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 It’s February and that means Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Florists across the country are preparing for one of the busiest times of the year. According to the Society of American Florists, in 2022, 22% of Americans bought fresh flowers or plants […]
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 It is estimated that 66% of all households in the United States decorate their homes with at least one houseplant. This is not surprising since houseplants add beauty and interest to our indoor space as well as provide a boost of green cheer through […]
Margaret MurphyHorticulture Educator for Chippewa, Dunn, & Eau Claire CountiesUW-Madison Extension If you are thinking of adding a new houseplant to your home, here are some helpful tips on how to select plants and keep them healthy. Before you bring home a new houseplant give some thought to where it is going to be placed. […]
Margaret MurphyHorticulture Educator for Chippewa, Dunn, & Eau Claire CountiesUW-Madison Extension Christmas is just around the corner. After that, New Year’s Day. A day for making new year’s resolutions. It seems every year the popular resolutions are to exercise more, eat healthier and improve one’s overall well-being. Of course, one could just resolve to plant […]
Margaret MurphyHorticulture Educator for Chippewa, Dunn, & Eau Claire CountiesUW-Madison Extension A few years ago, a friend of mine was out in the back yard and noticed one of his trees had some odd orange growth all over its trunk. He was worried that the tree had become engulfed with some tree-eating fungus. Well, it […]
Margaret MurphyHorticulture Educator for Chippewa, Dunn, & Eau Claire CountiesUW-Madison Extension As we finish out July and head into August, gardeners are looking forward to harvesting their tomatoes. Tasting that first, freshly picked tomato is a joy every tomato grower knows. But this is also the time to keep a look out for some common […]
Margaret MurphyHorticulture Educator for Chippewa, Dunn, & Eau Claire CountiesUW-Madison Extension While out in the garden the other day, I spied this little garden foe – The Imported Cabbageworm I am a huge fan of collard greens. I grow them in my garden every year. These leafy greens are members of the Brassicaceae family together […]
Margaret MurphyHorticulture Educator for Chippewa, Dunn, & Eau Claire CountiesUW-Madison Extension I always enjoy seeing bees buzz around my flowers and fruit tree blossoms. I know they are busy gathering food but they are also providing an essential service to the planet –pollination. Worldwide, an estimated 87% of flowering plants rely on animals—mostly insects—for pollination. […]
