We are having summer like weather now.  But the breeze does help with making it a little more comfortable being outside.  We got .2 inches of rain last night.  Some got one inch and some didn’t get any.  Let us hope we all get more this week.  Stay safe….stay cool as temperatures will be summer like.  Which Plants Deer Won't Eat (Unless Desperate!)  by Catherine Boeckmann Oh, dear! Do you have problems with deer eating your garden plants? Think salvia, sweet alyssum, snapdragons, poppies, globe amaranth, lantana, and cleome. Choose the right plants, and you c ..read more

Good morning welcome to my garden show, gardening, and you. I am Becky Litterer from Becky’s Greenhouse in Dougherty.  This show is about more than just the different aspects of gardening, it’s about how we can help you with your gardening need.  WOW  What a great Memorial day weekend.  Mild weather, sun shining and good temperatures.  It is usually cold, wind, wet Memorial Day. Now we are having summer like weather with temperatures in the high 80’s.  with little or no wind.  Humidity is up a little but not taking your breath away.  We were fortunate he ..read more

​It is warm today, but humidity is down.  Still the temperature is Thermometer says 86 degrees at 2:45 PM, no breeze so it feels warm.  Watering with the sprinklers it does feel good to get wet.  I am feeling like those baby kitties need to take a nap.  BUT can’t do that. I am really proud how nice the wagon tables look with all these blooming plants, growing tomatoes, and peppers.  Perennials are happy, herbs are good.  It takes twice a day to water.  I start early in the morning and stay late at night to make sure everything is watered twice.  Looks li ..read more

       ​Hi…we have been busy which is what we want.  But seeing the kitten taking a nap, I have to show you that is how I feel at the end of the day.  I am having fun working with the gardeners. I do enjoy growing the plants, and take pride in what we do.  BUT my biggest joy is working with the gardeners.  Experience gardeners to the ones that are doing it for the first time.  I love questions, and if I don’t know the answer then I will try to find out.  I must tell you more perennials came in today.  I gave the Swift greenhouse list to Na ..read more

Good morning, lovely out with the sun shining and then you walk out and you feel that NW strong wind.  No fun for sure but today should be the end and then cold tonight possible frost and freeze.  Warming up the rest of the week.  I know we are all ready for that- warmer weather.  I am fortunate to have the greenhouse as the plastic with the sunshine does warm up in here.  Plants need the sunshine and that is one reason they are doing so well.  Miracle house is what I call it, we plant, we water and the plants grow.  I have pictures of plants one is the black ..read more

 Good morning….positive thoughts about weather.  Clear, blue sky.  For us here in North Central Iowa just a little snow left on the grass.  Concerns about the weather.  Wind is blowing so that will make 35 degrees colder, high of 53 and low of 28 tonight. On the greenhouse side, I was going to start putting plants outside on the racks to make room for more planting.  The racks would go into the east greenhouse, but that greenhouse is unheated.  The plants look so good, I don’t want to take a chance of them getting touch with cold.  BUT I don’t like the t ..read more

      Good morning, Temperature is chilly with 36 temperature and having wind chill so it is feeling like 27 degrees.  Stay warm.  Unfortunately, we are going to have a cold weekend.  Sounds like next week being the end of April it will be cooler and below average temperatures.  Here is what the Old Farmer’s Almanac has predicted for our May weather.  Above normal temperatures for us here in Iowa, and above normal rain.  IF so, then we can get out in the gardens.  We will be open on Monday April 24 from 9 till 6.  Every day open at 9 ..read more

      What a grand day it is.  The temperature at 1:30 PM is at 51 Degrees.  It feels really good in the greenhouse.  IT is official, I have moved the office to the greenhouse.  Computer, printer, paperwork will be done here.  I am writing this in the greenhouse.  Being open from 9-6 each day and 1-6 on Sunday, it doesn’t leave too much time at home.  So, move what I can from home.  Office and computer can be that.  You will enjoy the shade I created as the sun is really bright to see a good computer screen.  When you come y ..read more

​Morning it is!  Temperature at 8:30 AM is 40 degrees, but we have a wind out of the ene at 18 mph so it feels like 35.  We have cloudy skies, and should all day.  High today of 56 and low tonight of 35.  Concern about the weather severe thunderstorm with large hail, wind and rain.  We are going to be in the cold front.  Warm front will be over high way 30 so on the south side of that front will have the chance of tornado.  All I am to say is stay safe.  I don’t know if I told you I was a guest speaker a couple of weeks ago at our local college, NIACC fo ..read more

           Sorry I haven’t posted since Tuesday.  You all know what we are doing in the greenhouse.  Full production with planting.  There are 4 of us planting and it is going well.  We will be open soon.  I can get a little stressed out when I think about how fast the time is going.  Good Friday, so potatoes go in?  Here is what I am going to say to you.       How about planting potatoes on Good Friday?  I need to pick up my seed potatoes and get them into the ground on Good Friday for a good crop j ..read more