​Late summer is the ideal time to plan for your early spring forcing.  Most of us are familiar with forcing springs bulbs such as paper whites, tulips, and daffodils.  But what about forcing rhubarb, foam flower, and forsythia?   Enjoy the joys of gardening before the snow melts next March…or April…or May! ​ Spring Bulbs    Most spring bulbs need a 12-15 week chilling period.  Try dwarf species or hybrids for the ..read more

Just some quick notes from this growing season that I've been hearing from fellow gardeners: Green Beans:  the bush beans are mostly finished and many gardeners have either no pole beans or they are very late blooming like mine.  In fact my are just blooming so by the end of the months I should have pole beans.Zinnias:  are looking good with this nice warm weather they are blooming well. Hope that continues to frost. Lilacs:  Many gardeners are reporting that ..read more

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Early spring is the time to check out catalogs, place seed orders and start seeds.  Learn about several seed starting techniques, how to decipher catalog and seed package jargon, and proper planting conditions in this program.  ..read more

​GRANDMA MINNIE'S BOWL: Every year I bring out a wood bowl for the start of the garden season. Looks homemade with a tomato motif on the inside. It's off kilter and well worn. I love to pile up the seasonal garden treats in it. Now is at the absolute end of the season. I had my last BLT. The garden shed has been turned over and is now the snowmobile garage. So the bowl is officially put away until next season ..read more

Last year I experimented with an April start for some Dahlias inside and others directly in the soil once reliable weather arrived in May.  I wanted to see if the extra effort of starting the tubers early would yield significant early blooms. ​ Here’s my timeline and results. April 16 – Potted the tubers that were stored overwinter under the stairwell wrapped in newspapers.  Overall they were in healthy conditions with a few sprouts emerging.  April 25-27 – All sprouts emerged after potting even one that was a bit sickly. Early May – Pinched off about 1/3 of ..read more

Late summer garden chaos.  ​There are times I am a green-eyed gardener, jealous of others picture-perfect gardens.  I know from my own photography that it is easy to move the perspective of the lens to avoid the messiness.  I define my garden as natural, with weeds, untrimmed shrubs, and plants helter-skelter.  I am comfortable with that style of gardening.  It is also true that I am in awe of perfect layouts.  Just as a model in a fashion magazine looks more like an average person without make-up and good lighting; I know the flawlessness shown in the garden mag ..read more

The first leaves of our common lilac have emerged. According to phenology in Wisconsin - this is a good time to plant beets, carrots, cole crops, lettuce and spinach. Wait to plant beans, cucumbers, and squash seeds until lilacs are in full bloom. I tested my soil temperature and it was consistently around 45 degrees in the garden. That's just above the minimum for those seeds to germinate. Let the gardening begin! Check out this UW-Extension Horticulture article "Phenology ..read more

Do you enjoy gardening or want to start gardening?  Have you watched the TV show Escape to the Chateau? If you have, then you would recognize the term “potager garden”.  Join us on how to Create a Potager Garden presented by Sue Reinardy, UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer, virtually on Zoom on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 10 am to Noon as part of a celebration of National Library Week at the Sherman & Ruth Weiss Community Library.  Attendees will have a chance to win a special Library T-shirt!   Potager is a French term for a kitchen garden.  These gardens can ..read more