Garden Bite

Click below to listen to today’s Garden Bite: Freedom in the Garden Today, as I think about America’s 250th anniversary, I think of Freedom. Now this might feel like a stretch to many of you but I believe there is freedom in gardening. The freedom to spend time outdoors nurturing plants and ourselves. When I talk about nurturing ourselves, I mean heading out to our gardens to move our bodies...

Click below to listen to today’s Garden Bite or listen on your favorite podcast platform: Ahhhh, summer is in full swing with the Summer Solstice coming up on Sunday, the 21st. The longest day of the year and the peak of the sun’s power. There are many traditions surrounding the Summer Solstice but my favorite is simply to enjoy the sun shining on my face and absorbing all that energy. Speak...

Click below to listen to my podcast: Pots, check! Potting Mix, check! Trowel, check! Gloves, check! Plants, checking….! Finally we can safely plant our annual outdoor containers. Ogling online our favorite garden center offerings, we put together ideas in our heads and roll! Arriving at the garden center, we see WAY more options and overthink it. Or maybe that’s just me! Remember the easiest recip...

Click below to listen to today’s Garden Bite podcast:  Today I’m sharing two All America Selection Winners for 2026. First a little background on AAS . Started in 1932, this non-profit is the oldest, most established international plant testing organization in North America.  Between 6 and 12 plants are selected each year. This year they’ve selected one herb, four vegetables, four perennials...

Click below to listen to my podcast: No Mow vs Slow Mow  Lawns… we tried No Mow May for pollinators and discovered that that’s not really the best option for a number of reasons. I look forward to debates on this one from my listeners! As lawn experts from the University of Minnesota pointed out, grass can grow over 12 to 18 inches during the month of May. Not only can it look very messy but it ob...

Click below to listen to my podcast: Arbor Day 2026  Happy Arbor Day! The first Arbor Day was celebrated in 1872. Proposed by J. Sterling Morton , a Nebraska journalist and politician, the holiday was designed to encourage tree planting for fuel, building materials, and environmental benefits, with over 1 million trees planted on the first day .   Why are trees so important? Trees play a vita...

Click below to listen to my Garden Bite podcast: Dwarf Trout Lily – protected species  My area has had glorious days along with days that the wind and cold kept me indoors. It IS spring after all! On a recent walk along a local creek I was able to enjoy MY IDEA of a Spring Opener! Viewing spring wildflower natives, one of which is, as the Minnesota DNR explains is an endemic spring ephemeral...

Click below to listen to my Garden Bite podcast: Wild Blue Phlox This spring feels different in many ways which has sent me out into nature more often. I’ve also had more time to do that as I retired from the Monday thru Friday workforce last October. Wandering the woods along the river and streams within my community we will very soon be seeing a wonderful welcome to spring. Wild Blue Phlox , als...

Click below to listen to my Garden Bite podcast:  Hooo boy did I get blowback on my praise of algae. Thank you to my listeners!!! You made me want to do a deeper dive and, as always, too much of a good thing turns into a bad thing. This is from the University of Minnesota extension: Algae occur naturally in almost all surface waters. They are an essential source of food for many aquatic organisms...