Garden Bite with Teri Knight

Happy St. Patrick's Day! A perennial question has to do with whether there really is a plant called "Shamrock" and if not, where did that name come from. I tell you on today's Garden Bite. A little history 'Bite and a lot of green on today's post! 

It's the bout of the century! No, just kidding. I get asked what the difference is between these two beautiful shrubs, Rhododendrons and Azaleas. There are answers on today's Garden Bite along with some beautiful photos on my website. One thing they both need is a more acidic soil. 

Instead of a carpet of snow, how about a 2023 introduction of an AAS winner called 'Carpet Angel'? This is a new Shasta Daisy that would make a fabulous groundcover. I share it on today's Garden Bite along with one of my favorite annuals. A new African Daisy in the Bright Lights series. Take a listen and a look and let me know what you think! 

There's a growing movement to end the use of peat moss in gardening. There are a lot of articles on the matter and like any resource, humans tend to overuse it. Is it renewable? Are there alternatives? Take a listen and a look on my website for today's Garden Bite and the "possible" answers to those questions. 

This old fashioned plant is not native. At least the "common" bleeding heart, however, there are natives to North America and you likely have seen them. Learn all about Bleeding Hearts, this wonderful plant for shadier areas. Also check out a cultivar introduced just last year, 2022, on today's Garden Bite. 

Change is gonna come into the garden. Whether is weather (like the winter of 2022/23) or something we've done or a hungry critter has changed; our landscapes are always changing. Plants growing or not growing. Check out today's Garden Bite for pointers on those times when change happens. 

March is here but for those of us in cold climates, and this winter in particular!, our weather just isn’t suitable for outside growing yet! In come microgreens! They are really popular and super easy indoors. Check out today's Garden Bite for all the dirt on growing microgreens. 

From now to about mid-April you can start planting seeds indoors. Be sure to adjust for YOUR climate zone. I am focusing on zone 4 mostly but that can translate to areas of 3 and 5 also. Find a list of dates of when to plant what along with detailed instructions and a video too on today's Garden Bite. 

Admittedly I was not much of a fan of spirea but, wow, have they come a long way. National Garden Bureau has named their shrub of the year for 2023, it’s Spirea! With nearly 100 unique species, NGB reports that this hardy group of plants boasts a wide range of colorful foliage ranging from blue to yellow, red, to orange, and everything in between. Check out some beauties and get more info on today's Garden Bite. Email me at [email protected]. 

Prairie Moon is a native seed company that I utilize a lot! There recent catalog shares many host plants for butterflies and moths. I share some of them with you today. It's amazing the colors of these insects that we often pay no attention to or simply don't see. I would LOVE to hear from you! Contact me at [email protected] and take a look on today's Garden Bite!