with Teri Knight
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Ground plum and the constant desire for more plants!
I can’t help it, I’m always looking for new plants. If something pops up that catches my eye, I have to ponder where I would put it. Last week, Prairie Moon Nursery sent out a note on this darling little native called Ground Plum. Latin name not quite as pretty, Astragalus crassicarpus… is fabulous for bee lawns.
I looked in my yard and found the perfect spots! I … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min Garden Bite radio show: The Well-gardened Mind
This week I interviewed a woman on her book, The Well Gardened Mind – the Restorative Power of Nature. Here’s the link to the interview
In it, Sue Stuart-Smith, discusses how her grandfather, a WWI British veteran, had nearly died as a POW in Turkey, made it back a shell of a man and how his gardens restored not just his physical health but his mental health.
It’s been well documented how being out in … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Allergy “free” garden
I put the quotes around “free” simply because there’s going to be someone allergic to just about anything!
ACHOO! Runny nose, runny eyes don’t make for a fun day in the garden. If you’re a sufferer, there are some plants that are less problematic!
Plants to nix for the nose due to their “Achoo” factor:
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Drying herbs
I touched on mint yesterday as a deer deterrent. I have been harvesting the leaves and drying them.
It’s herb mania right now. I also have some ‘Hot & Spicy’ oregano, regular oregano, and plenty of dill. (The dill I dry on a paper towel)
Drying your own herbs is not only a great way to preserve your harvest but to get the best quality for a cheap price. There are several drying methods. The one … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Deer resistant plants
First, take note, I said deer RESISTANT!
According to social media, deer have seemingly decided that the Hosta Cafe is open to them. No social distancing required.
Those graceful marauders are lovely to watch in winter but once you feed them, they expect the buffet to stay open.
What WON’T a deer eat? A hungry one will eat whatever, but there are deer resistant plants.
Some plants that come immediately to mind include coneflowers and … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Second season planting
I know it’s only mid July but you can start planting for the second season of greens and other cool season vegetables now. Midsummer is the time for zone 4 to 6 gardeners to begin planting crops like broccoli, lettuce, peas, spinach, kale, cilantro and arugula.
Planting now through early August will have you harvesting from September through November (maybe!). When planting in the heat of summer, it’s important to keep the soil surface … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Biochar – what’s the deal?
On a tour of local gardens years ago, there was a standout. It was all about vegetable gardening. “John” has been gardening a long time and when I stepped into his backyard I was astounded at the size and beauty of his produce!
His secret is all in the soil, or will be. He makes his own biochar. It’s NOT ASH.
Basically, it’s organic matter, he uses wood that is burned slowly, … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Drought tolerant plants
Are we in the tropics? It sure felt like it these last couple of weeks. Now, as we head into the driest part of summer when lawns begin to crackle and people melt, I thought we should review some drought tolerant plants. I know you folks in Wisconsin had a ton of rain… but you know it’s gonna get dry!
Hail to the ‘dog days’ of Summer. But not hail like in a hail storm!! … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: ‘Iceberg Alley’ – a refreshing choice shrub for 2020
In this withering heat, I remembered a cool plant that was highlighted in my Northern Gardener magazine. Debbie Lonnee is the Product Development manager for Bailey Nurseries and introduces us to this wonderful small shrubs in the article.
‘Iceberg Alley’ sageleaf willow sounded as refreshing as sticking your head in the freezer when you’re having a hotflash! This is one cool stand-out shrub in your landscape. Growing to … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: My clover lawn
#sorrynotsorry #cloverlawn #nitrogenfixingremedy #letclovertakeover #mylawn #beesloveit
My neighbors know I’m not into chemicals and I know they are. It’s okay! People understand that having pollinator friendly landscapes is a benefit to all of us. There’s also trying to be respectful to those you live around. That means my clover-filled lawn is kept mowed at a certain height.
During the heat of summer, lawns should be a little higher, about … [Continue reading]