Orchid love – Houseplants and Natives


Wed. Oct. 27, 2021

Click below to listen to my  2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Orchid love – indoors and out

Orchids are lining up in garden centers and grocery stores. Those are Phalaenopsis and not hardy to our Upper Midwest region. They DO make wonderful gifts!  

There are a number of orchids native to Minnesota and Wisconsin! There are 17 native Genus of orchids in Minnesota with 49 species!

The Showy Lady’s Slipper is Minnesota’s State Flower. Found living in open fens, bogs, swamps, and damp woods where there is an  … [Continue reading]

Storing chemicals for Winter


Tue. Oct. 26, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Storing chemicals for Winter

A perennial topic, yes. A sexy subject, Nope… but important nonetheless.

While there’s a big movement against the use of chemicals for our landscapes (gardens, etc.), there are still plenty of folks who use them.    Proper storage also INCLUDES your organic products.

If you’ve got chemicals in dispensers, it’s best to use them up according to directions, then rinse out your sprayers and allow them to drip dry.

Be sure you know what’s in  … [Continue reading]

Garden chores left undone? La Nina could spell trouble


Mon. Oct. 25, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Garden chores left undone? La Nina could spell trouble

Apparently La Nina is going to mess with the Upper Midwest for Winter 21-22. Colder and snowier, so they say.  Looks like Wisconsin will be hit harder than Minnesota… but these ARE “predictions” and Mother Nature has a way of doing as she pleases!

I write these Garden Bites the week before, it was 80 degrees at the time. This past weekend we had a killing frost of 27  … [Continue reading]

Fall outdoor displays


Fri. Oct. 22, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Fall displays

I love Fall displays. This year I’m not able to do much creating as I recover from hip replacement surgery (yes, I’m young to have it) BUT, that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy others…

Eons ago I grew large pumpkins… one weighed about 120 pounds. Huge at the time… NOW they’re enormous.

Local garden centers, farmers markets and apple orchards are a great place to pick up those odd curcurbitas (as we talked about last week)  … [Continue reading]

Pumpkin seeds, pie and soup too


Thu. Oct. 21, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min Garden Bite radio show: Pumpkin seeds, pie and soup too

Carving pumpkins is a tradition for nearly everyone I know.  When I was little, my mom would save the seeds, rinse them, soak them in a salt-laden bowl of water overnight and then bake them.  They were a treat then, but my taste is a bit more sophisticated now!

I don’t soak the seeds but just get much of the goop off…

I lightly salt mine then spread them on a baking  … [Continue reading]

Picking pumpkins for decorating


Wed. Oct. 20, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Picking pumpkins for decorating

When I was a kid, carving pumpkins meant using the kitchen knife. Not anymore, thank goodness!

With a myriad of kits with stencils and special tools, the carved pumpkin has reached new levels of design!

Pumpkin PICKING is an art as well.  For the best results using stencils, you want the smoothest pumpkins. Choose a nice even color and the stem should be at least long enough to use as a handle for  … [Continue reading]

Pumpkins! Spice and Squash Season


Tue. Oct. 19, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Pumpkins! Spice and Squash Season

 Love it or hate it, it’s pumpkin spice everything season. 

I have a friend who grinds her teeth every time the pumpkin spice comes out at her favorite coffee shop, another who can’t wait for the pumpkin spice creamer and sends her husband to buy as many as a husband is willing to do!  About 3 bottles worth.   In case you’re interested here’s a recipe for Pumpkin Spice Latte!

I happen to  … [Continue reading]

Extending your mum life and what to do with plastic pots


Mon. Oct. 18, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Extending your mum life and what to do with plastic pots

 Mums are THE fall plant and we want to keep them as long as we can.

The best place to buy your mum is at your local nursery. However, some nurseries also deliver to local grocery stores too. Look for deep green, non-droopy leaves and a lot of buds, not blooms. Those will come.

Remove your mum from that black pot, rough up the roots and repot  … [Continue reading]

Protecting and feeding birds


Fri. Oct. 15, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Protecting and feeding birds

 Last week I talked about bird feeders and squirrels. Today’s it’s about WHAT to feed those birds as winter comes roaring in… at some point.

To offset the white of winter, or the bleak brown, it’s the BIRDS that help us through. And this is OUR time to help THEM through with plenty of nutrition! Contrary to what I’ve heard some people say, feeding the birds in winter is a good idea.  Birds will  … [Continue reading]

What to do with your containers as Winter approaches


Thu. Oct. 14, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: What to do with your containers as Winter approaches

We all know it’s coming, the s-word! While I could be talking about stew and sweatshirts, what I’m really talking about is getting our outdoor chores done. Including cleaning out the annuals in our pots. Yes, this is early as we still have beautiful mums and such in our containers, but there are some pots unsuitable.

The pot above will be moved (by someone stronger than me!) to my  … [Continue reading]