written by Lisa Briggs
What a difference a wet July makes! The Madison area’s rainfall is less than an inch under average from March 1 thru July 31. And the average monthly temperatures have been running a bit higher. Weather factors can make gardening in our area mighty interesting.

written by Lisa Briggs
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 crops have been harvested.

written by Lisa Briggs
When summer is dishing out heat and humidity, and winter brings us face to face with another polar vortex, we remember rich palette of autumn.

written by Lisa Briggs
Seesawing temperatures are one clue that summer is on the wane. Long-range weather forecasters predict that we can expect more moderate temperatures this weekend through the end of the month, giving us lots of time to plant some fall veg and late blooming annuals.

written by Lisa Briggs
It sure has been a sultry summer. Fireflies light the warm evenings and cicadas and crickets sing us to sleep. It’s a fact, sad but true though, that summer is winding down. The season of extended days never seems long enough, but it’s time for gardeners everywhere to reap what they have sown.

written by Lisa Briggs
The hot, dry weather that is typical of late July, early August can be hard on your garden plants. And since this season’s July and August heat began in May, our plants may be having an especially difficult time establishing and thriving.

written by Lisa Briggs
The popularity of vegetable gardening shows no signs of plateauing, and that makes your goal of eating in a more seasonal and local way easier than ever. Growers are introducing lots of new, and older but new to you varieties.

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 still under the spell of the dog days, astronomically summer is on the wane.

written by Lisa Briggs
It’s hard to imagine a yard without our fine feathered friends. A key to getting birds to linger in your landscape is to give them what they want – food, water, nesting materials and cover.

written by Lisa Briggs
All of the heat we’ve experienced in the last few days combined with the very dry weather so far may mean that plants will struggle to establish this summer.