Spring is the best time of year to plant trees. During the winter the dormant buds and roots are in a kind of holding pattern until the right growing conditions happen in the spring. Then they have the entire growing season to establish themselves before next winter. No doubt you’re aware of the requirements for … Continue Reading →

Just because you are living in an apartment or in a house with no suitable gardening space, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out of luck. All around Michigan, groups work to provide community gardening space for folks who couldn’t otherwise garden because of a lack of space. There’s a wide spread on the amenities community … Continue Reading →

,I spend a lot of time outside and one of my favorite sounds this time of year is the drumming of woodpeckers. In our neck of the woods, we have mostly hairy woodpeckers and downy woodpeckers. We live in a rural area and there are plenty of trees around to provide nesting sites for woodpeckers. … Continue Reading →

We’re sowing our seeds right now for growing transplants that we’ll plant out in the garden. It takes some work, but you can save quite a bit of money growing your own transplants. Another huge advantage that may be even more important is being able to grow the varieties you want rather than relying on … Continue Reading →

We’re now into the maple syrup season. Some years we start earlier, other years later, it all depends on the weather.  Cold nights with quickly rising morning temperatures stimulates sap flow. Now that I reminded you of it, maybe you’ll want to try making some maple syrup yourself this year. But first you’ll have to … Continue Reading →

Several weeks ago I blogged about how I store dahlias. Did you keep some of yours too? If you haven’t already done so, now’s the time to check on them to see how they’re doing. I opened mine up right after the polar vortex blew through. They were in a spot that normally stays cool … Continue Reading →

We’re getting an early taste of spring at our house by forcing branches into bloom. It’s something gardeners have done for centuries ever since someone figured out if you cut some branches and bring them into a warm room during the winter, they will bloom. When I was in elementary school, forcing pussy willow branches … Continue Reading →

Like most plants, jade plants’ water requirements change by stage of growth or from season to season. For example now, during the winter, there is less sunlight so plants including jade plants, are photosynthesizing less and won’t need as much water. The tendency for some gardeners is to kill their plants with kindness by over-water this … Continue Reading →

Last week I talked about the potatoes that I dug up very late in the season. What I didn’t mention was that same day I also dug my dahlia tubers that were still in the ground. Turns out they where in fine shape as well. It makes perfect sense that the tubers would look so … Continue Reading →