with Teri Knight
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Twas the Night Before Christmas – my Gardeners version
It’s Christmas Eve so I’m sharing my gardeners version of an old classic. I wrote this over a decade ago but it still holds true for me. This year (do I have to say 2020?) we’ve all felt the sting of not being with loved ones, the unknowing of our lives, the disruption of our daily life, but there are some things that never change. I hope this poem … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Coleus crush
I have a serious crush on coleus. This go-to annual is so easy to brighten shaded spots and there are now more and more varieties for sunny spots too!
New for 2021 is Red Flare and it’s just WOW. This TerraNova Nurseries introduction has bright foliage of deep red, lobed leaves with reddish-pink centers.
It has an upright, compact habit in addition to being slow to flower, making maintenance easy. Vigorous branching from the base makes … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Celestial gardening aka Biodynamics
Celestial gardening sounds a bit mystical. It is. It’s also working, according to some experts. Biodynamics, it’s more scientific name, uses the movements of the moon and stars to guide planting and cultivation.
Think that’s a stretch? Consider how the moon creates ocean tides. Suddenly it’s not so “out there”. Well, celestially speaking it is! 
Biodynamic gardeners plant by the lunar calendar, they also use raised beds believing that this enlivens the soil. Herbs … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Conservation Districts – why are they important?
The United States has 3,000 Conservation Districts. Many are called Soil and Water Conservation Districts. They are an important part of working with climate change by working with millions of cooperating landowners and operators to help them manage and protect land and water resources on private and public lands in the United States.
The association was founded on the philosophy that conservation decisions should be made at the local level with … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Small scale hydroponics
The University of Minnesota has a great guide to growing greens indoors. Small scale hydroponics. Click on that link for complete information on hydroponics through the UofMN Ext. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil. The plants use less water than soil-based systems.
To grow them, you need the plants, of course, a container, water, a way to anchor the plants, nutrients and a light source. It’s even possible to grow vegetables … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Striking houseplant choices
How about a rattlesnake in your house? Houseplant that is! Since we’re mostly indoors now, our houseplants serve as our “nature respite” in the warmth of our homes!
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! As a native of Brazil, this … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Holiday plants and their meaning
Since we talked about holiday cacti yesterday, I thought it would be fun to share some tidbits on other holiday plants. One thing I forgot to tell you yesterday is that the Christmas cactus stands for answered prayer, the perfect symbol for 2020.
Ahhh but for 2021, Holly may be in our thoughts! Holly stands for good luck! The ancient Romans and Greeks were the first to deck their halls with … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Holiday cacti
Every year there’s a lot of social media chatter about those holiday cacti. Is it a Thanksgiving cactus, a Christmas cactus, an Easter flowering cactus?
The main thing we can all agree on is how lovely they are and it gets even better. Some of these plants have lived over 100 years! Can you imagine how many flowers they’ve shown off during that time!
Although true cacti, these plants are native to rainforests. The need … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: The story of the Poinsettia – Flowers of the Holy Night
Tomorrow, Dec. 12th, is designated National Poinsettia Day.
The Poinsettia is a native of Mexico, where it grows like a weed and can reach 10 feet tall. Mexican legend holds that the leaves, shaped like the star of Bethlehem, first bloomed red for a poor girl who wanted to bring a gift to the manger scene at the local church but had no money. Her cousin, who … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: 2021 AAS winners
The 2021 AAS plants are being introduced and I’m going to share some beauties and a tasty fruit. Wow, wow, wow is how one judge describes a new zinnia Profusion red/yellow bicolor.
This gorgeous annual plant starts the season with a bold vibrant red center ring surrounded by golden-yellow outer petals. As the season progresses, the aging flowers morph into soft, beautiful shades of apricot, salmon, and dusty rose! Yowza! From late spring … [Continue reading]