Fir? Pine? Spruce – Christmas tree selection


Wed. Nov. 27, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Fir? Pine? Spruce? Christmas tree selection

Thanksgiving is late this year and lots of folks have already been decorating for Christmas. I’ll admit, I’ve done some too, I just haven’t turned the lights on yet! (except for testing purposes!)

Remember the ’60’s? Well, maybe you’re too young! (like me… tee hee)

Ahhh, but today, we relish the real trees! Selection can be tricky depending on what you’re looking for.

There are lots of types of trees to choose  … [Continue reading]

The unwanted house guest – Mice


Tue. Nov. 26, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: The unwanted house guest – Mice

 It’s the time of year when you may hear the pitter patter of small creatures about your house. If it were just the kids! Nope, it’s mice seeking shelter in your cozy home! 

Oh sure, he looks cute but the destruction and, egad!, waste left behind by these little creatures is NOT something you want in your home.  Here are some “fun” facts about mice you can use for trivia!

  • as cold
 … [Continue reading]

Gall Talk


Mon. Nov. 25, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Gall Talk

It’s time for the Gall Talk. As we face down the road to snowplows, we can still go out and look for them!  First up, what are they?

Galls are abnormal growths that occur on leaves, twigs, roots, or flowers of many plants. More gall dang information on Wayne’s Word….

Most galls are caused by irritation and/or stimulation of plant cells due to feeding or egg-laying by insects such as aphids, midges, wasps, or mites.  … [Continue reading]

Oriental bittersweet


Fri. Nov. 22, 2019

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. 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.

Used for YEARS in decorating, this invasive has penetrated our native areas to the point that it’s at the top of the list for ERADICATION! The vine is  … [Continue reading]

Cold weather wines turn Icy


Thu. Nov. 21, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Cold weather wines turn Icy!

Hardy grapes developed by the University of Minnesota and University of Wisconsin-Madison have been instrumental in the explosion of wineries in the Upper Midwest. In just 8 years, Wisconsin went from 18 wineries to 120! In Minnesota there are 37 wineries. Among them is something very unique, Ice Wine. 

Owner and grower at Indian Island Winery, Ray Winter, explained, “You have to leave the grapes till they’re frozen solid in the vineyard.  … [Continue reading]

Christmas cactus or not


Wed. Nov. 20, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Christmas cactus or not

 Is your cactus flowering? There sure are a lot of them working overtime by the looks for the pictures on Facebook!  How long has it been in bloom? If you thought it was a Christmas cactus, I hate to burst your bubble but it’s likely a Thanksgiving cactus.   Yup, there’s a difference!

For years I had a Christmas cactus of my mom’s.  Or so I thought. Then one day I was looking at information  … [Continue reading]

Festive containers


Tue. Nov. 19, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Festive containers

I love creating my festive containers! I decided to do it on a weekend day that was not supposed to be THAT cold… whatever! I went to my local nursery and bought the “ingredients”, spruce tops, cedar branches and various other evergreens, and new this year for me… eucalyptus leaves!

I also used my own hydrangea flowers, ornamental grasses and berry branches from a friend who pruned for a local business. I really love using natural  … [Continue reading]

Where’s “global warming” in the Upper Midwest?


Mon. Nov. 18, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. GardenBite radio show: Where’s ‘global warming’ in the Upper Midwest?

Why is it so cold here if there’s global warming? Why doesn’t that global heat come to the Upper Midwest? It’s bleepin’ cold out! Just a few things I heard last week as we experienced temperatures below zero.

One of the local meteorologists, Paul Huttner, was pondering that and explained that, while October was the warmest recorded around the globe, it certainly wasn’t in the Upper Midwest!

Huttner says one key  … [Continue reading]

Types of feeders


Fri. Nov. 15, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Types of feeders

Yesterday was about the food, today is about the feeder!

There are numerous feeders out there.  Which ones work?  Well, they all do but which ones keep the squirrels at bay?  Ha!  None of them forever, unless you have them rigged for an electric shock when they touch it.

Someone I know actually did that!  He had fashioned a shocker that he could operate by remote control from the kitchen when the blackbirds would flock  … [Continue reading]

Foods for the birds


Thu. Nov. 14, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Foods for the birds

There’s nothing like calming your spirit after a slushy, bumper to bumper ride home than watching the brilliant Red Cardinal feasting on bird food out your window.   Bird Notes from Cornell U’s Ornithology lab is a great read on feeding birds.

For your enjoyment, make sure you locate the bird feeders where you can see them keeping in mind that birds want to feel safe.  So an area that will provide quick cover should  … [Continue reading]