Garden Center Blog

a flower blooms in winter

Even though it’s barely started, you may find yourself getting a bit sick of winter. My guess is that the recent super cold days have contributed to many cases of cabin fever and a longing for the sight of some swelling buds and tender green shoots. I see two choices....

duck. duck. groundhog?

Monday will find many a modern gardener checking the sky as soon as their alarm clock rings. Why? Groundhog Day! While Punxsutawney Phil may be more famous, in Wisconsin, Jimmy rules. Let’s explore the origins of this quirky American holiday. Spoiler alert though....

get ready for seed season

What a difference a year makes! Last year, snow was found everywhere. Except in south central Wisconsin. Mother Nature has been more generous, but I sure wish that it would stay put! Our plants would certainly appreciate the extra snowy blanket. So far, the 2025-26...

winter pruning dos and don’ts

The frenetic pace of the holidays has given way to the calmer contemplation of mid-winter, making it a great time to settle in, plan for and nurture some spring gardening projects. The little bursts of snow certainly encourage introspection. Preferably indoors, under...

winter’s hush

Winter snowstorms have a wonderful way of slowing everything down, forcing all of us to live in the moment. The distracting details of daily life that ordinarily occupy every moment of your time are suddenly moved to the back burner. Your mind clears as you focus on...

to everything a season

The term winter solstice marks the day when the earth’s axis tips up, putting the rest of the Northern Hemisphere farthest from the sun. The sun appears at its lowest and weakest points in the sky on the 21st. We know it simply as the shortest day of the year. At...

a garden under snow

“There’s a garden under that snow. / Deep in cozy soil, stretch, unfurl. / Plants need privacy, did you know? / Yes, there’s a garden under that snow. / Plants carry the light required to grow, / While winter sky is all storm and swirl.” Winter Garden by Irene Latham...

christmas time is here

The often melancholy days of November are upon us. Snowflakes may gather on the grass and in the garden as the last of the brightly colored autumn leaves fall, leaving the trees bare. Some of you might think that this is the end of gardening for the year and there is...

fall into winter

You probably planted beautiful annual containers for the summer, but with last week’s hard freezes and Saturday’s wet, windy weather, they are surely done for the year.  Correctly putting the pots into winter storage is crucial for the life of the container. Generally...

finally! frosty mornings

The crisp, white frost that we’ve seen on our lawns a couple of times is a sure sign that the planting season is waning. If you have the energy, you don’t have to put away your wheelbarrow, rakes and shovels yet. There are lots of important tasks to accomplish in the...
jumpin’ jack flash

jumpin’ jack flash

written by Lisa Briggs
Are they fireflies, glowworms or lightning bugs? It doesn’t really matter what you call them because one of our favorite sights of summer are those yellow-green orbs flashing against the backdrop of the garden at dusk.

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gardeners start your engines!

gardeners start your engines!

written by Lisa Briggs
May is many a gardener’s favorite month, and this year even more so! The seesaw spring had spring flowers developing in fits and starts, but the warm temps late last week pushed many plants hard, all at once. My drive into work each morning is a little reminiscent of a journey into Oz. I

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patience is a virtue

patience is a virtue

written by Lisa Briggs
Gardeners are not the kind of folks who enjoy being cooped up in the house all winter. When the weather finally breaks, and plants begin to emerge from dormancy, it’s understandable that we are eager to greet every new shoot and admire every swelling bud.

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no april showers bring…

no april showers bring…

written by Lisa Briggs
April of 2025 wasn’t particularly shower-ful, but the flowers are bursting into bloom despite the dry weather. And Monday’s unsettled weather has us scrambling to get plants under cover and protected from the storm that never was.

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some beauty is fleeting

some beauty is fleeting

written by
Every spring, gardeners hold their collective breath as we wait for the first green shoots pushing through the warming soil. To be a perennial gardener in this climate requires great faith in your choices.

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we’ve got high hopes

we’ve got high hopes

written by Lisa Briggs
The days with warmer temperatures these last few weeks have given hope that spring would be early this year. And then they take a nosedive. Clearly Old Man Winter is unwilling to let go!

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