I love native plants for many reasons! But this guy, Wood Betony, I hadn't heard of until I opened my newest issue of Northern Gardener magazine. (I highly recommend this magazine, and no, I'm not getting paid to say that!) Wood betony is an unusual parasitic plant with a taproot and lateral roots that attach to the roots of grasses, asters and a few other plants, making it desirable to plant in prairie restorations to deter invasive species. The flowers are tubular, baby! And the foliage is rad... oh, wow, that sounds ridiculous but I hope you'll run with it!  tee hee. Check out my website for pics and more. 

It’s the first week of November already and you didn’t get to seeding those dead spots in your lawn. That’s okay, dormant seeding is doable. the Ins and Outs of dormant seeding. Check out my website for further details. gardenbite.com 

As you peruse garden catalogs and local garden center websites, there are some flowers you might think twice about planting if you have a pet or little person that likes to gnaw on everything. Check out the list of some poisonous plants you may reconsider planting. Make sure you check out my website for further information! 

While we place pumpkins on our doorstep and kids dress up for trick or treating, the origins of Halloween vary. I talk about the Celtic origins on today's Garden Bite. Can you guess how much Americans spend on this holiday? 

On the east coast the night before Halloween was called “Mischief Night”, that got me thinking about nature's nocturnal creatures! Learn more about our Upper Midwest native creatures that have a reputation for ferocity, some deserved, some perhaps not! That's today's Garden Bite and online too! 

Orchids are lining up in garden centers and grocery stores. Those are Phalaenopsis and not hardy to our Upper Midwest region. They DO make wonderful gifts! Today I give a primer on native orchids to Minnesota and Wisconsin and talk about those INDOOR orchids. Caring for them and showing off some gorgeous options on gardenbite.com.

A perennial topic, yes. A sexy subject, Nope... but important nonetheless. I discuss the protocols of storing garden chemicals for Winter. This includes organics!  

While predictions of Winter 21-22 say the Upper Midwest will see colder, snowier conditions, they ARE just predictions. However, it is a lot easier to get chores done before the snow flies, if possible! What are those chores? Find out on today's Garden Bite and check out my website for more info!

Local garden centers, farmers markets and apple orchards are a great place to pick up those odd curcurbitas (as we talked about last week) and find Indian corn, straw bales, corn stalks and so much more. But you can go in your closet and in your yard to find some cool stuff too! Check out different displays today and let your imagination run wild. And learn how to preserve branches!

When I was little, it was all about the pumpkins seeds!!  Roasted with tons of salt. My taste is, gratefully, a lot more sophisticated and so are the recipes for those seasonal treats. Along with fabulous pie, soup and stews too. Find recipes and the myriad of curcurbita used for all kinds of cooking with these delicious fruits, or vegetables if you prefer!