Of cheap shrubs and rock mulch


Wed. Aug. 18, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Of cheap shrubs and rock mulch

While talking with a neighbor a few years back, I couldn’t help but notice another neighbor on the other side of the fence planting shrubs. She was working very hard, clearing a ton of weeds and junk and placing her purchases. I asked what she was planting. The woman said they were blueberry bushes, she got a deal through work.

My first thought was uh oh, she’s planting in too much shade  … [Continue reading]

Audible garden


Tue. Aug. 17, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Audible garden

 I love the sound of birds singing in the morning. I talk often about pollinator gardens but what about planting an “audible” garden?

Follow this LINK for the bigger picture from the UofMN. And more on a native plant list HERE. These lists also work for much of the Upper Midwest. And Native Plants for Native Birds from the Audubon Society.

Birds sing for 2 reasons, for territory and for mating.   Native plants attract native  … [Continue reading]

MUM is the word for Fall


Mon. Aug. 16, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: MUM is the word for Fall

Fall mums are showing up at local garden centers.

If they’re blooming now, those are early and were forced to bloom to look good in the garden centers. But don’t worry, they will continue to bloom well into the first frost.

There are two kinds of mums. Annuals and perennials. The Latin name for the perennial, fall-flowering form is Chrysanthemum x morifolium.

The perennial, fall-flowering form is Chrysanthemum x morifolium and the  … [Continue reading]

Drying/preserving herbs


Fri. Aug. 13, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Drying/preserving herbs

Sometimes I’ll just wander past my spearmint and rub some leaves to catch that wonderful scent. I do that with the rosemary, oregano, tarragon, well, you get my point!  I also like to preserve those wonderful herbs for winter use!

The easiest way to do that is by drying. I use a dehydrator (I talked about that last week when drying tomatoes) it takes much less time but if you don’t have one, no need to  … [Continue reading]

The magic of microbes


Thu. Aug. 12, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: The magic of microbes

Microbes are everywhere!  In our soil, in our plants which means in our food and water and, of course our guts. So why should we care?  Well… without them life would cease to exist.

Here’s the definition from Merriam-Webster: Microbes, or microorganisms, include bacteria, protozoa, fungi, algae, amoebas, and slime molds. Many people think of microbes as simply the causes of disease, but every human is actually the host to billions of microbes,  … [Continue reading]

Yellow jacket trap


Wed. Aug. 11, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Yellow jacket trap

That little flyer you have hovering over your hot dog is most likely the Yellow Jacket wasp.

In late August yellow jackets are at peak numbers and they want a sip of your drink or a bite of your food just as much as you do!  I have a huge nest of them in my Welcome sign. 

Gratefully no stings but you can bet they won’t be welcome next year! To handle a potential stinging  … [Continue reading]

A grass for butterflies


Tue. Aug. 10, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: A grass for butterflies

 Did you know I love grasses!? Today’s Bite is about attracting butterflies with grasses.  ‘Eyelash’ grass is a perfect example.

‘Eyelash’ grass won’t replace a manicured lawn but it sure attracts butterflies! That’s what the University of Minnesota Extension says. Blue Grama grass, which sounds funny itself, is a native grass that goes by a few other names including ‘eyelash’, ‘mosquito’ and ‘caterpillar’ grass because of its golden sails at the tip of  … [Continue reading]

Gladiolas are blooming


Mon. Aug. 9, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Gladiolas are blooming

The gladiolas are blooming and I’m thrilled as they always remind me of my dad. They were blooming when he passed away.

That may sound sad but, honestly, it makes me feel like he gives me flowers every year from Heaven! They are old-fashioned and charming!  They’re part of the Iris family.

The sword like foliage is really awesome planted with the delicate look of some native grasses. For those of us in cold climates,  … [Continue reading]

Butterfly garden renovation


Fri. Aug. 6, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Butterfly garden renovation

 Last year my street was redone. That meant digging out all the plants in my butterfly garden and overwintering them in my vegetable garden.

I replanted them this year and found that I needed to purchase additional plants due to transplant shock and other factors. 

I did some other rearranging as well. Moving prairie dropseed to the area, planting seeds of an annual, Partridge Pea, that reseeds each season and finding some other shorter plants  … [Continue reading]

Right plant, right place


Thu. Aug. 5, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Right plant, right place

Master Gardeners are available all over the country.  Despite our shorter growing season in the Upper Midwest, we love our gardens. Maybe because of it!  As a result we field a lot of questions about why a plant isn’t thriving. 

One of the first things we try to determine is whether the plant in question is in the right place. That’s the MG motto, Right plant, Right place! 

In a different home I lived  … [Continue reading]