with Teri Knight
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: A peek at 2022 plants
As we move into our holiday season still dealing with pandemic issues, I wanted to look forward and share some plants that will be offered up in 2022! Wahoo!
A new Astilbe called ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ has bronzy leaves that carry purple flowers in shade. It grows to 16 inches tall with the scape, or flowers if you will, growing above to 24 inches and the spread of the plant about … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Worst trees! Says Who?
I discovered a list of trees that a site says are the WORST. After reading it I took issue with some of their “worst”. Frankly, one person’s “weed”, is another person’s “flower”. Take the dandelion.
That said, I’ll share some of their “worst” and my “not so”. There are a lot of reasons a tree isn’t fun to have around. They may be messy or weak and prone to damage… maybe they’re susceptible to … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Controlling ants in the garden
This past summer I had a terrible ant problem in my garden. Those little nasty biters even lifted some plants right out of the ground.
I tried diatomaceous earth, then just moved for a while. I tried traps like the Hotel California kind, they just reproduced. UGH.
While “technically” they’re not a garden pest, I know I’m not the only one that takes issue with them!
I found a few options to try … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Oriental Bittersweet
As we approach the holidays, this is a perennial topic now. Oriental bittersweet is pretty obnoxious… see how I did that? Pretty, yes, obnoxious, most definitely!
Used so often in decorations, this lovely looking vine is deceitful as it’s invasive qualities haunt our forests, grasslands, and parks! Sounds a bit harsh for such a well used holiday decoration but it’s true.
This invasive has penetrated our native areas to the point that it’s at the top … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Festive Containers
I love creating my festive containers! I normally go to my local nursery and buy the “ingredients”, spruce tops, cedar branches and various other evergreens and fresh accents.
This year I am laying low due to some scheduled surgery. No worries, I’ll be kicking around like crazy in a few months. That said, I DID purchase some “starter” containers and added my own flair! The plastic container in the photo below broke (I dropped it), so … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Infused sugars
Inching out of a pandemic, we’re gathering again. That means host/hostess gifts! Rather than last minute, consider something a little different that’s easy and just takes a couple of weeks.
Start with organic sugar, be it cane, beet or coconut; and a dried herb or spice. Or a mix! Make sure your container remains dry. Combine the sugar and herb or spice into an airtight container in a 4 to 1 ratio of sugar to spice. … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Top 10 performing annuals of 2021
Each year, hundreds of annual flowers are on public display as part of the annual flower variety trial at the University of Minnesota Horticulture Display Garden in Morris, MN.
In 2021, they trialed over 500 varieties ranging from ageratum to lantana to petunias to salvia, representing plant breeding companies from around the world. The top 10 winners were just announced.
Angelonia ‘Angelissa™ Rose’, also known as a “Summer Snapdragon”. It grew … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show; Bringing houseplants back in the house
Your houseplants that spend the growing season outdoors should be inside by now or they’re likely toast. My area south of Mpls/St. Paul had just a smidgen of snow but Up North, you guys had a bit more!
Hopefully you brought them indoors and checked for “travelers” such as plant debris and bugs. Use a loop or magnifying glass with a light to check under the leaves.
If you find webbing, egg … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Winter shrub care and salt tolerant options
Consider ways to give our shrubs a little extra TLC during winter. Using snow as a type of mulch isn’t a bad idea for your shrubs but you have to be careful how you PLACE that snow over your plants.
Sending the kids out to pile it on might not be the best idea unless they know not to heave it onto delicate branches that could break. Especially the wet, heavy … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Veteran’s Day and the healing power of Nature
Today is Veterans Day and I want to honor all those who have served our Country and for those who have come back from war with injuries we see and those we don’t.
Transitioning from combat to civilian life isn’t easy. Experts are going back to lessons from long ago about the role nature has in healing. Years ago, on another radio show I had called “15 with the Author”, … [Continue reading]