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]

2023 bulb of the year – Amaryllis


Thu. Dec. 1, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: 2023 bulb of the year – Amaryllis

Each year the National Garden Bureau selects a bulb, annual, vegetable, perennial, shrub and houseplant of the year. For 2023 they’ve selected the Amaryllis as bulb of the Year. The focus is on the Hippeastrum plants.

Amaryllis is a bulb native to South Africa. I talked about amaryllis a couple of weeks ago and shared some new offerings, check out them out here. 

Today I’m sharing some of the

 … [Continue reading]

Norfolk Pine – the tropical Christmas tree


Wed. Nov. 30, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Norfolk Pine – the tropical Christmas tree

I’ve talked about evergreens and fresh Christmas trees so far this week, how about a Tropical Tree!

Perfect for small places, in fact I had one in my own home a couple of years ago, this little darling fits well in apartments or any space you have light. It’s the Norfolk Pine.

I know many of you have seen this houseplant but maybe don’t know where it actually comes from

 … [Continue reading]

Christmas tree placement and care


Tue. Nov. 29, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Christmas tree placement and care

You learned all about the different types of Christmas trees on yesterdays Garden Bite. Today is about caring for your fresh tree.

FIRST know WHERE you’ll place your tree so you can measure the area.

You may think you’re good at eyeballing it, but once that baby’s in the house, you don’t want to cut it! Seriously, friends did this. Their tree was way too large for their home. Let’s just say that  … [Continue reading]

Fresh Christmas tree selection


Mon. Nov. 28, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min.  Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Fresh Christmas tree selection

Local nurseries are stocked with fabulous fresh greens and copious amounts of Christmas trees. The scent of a real tree has created many a lasting memory for most of us.

Of course we can’t forget the 60’s with the metal trees and rotating colored lights! They’ve made a comeback in the last few years and I’ve also spotted pink and champagne colored artificial trees! They can be fun too.

But TODAY is about choosing

 … [Continue reading]

Shopping madness 2022


Fri. Nov. 25, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden  Bite radio show/podcast: Shopping madness 2022

Yesterday we packed our bellies, today we’re packing shopping bags! 

For gardeners here is a list of my favorites, including my new favorite tool, the Hori Hori knife! Seriously, I can’t believe I went this long without one! I’m also a huge fan of garden forks. I use mine consistently. It’s so much easier on the plants and their roots and also on ME.

As for gloves, I have probably about 10 pair all over  … [Continue reading]