Create Sizzling Summer Container Displays

Create Sizzling Summer Container Displays

Summer is quickly approaching, so it’s time to decorate your outdoor spaces with plants. Containers are a fantastic way to display plants on your patio, balcony, or any outdoor space, giving you a close view of gorgeous flowers and unique foliage. Before you head to the nursery and stock up on plants, it’s essential to have a plan for your pots. Container Goals Before summer begins, take a few moments to set goals for your container displays. Here are some questions to ask yourself: Design Elements When it comes to containers, plants are typically grouped into one of three categories, […]

Read the full post

Carrot Gardening Guide

Carrot Gardening Guide

Carrots, with their vibrant orange hue and crisp, earthy flavor, have long been a beloved staple in kitchens and gardens around the world. These versatile root vegetables not only add a burst of color and crunch to salads, stews, and stir-fries but also boast an array of health benefits. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a novice enthusiast, cultivating your own carrots can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. From selecting the right varieties to nurturing them through each stage of growth, the journey of growing carrots allows you to connect with the earth, witness nature’s wonders, and ultimately enjoy […]

Read the full post

Perennial Planting: How To Overcome Difficult Planting Sites

Perennial Planting: How To Overcome Difficult Planting Sites

As gardeners, many of us have that one spot in the yard where no plant will grow except the weeds. It may be a dry site under a tree or a sandy area in full sun. While frustrating, this dilemma allows us to explore plant options we may not have considered. Perennials may appear delicate, but they can be problem solvers in challenging areas of the landscape. Let’s examine some difficult sites and the perennials that will thrive in them. 3 Types Of Challenging Plants Sites Dry Shade The term “dry shade” refers to an area primarily shaded with soil […]

Read the full post

Create A Monarch-Friendly Flower Garden

Create A Monarch-Friendly Flower Garden

With the recent release of data from monarch colonies on their Mexican overwintering grounds, once again, monarch lovers were hit hard with bad news. From population estimates, monarch numbers overwintering in Mexico last winter have reportedly decreased again.  Monarch lovers here in Wisconsin, therefore, must be more diligent than ever when it comes to planting host and nectar plants to help build numbers over the summer season. Monarch Population  Each winter, on the cool mountain slopes of interior Mexico, researchers count monarchs as they cling to the trees in large, mostly dormant clusters. Estimates of both population and winter habitat […]

Read the full post

An Easy Guide For Planting Trees & Shrubs

An Easy Guide For Planting Trees & Shrubs

Trees and shrubs can bring structure and beauty throughout the year if you’re starting a new landscape or adding to your existing property. These plants also provide ecological benefits for your landscape and the planet. Before planting, it’s crucial to understand planting techniques to ensure long-term success for your landscape.  Why Proper Planting Is Essential Before we examine the specifics, let’s focus on why proper planting is essential for trees and shrubs. A common problem in landscapes is trees that are planted too deep. As a result, these trees often deteriorate from excess moisture around the stem or develop circling […]

Read the full post

Amazing April Native Shrubs

Amazing April Native Shrubs

Each year, in April, some of my favorite native Wisconsin shrubs are coming into bloom in Wisconsin’s woodlands and wetlands.  Before their leaves appear, these shrubs bloom joyfully in the woods and wetlands of our state. Getting to know these amazing spring shrubs, as well as enjoying their short-lived bloom is a rewarding and enchanting journey. Eastern Redbud Eastern Redbud is another beautiful spring-blooming native shrub. Blooming on its bare stems, the tiny blooms appear in clusters all along the branches, rather than concentrated toward the end. This makes the redbud a magical shrub when in full bloom in late […]

Read the full post

The Wings Of April

The Wings Of April

April has arrived and soon, the wings of spring will dance across our yards and gardens, and landscapes. Spring songbird migration is on and with every strong south wind, more and more migrants will sweep into the Wisconsin area.  Here is a guide to some of the amazing spring migrating songbirds of April. In my next blog, I’ll introduce you to even more incredible birds of April. Purple Finch Beautiful and vivacious in a unique wine purple, this finch is found in our area during spring and fall migration.  Sometimes confused with the house finch, the purple finch is, as […]

Read the full post

Add Dimension To Your Garden With Summer-Blooming Bulbs

Add Dimension To Your Garden With Summer-Blooming Bulbs

If you’ve been to a tropical place, you’ve likely seen plants that made you say, “I wish I could grow that.” Like many of you, I’ve had the same experience while enjoying tropical plants. However, many tropical plants can be grown here in the summer, and with a little extra care, you can overwinter them indoors. Summer bulbs deliver the excitement of the tropics to gardeners in warm and cool climates. They come in numerous sizes, shapes, and colors, making them useful in nearly any location. It’s important to remember some hardy bulbs also flower in summer. But today, we’ll […]

Read the full post

Blueberry Gardening Guide

Blueberry Gardening Guide

Blueberries are a delicious and nutritious fruit that can be grown easily in many regions. Whether you are an experienced gardener or just starting out, growing your own blueberries can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Not only do they provide a bountiful harvest of sweet, juicy berries, but they also offer a host of health benefits, including antioxidants and vitamins. In this guide, we will cover the planting and maintenance to grow blueberries. Blueberry Quick Tips Blueberry Planting Guide When To Plant Blueberry Bushes Dormant, bareroot blueberries may be planted as soon as the ground can be worked in […]

Read the full post

7 Growing Tips For Begonias

7 Growing Tips For Begonias

Begonias are renowned for their vibrant, colorful blooms and distinctive foliage. With over 1,800 species, begonias come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, making them a popular choice for gardeners and plant enthusiasts alike. They are native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, but can also be grown indoors as houseplants. Begonias are valued not only for their stunning appearance but also for their ease of care, making them an ideal plant for both novice and experienced gardeners. Whether you’re looking to brighten up your garden or add some color to your indoor space, begonias […]

Read the full post