Pantone Color of the Year 2021


Mon. Jan. 18, 2021

Click  below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Pantone Color of the Year 2021

Each year, Pantone comes out with their choice of Color of the Year. For 2021 I couldn’t be happier at the color, or rather colors, they chose this year! A beautiful yellow called “Illuminating” and… “Ultimate Gray”.

You might wonder why they would choose a gray? I did too. But hear them out, the message these colors together send is of happiness supported by fortitude. They continue… the combination of Ultimate  … [Continue reading]

Annual of the Year 2021 by NGB


Fri. Jan. 15, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Annual of the Year 2021 by NGB

What better annual to start 2021 than the Sunflower. Named annual of the year for 2021 by the National Garden Bureau (NGB), there are so many bright, cheerful shades of yellow, orange and even burgundy. The flowers follow the sun. That’s my mantra for 2021, follow the sun, that bright, warming light!

Sunflowers originated in the Americas and domestic seeds dating back to 2100 BC have been found in Mexico.  … [Continue reading]

Perennial of the Year 2021 – Monarda


Thu. Jan. 14, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Perennial of the Year 2021 – Monarda

The national Garden Bureau has selected Monarda as the Plant of the Year for 2021. To be honest I thought, REALLY? It’s prone to powdery mildew and can get leggy. Well, I had another think coming.

Also known as BeeBalm, this plant has been used medically for centuries. It’s nickname is beebalm, and not just because it is a bee attractor but it’s also a balm for bee stings. How  … [Continue reading]

Vegetable of the Year for 2021


Wed. Jan. 13, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Vegetable of the Year for 2021

 Introducing the vegetable of the year for 2021, the green bean! There are many species of beans in cultivation around the world, yet it is the common green bean reaches celebrity status as National Garden Bureau’s vegetable focus for 2021.

One of the earliest cultivated plants, garden beans can trace their beginnings to Central and South America. Vining or climbing beans were an original member of the “Three-Sisters” – a companion planting  … [Continue reading]

National Garden Bureau and the Shrub of 2021


Tue. Jan. 12, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: National Garden Bureau and the Shrub of 2021

One of the good things the year 2020 brought, is a huge increase in gardeners. According to The Garden Center Group, garden center sales have been up 30.3% during COVID-19, creating an opportunity to capture interest in gardening for today and years to come. Many folks devoted their “down” time to this wonderful hobby, creating beauty, enjoying nature, spending time together with family in a healthy way.    

The National  … [Continue reading]

2021 Perennial of the Year


Mon. Jan. 11, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: 2021 Perennial of the Year

The Perennial Plant of the year for 2021 has been announced. One of the highlights of the plant has to do with pollinators. As we understand more on more the value of our pollinators, this seems appropriate.

The perennial plant program started in 1990. Perennials are chosen due to their ability to adapt to a wide range of growing climates, low maintenance, have multiple-season interest and are relatively pest/disease-free.

This year they’ve chosen  … [Continue reading]

Three things NOT to do in your Garden


Fri. Jan. 8, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Three things NOT to do in your Garden

Time and Teri-tested things NOT to do in your Garden!

Planting “easy spreaders” or “fills in rapidly” plants.  Better known as invasive!  These plants will take over your carefully planned garden.  There may be areas you want to plant these, you decide!   Obedient Plant (ha!) is a great example.  It really is lovely but it really does spread.  If that’s what you want then go for it.  Breeders are creating  … [Continue reading]

Catalogs and 2021 plants!


Thu. Jan. 7, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Catalogs and 2021 plants!

Oh the catalogs are arriving! I love getting my new year plant catalogs and browsing on a cold ,snowy, Sunday morning!

There are so many cool new choices! First up, beets! I never liked beets when I was a kid, except pickled. Years ago I pickled my own but, dang, they were not quite cooked through! Tasty but you needed a good knife to cut into ‘em! Burpee has a new variety of 2021  … [Continue reading]

Scale, it’s a living thing


Tue. Jan. 5, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Scale, it’s a living thing

That term seems odd to me for a living creature but there it is sucking the life right out of your houseplants. Scale-damaged plants look withered and sickly. Leaves turn yellow and may drop from the plant.

If left, they will kill it and move on to your other plants nearby.  These little nasties also secrete a sticky substance called honeydew that attracts black fungus called sooty mold.

Young scale insects crawl to  … [Continue reading]

Why you should bathe your leaves


Mon. Jan. 4, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Why you should bathe your leaves

Uh, you might want to give that plant a bath. I’m not saying that there’s an odor, but… no, seriously, that crusty layer of dust is pretty thick… Teri. Yes, speaking to myself!

Periodically cleaning the leaves of your houseplants is actually less work than letting it go until a year down the road the sun shines in at just the right angle and you think, oh man, the air-cleaning machine is  … [Continue reading]