words, great for low maintenance gardeners!

Drum roll please………. the 2019 Perennial Plant of the Year or PPY is……   a Stachys named ‘Hummelo’!    

Hummel means bumblebee in German, so that should give you an indication  … [Continue reading]