Garden Center Blog

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

“To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee, One clover, and a bee, And reverie. The reverie alone will do, if bees are few.” Emily Dickinson Mother Nature has been kindly helping us water our gardens, making this growing season a bit of an anomaly. The hot, dry...

thinking ahead

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. If you didn’t plant a family veg garden this spring, you can try a few...

good golly it’s hot!

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, creating a stretch of...

a few words on maples

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! There are...
light the winter gloom

light the winter gloom

written by Lisa Briggs
I love the bustle of the winter holidays. If I regret taking on extra projects, the sight of family faces around the table at Thanksgiving makes all of the work worthwhile.

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fall for autumn clean-up

fall for autumn clean-up

written by Lisa Briggs
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 garden before we’re done for the year.

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hola la nina

hola la nina

written by Lisa Briggs
Wow. We’re more than halfway through October and though some outlying locations have seen low temps close to freezing, we haven’t experienced a killing frost in any of the in-town areas!

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to LED or not to LED

to LED or not to LED

written by Lisa Briggs
It’s a perfect time to add some tree lighting to this weekend’s chore list and hang your Christmas lights! These beautiful, late fall days are perfect for getting a jump on outdoor holiday decorating.

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trick your bulbs

trick your bulbs

written by Lisa Briggs
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.

read more
fall is for planting

fall is for planting

written by Lisa Briggs
Now that we’re getting ready to turn the calendar page from September to October, we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief. Cooler temps. Lower humidity. And so many other reasons to love fall!

read more
delayed gratification

delayed gratification

written by Lisa Briggs
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 Desk in late summer and early autumn.

read more
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