Wild Cucumber is back – 2022 style


Thu. Aug. 25, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Wild cucumber is back – 2022 style

Wild Cucumber is back…

although not as abundantly as last year. Which seems to be the case for many of our plants.

This vine is usually covering fields, trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers along nearly every rural road through Minnesota, Wisconsin and parts east, west and south!

Wild cucumber is generally overlooked until it has overtaken the  plants it is growing on.

This vining annual in the cucumber or gourd family (Cucurbitaceae)  … [Continue reading]

Trees and shrubs for pollinators


Wed. Aug. 24, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Trees and shrubs for pollinators

We generally think of annual and perennial flowers when we consider pollinators.

Trees and shrubs are a huge component of pollinator habitat.

The University of Minnesota Extension notes their seasonal interest as well as providing food AND shelter.

Shrubs can be planted in groups or alone, with fruit or without. I have 3 carpet roses or pavement roses that are loaded each year with bees. They’re easy care and provide pollen abundantly earlier  … [Continue reading]

Lamenting my Resurrection lilies – the non-rising 2022


Tue. Aug. 23, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Lamenting my Resurrection lilies – the non-rising 2022

Two years ago I talked about my Resurrection Lilies, calling the episode “The Rising”. 

I came by this plant in July of 2012 when I moved into my current home.

The previous owner told me that I wouldn’t see this flower coming and I didn’t.

It has lush foliage early in the season, then the whole thing dies back.

BUT then, all of a sudden these stalks holding these  … [Continue reading]

Pollinators and mowing roadways


Mon. Aug. 22, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Pollinators and mowing roadways

There was great discussion a couple of weeks ago on my Garden Bite Facebook page regarding pollinators and mowing along roadways. It was in the comment section of my August 8th Garden Bite on how the heat affected our vegetable garden. 

The questions are how much footage beyond the roadway to mow and then how often.

I never really found that question fully answered but I did find that a lot of organizations  … [Continue reading]

Fall vegetable garden


Fri. Aug. 19, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Fall vegetable garden

Planning a Fall vegetable garden. Those vegetables we grew in spring can be repeated and add brussels sprouts and beets too!

I eat salads nearly every day for lunch. Planting lettuce, kale and other “leafies” sounds like a good idea!

There are some pretty cool reasons for planting as our temperatures begin to cool off. 

  • Pests are fewer, those that irritate our plants and those that irritate us. Mosquitoes are first to come to mind.
 … [Continue reading]

Why a raised garden bed?


Thu. Aug. 18, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Why a raised garden bed?

My community puts on a Garden Tour each year. This year there was a place with only raised beds. It was beautiful. 

I asked her why and she simply said she doesn’t want to bend down any more. That was the best answer I could think of!

More reasons to love raised beds:

  • You control the soil type
  • Better drainage
  • Soil heats up faster in spring allowing you to plant earlier
  • Weeds are
 … [Continue reading]

Hardy hibiscus are Summerific – 2022


Wed. Aug. 17, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Hardy hibiscus are Summerific – 2022

Hardy hibiscus take those of us in cold climates to the tropics.

Blooming from July to September, some cultivars have flowers that can reach up to 9 inches across.

While blooms only last one to two days, there are MANY buds that continue to show off their colors.

It’s important to note that this zone 4 plant takes time to emerge in spring.

Don’t get nervous if you don’t see any growth  … [Continue reading]

Aster yellows


Tue. Aug. 16, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Aster yellows

Have you seen Aster Yellows? While that sounds like it would be a pretty flower, it’s anything but. I’ve heard from listeners that it’s in their area.

Aster yellows causes bizarre symptoms on plants.

Typical symptoms include veins that turn pale, yellowing of new leaves, abnormally bushy growth, deformed flowers, and stunting. Some look like they’re growing another plant in a flower itself. It can look like witches broom. Or sometimes you don’t even know something’s  … [Continue reading]

August vegetable garden tips 2022


Mon. Aug. 15, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: August vegetable garden tips 2022

It’s August garden tips 2022 version.  This has to be my most disappointing year for vegetable gardening. 

The Mandevilla flowers look better than any of the other plants. The tomatoes had nice growth, then petered out. The peppers aren’t much and even the herbs have been so-so. I just talked last week about how our hot weather is affecting our vegetable garden.

Tips for mid-August

  • Before watering your plants with the hose,
 … [Continue reading]

The gladiolas are late – 2022


Fri. Aug. 12, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: The gladiolas are late – 2022

I love gladiolas. But they’re late this year. The heat, and perhaps, the fact I planted them in a container, has affected their growth. Below is a photo from last year. July 26th, 2021

August 2nd, 2022

 Gladiolas are part of the Iris family but have a very different look! The sword like foliage is really awesome planted with the delicate look of some native grasses.

For those of us in cold  … [Continue reading]