Garden Center Blog

whatever happened to autumn?

Wow. We’re more than halfway through October and no sign of a hard frost! The old saying goes “No frost until after the full moon in October.” AccuWeather’s long range forecast doesn’t  predict under 40 degrees until the month’s last week. So, at least for this year,...

what’s all the fuss

If you aren’t a procrastinator and your gardens are cleaned up and plants are tucked in for the coming cold weather, you’re probably looking for something to do this weekend. So why not take advantage of the clement temperatures and get a head start on winter by...

the great pond tuck-in

Despite the warm days we’ve experienced, the night temperatures are cooling and green leaves are beginning to color. I think that we may be in for an extended autumn. Did you know that the average date for the first frost is October 4th and the first trace of snow is...

the last days of summer

At long last. It’s time to take a deep breath because a lot of the physical work, and often frenetic pace of the growing season is winding down. Even though the warm weather may mean that there will still be raking to be done in November! Not having a million things...

coaxing, not forcing!

Let’s start by saying that the word forcing may sound like a lot of work. It really isn’t. What you’re doing is tricking a bulb into thinking that winter is over and it’s time to flower. You could call it a little sleight of hand. And you reap the rewards of spring...

changing the season

Now that we’re getting ready to turn the calendar from summer to fall, we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief. Cooler temps. Lower humidity. And so many other reasons to love autumn! But a gardener’s work is never done. Let’s start by acknowledging that cold...

bulbs & corms & tubers oh my

Are you confused when it comes to fall-planted bulbs? Lots of gardeners are. What are bulbs, and how, and when should they be planted are questions that we often hear at the Plant Information Desk in late summer and early autumn. Adding bulbs to your borders is simple...

bring the outdoors in

September can be such a transitional time, especially for gardeners as our landscapes seem to teeter on the edge of a climatic cliff. Colors will begin to morph from deep green foliage to mellow butter yellow and fiery scarlet. Branching forms reappear as deciduous...

late summer recap

What a difference a wetter growing season makes! The Madison area’s rainfall is just a couple of inches over average April through end of August. It certainly has been a wet July and August, but we were running very low in the early spring months. The temps and...

second chance veggies

So many of you planted fruits and vegetables again this spring and we hope that you’ve been happy with the results. After all, there are few things more delicious then a tomato eaten right off the vine. And you may find that you’ve got some empty spots where spring...
borrow from the prairies

borrow from the prairies

written by Lisa Briggs
Mother Nature has been kindly helping us water our gardens, making this growing season a bit of an anomaly. The hot, dry weather that is typical of late July and early August can be hard on your garden plants.

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thinking ahead

thinking ahead

written by Lisa Briggs
Seesawing temperatures are one clue that summer is on the wane. Long-range weather forecasters are predicting a warm August, giving us lots of time to plant some fall veg and late blooming annuals.

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good golly it’s hot!

good golly it’s hot!

written by Lisa Briggs
The brightest of the stars in the Big Dog constellation is Sirius, the Dog Star. In the mid-summer, it can be seen rising and setting with the sun. This conjunction caused the ancients to believe that Sirius’ heat added to the heat of the sun.

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a few words on maples

a few words on maples

written by Lisa Briggs
Maples are some of the most popular shade and ornamental trees at the Garden Center. And why not?  They can provide plenty of shade, offer amazing fall color and can be super adaptable. There are even a few varieties of native species in the shade tree line!

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dig into grasses

dig into grasses

written by Lisa Briggs
Whether you plan to use them to screen unsightly views, or to provide focal points in your landscape, ornamental grasses are a great way to add structure and texture to your garden.

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summer swan song

summer swan song

written by Lisa Briggs
No one wants to be the first to say it, but here we go. The Solstice was a couple weeks ago and even though we are under the spell of the dog days, astronomically summer is on the wane.

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mid summer dreams

mid summer dreams

written by Lisa Briggs
Early summer is an especially nice time to start a garden journal. Your what-to-do-in-the-garden-today lists have shortened and everything is just so achingly beautiful. Jot

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