Vegetable of the Year for 2021


Wed. Jan. 13, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Vegetable of the Year for 2021

 Introducing the vegetable of the year for 2021, the green bean! There are many species of beans in cultivation around the world, yet it is the common green bean reaches celebrity status as National Garden Bureau’s vegetable focus for 2021.

One of the earliest cultivated plants, garden beans can trace their beginnings to Central and South America. Vining or climbing beans were an original member of the “Three-Sisters” – a companion planting  … [Continue reading]

National Garden Bureau and the Shrub of 2021


Tue. Jan. 12, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: National Garden Bureau and the Shrub of 2021

One of the good things the year 2020 brought, is a huge increase in gardeners. According to The Garden Center Group, garden center sales have been up 30.3% during COVID-19, creating an opportunity to capture interest in gardening for today and years to come. Many folks devoted their “down” time to this wonderful hobby, creating beauty, enjoying nature, spending time together with family in a healthy way.    

The National  … [Continue reading]

2021 Perennial of the Year


Mon. Jan. 11, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: 2021 Perennial of the Year

The Perennial Plant of the year for 2021 has been announced. One of the highlights of the plant has to do with pollinators. As we understand more on more the value of our pollinators, this seems appropriate.

The perennial plant program started in 1990. Perennials are chosen due to their ability to adapt to a wide range of growing climates, low maintenance, have multiple-season interest and are relatively pest/disease-free.

This year they’ve chosen  … [Continue reading]

Three things NOT to do in your Garden


Fri. Jan. 8, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Three things NOT to do in your Garden

Time and Teri-tested things NOT to do in your Garden!

Planting “easy spreaders” or “fills in rapidly” plants.  Better known as invasive!  These plants will take over your carefully planned garden.  There may be areas you want to plant these, you decide!   Obedient Plant (ha!) is a great example.  It really is lovely but it really does spread.  If that’s what you want then go for it.  Breeders are creating  … [Continue reading]

Catalogs and 2021 plants!


Thu. Jan. 7, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Catalogs and 2021 plants!

Oh the catalogs are arriving! I love getting my new year plant catalogs and browsing on a cold ,snowy, Sunday morning!

There are so many cool new choices! First up, beets! I never liked beets when I was a kid, except pickled. Years ago I pickled my own but, dang, they were not quite cooked through! Tasty but you needed a good knife to cut into ‘em! Burpee has a new variety of 2021  … [Continue reading]

Scale, it’s a living thing


Tue. Jan. 5, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Scale, it’s a living thing

That term seems odd to me for a living creature but there it is sucking the life right out of your houseplants. Scale-damaged plants look withered and sickly. Leaves turn yellow and may drop from the plant.

If left, they will kill it and move on to your other plants nearby.  These little nasties also secrete a sticky substance called honeydew that attracts black fungus called sooty mold.

Young scale insects crawl to  … [Continue reading]

Why you should bathe your leaves


Mon. Jan. 4, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Why you should bathe your leaves

Uh, you might want to give that plant a bath. I’m not saying that there’s an odor, but… no, seriously, that crusty layer of dust is pretty thick… Teri. Yes, speaking to myself!

Periodically cleaning the leaves of your houseplants is actually less work than letting it go until a year down the road the sun shines in at just the right angle and you think, oh man, the air-cleaning machine is  … [Continue reading]

Popping the bubbly


Thu. Dec. 31, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Popping the bubbly

Here’s to saying HELLO to 2021…………

No day is more associated with Champagne than today, New Years Eve. The bubbly’s start was dubious and it’s history riddled with lawsuits.

Dom Perignon, (the guy from the Champagne region of France!) tried many times to get the fizz out of his wine. When wine has bubbles, it’s a sign that it has continued to ferment inside the bottle.  The quintessential guide to Champagne – a little history  … [Continue reading]

Greening up with gardening


Wed. Dec. 30, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite: Greening up with gardening

I have a saying “The garden is no place to stress for success but to soak up some sun and renew your spirit”.  I really do feel this way.  Not only does gardening relieve stress but it gives us a wonderful opportunity for fresh air, some exercise and fresh produce.  I love the feel of soil in my hands, the thrill of harvesting that first juicy tomato.  I pop that in my mouth without even a  … [Continue reading]

Clearing the air


Tue. Dec. 29, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Clearing the air

We may not be traveling much but I know there a lot of folks who cooked up plenty of feasts to drop off to family and friends this year. So, the aromas of holiday cooking still linger in our minds and perhaps in the drapes too if we’ve burned anything! A good time to “clear the air” with plants. They’re not just pretty things, they have a serious job!

Decades ago NASA, yes THAT NASA, … [Continue reading]