Time to Plant Hardy Bulbs I love living in a northern climate. For several years, I lived in South Carolina where I was considered by many of my Carolinian friends to be crazy, since every winter I wished for snow. Now that I’m back in snow country, come March, I find myself desperately searching for […]
Add a Touch of Autumn Splendor to Garden Containers This time of year, nature begins to surround us with its striking fall colors. Celebrate the season’s change by creating containers that capture the shades of autumn. You can create a new design or freshen an existing container by adding some brightly colored fall blooms. Fall […]
A Few Fall Reminders for the Home Gardener October is a busy month for gardeners. Fall clean-up alone can be a daunting task. It usually includes raking leaves, removing plants from the vegetable garden, and pulling out annuals done in by frost. When it comes to perennials, I sometimes get asked whether it’s better to […]
And so it begins… I checked some of my squash plants the other day and there they were as happy as can be. Two squash bugs enjoying their afternoon on the leaf of a buttercup squash. Upon further inspection, I found a cluster of their reddish-brown eggs nicely stacked on a stem. This is the […]
Gardening is a great way to connect (or reconnect) kids to nature but it can offer so much more! Gardens allow children to interact and get curious about the natural world. Figuring out what a plant needs to grow. How does the temperature affect your garden? What happens if it doesn’t rain for a while […]
Gardening offers many benefits. For many, it’s an enjoyable form of exercise and provides activities that help increase strength, balance, flexibility and endurance. Just being outdoors surrounded by greenery can reduce stress levels and promote relaxation. Plus, there are the added benefits of having easy access to fresh, nutritious produce and the satisfaction of having […]
Every year, new community gardens are created through the efforts of churches, hospitals, and countless other organizations and individuals. There are many benefits of gardening at a community site. It provides an opportunity for those who do not have the space or the desire to garden on their own. Such gardens create access allowing more […]
Margaret MurphyHorticulture Educator for Chippewa, Dunn, & Eau Claire CountiesUW-Madison Extension Growing up, I remember we always had a very large vegetable garden in the backyard. Mom was a marvel in the garden. I don’t remember a time when we didn’t have fresh vegetables to eat throughout the summer. Over the years, the popularity of […]
Margaret MurphyHorticulture Educator for Chippewa, Dunn, & Eau Claire CountiesUW-Madison Extension Why garden for wildlife? The basics for a wildlife friendly yard: So, if you are considering adding some plants to your landscape this spring, think about selecting plants to benefit wildlife. Make sure to plant a diverse mixture of vegetation so wildlife will have […]
Margaret MurphyHorticulture Educator for Chippewa, Dunn, & Eau Claire CountiesUW-Madison Extension Add a Touch of Autumn Splendor to Garden Containers Soon nature will be surrounding us with beautiful, warm tones. Celebrate the season’s change by creating fall containers that capture autumn’s colors. Don’t be afraid to mix and match. Have fun experimenting with different textures […]
Margaret MurphyHorticulture Educator for Chippewa, Dunn, & Eau Claire CountiesUW-Madison Extension Harvesting the Fruits of Your Labor Some of my favorite childhood memories are of summertime picnics in the backyard with my family. Good food, good laughs and, come August, lots of watermelon. It was just the right treat at the end of a hot […]
Margaret MurphyHorticulture Educator for Chippewa, Dunn, & Eau Claire CountiesUW-Madison Extension Soldier Beetles in the Garden A wonderful thing about the community garden I garden in is that together with vegetables, garden plots are often peppered with an assortment of flowers. As I wandered through the garden the other day, I couldn’t help but notice […]
