After long admiring the Lenten Roses growing in my friend Joanne’s yard, last year I finally purchased a couple of plants to try in my own garden. I carefully situated them in partial shade close to our front window so I could admire their early blooms and went back to other gardening chores. Unfortunately in […]
Garden Notes
Spring Crocus or Squirrel Snacks?
As one of the most popular late-winter/early spring bulbs, crocus are widely available and easy to grow. They are one the first flowers of spring and come in a wide range of colors. The cup-shaped blossoms of the crocus are upward-facing and their flowers appear from late winter to early spring, depending on the variety […]
Those Blooming Daffodils!
This has been a crazy weather year in Wisconsin. We had a mild winter and a very early spring. So early in fact that the daffodils are already blooming in the middle of March. This is at least a month early for our part of the country. I keep waiting for winter to come back […]
Peas – Planting Experiment
We all know that peas are a cool-season crop and may be planted as soon as the soil can be worked. They are a great crop for beginners and can grown in a variety of soils if you provide good drainage. It is always one of the first vegetables I plant in the spring and […]
Snowdrops (Galanthus)
The First Flower of Spring Is there anything more welcome on a cold spring day than the sight of your snowdrops blooming in spite of the cold weather? I plant snowdrops in my garden because they often bloom weeks before the crocus and daffodils in our yard. Part of our front garden has a micro-climate […]
Gold Mop Cypress, Superstar!
I planted a Gold Mop Cypress in my front garden about 4 years ago and it added a bright spot of color to our yard. While considered an evergreen, it is actually a vibrant glowing shade of yellow gold that lasts throughout the year. When you examine Gold Mop’s foliage, it appears fine and feathery […]