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]

The case for the Northern long-eared bat 2023


Wed. Dec. 14, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: The case for the Northern long-eared bat 2023

 I’ve written before about White Nose Syndrome and the Northern long-eared bat, and their situation is getting much worse.  The US Fish & Wildlife service just announced that, starting in January of 2023, the state of Minnesota will reclassify the Northern long-eared bat from “threatened” to “endangered”.

In a press release, the Director said, “White-nose syndrome is decimating cave-dwelling bat species like the northern long-eared bat at unprecedented  … [Continue reading]

Pantone Color of the Year 2023


Tue. Dec. 13, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Pantone Color of the Year 2023

We’ll be seeing plenty of red next year, or rather reddish-purple. Pantone has chosen Viva Magenta as their 2023 Color of the Year.

While they wax poetic in their description, it’s really an amazing color. To quote Pantone, “Viva Magenta is brave and fearless. A pulsating color promoting joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.” That’s not all. It is a shade rooted in nature. It’s inspired by the red of  … [Continue reading]

National Poinsettia Day and the Legend


Mon. Dec. 12, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: National Poinsettia Day and the Legend

The quintessential plant of the holiday season is due in part to Joel Roberts Poinsett who was the first U.S. diplomat to Mexico.

He took a fancy to the plant in 1828 and sent samples back home. Euphorbia pulcherrima was used by the Aztecs for dyes and medicines.

Spanish Catholicism made the connection to Christmas due to the leaves that were said to be shaped like the Star of Bethlehem and the

 … [Continue reading]

Small space gardening 2022


Fri. Dec. 9, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Small space gardening 2022

Small space gardening continues to trend up as we head toward 2023. In fact, container gardening is the number 1 way 35 to 45 year olds prefer to garden.

With that in mind, I did some research on incorporating container gardening into your landscape. Plants such as the Petite Knock Out® rose are perfectly suited for this type of gardening. Click on the link to see it in the ground too!

It has the  … [Continue reading]

Striking houseplant choices


Thu. Dec. 8, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Striking houseplant choices

Since we’re mostly indoors now, our houseplants serve as our “nature respite” in the warmth of our homes! 

We all have or have had spider plants, mother-in-law tongues, philodendron and the like.  How about adding a little bite, with the striking foliage of the Rattlesnake Plant also known as Calathea lancifolia.

It’s leaves are various shades of green with wavy edges and a reddish-purple underside.  The leaves alone can grow to 30 inches in  … [Continue reading]

Evergreens of another color


Wed. Dec. 7, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Evergreens of another color

 Looks like most of us will have a white Christmas!  Snow pack is great for our plants, it acts as an insulation coming just in time for those frigid temps.

Then in Spring, as the soil thaws it will soak up that snow for a refreshing wake-up call. 

With all that white, we do appreciate some color in our landscape.  Evergreens generally come to mind first. But they’re not all green!

These evergreens are  … [Continue reading]

2023 AAS winners – Edibles


Tue. Dec. 6, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: 2023 AAS winners – Edibles

 Yesterday I talked about AAS annual flower winners. Today I’m going to share some of the edible winners so you can start planning!

I love watermelon but don’t grow it due to size. ‘Rubyfirm F1’ is a personal size, very sweet tasting 2023 winner with crisp flesh and minimal seeds.

It yields 2 to 3 fruits on a 10 ft. vine. It also has good disease resistance. It must be grown in full  … [Continue reading]

2023 AAS winners – Annuals


Mon. Dec. 5, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: 2023 AAS winners – Annuals

 It’s that time of year! Sharing AAS winners for 2023. All America Selections are truly the best of the best having been trialed by numerous horticulture professionals in blind trials.

Today I’m sharing some spectacular new annuals that will be available next year. First up may be my favorite. It’s a colocasia in the Royal Hawaiian series. This one is named ‘Waikiki’.

This gorgeous elephant ear’s leaves are deep, glossy green with  … [Continue reading]

Taking out the lawn


Fri. Dec. 2, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Taking out the lawn

 A number of years ago I interviewed Benjamin Vogt on his book “A New Garden Ethic”. I’ve mentioned him before. Earlier this year, in fact, on the dandelion debate. 

As owner of Monarch Gardens he designs prairie landscapes specifically to remove expanses of lawns. In his new book, “Prairie Up – An Introduction to Natural Garden Design” Vogt shares his expertise with prairie plants aimed at gardeners and homeowners, making big ideas about  … [Continue reading]