The words “garden sanitation” sound kinda funny, at least to me, and also impart a connotation of an assertion that I’m uncleanly. After all who is to say who is clean and who is not? Perhaps the best approach is to remove all thoughts of human sanitation (taking a shower, washing your hands) and…
Garden Gnome
Garden gnomes. Are they cute or whimsical or just a waste of space? I for one, think they are adorable and should grace any garden. They have been around for centuries some literature date them back to the 1600’s but they didn’t hit mainstream until German 1800’s. Phillip Griebel popularized these mythical creatures in Germany…
Water – Ground and Surface
With a tip of the cap to National Groundwater Awareness Week, the landscape and gardening industry must do their part to prevent groundwater and surface water pollution on the properties we manage. At first, this topic may seem kinda nebulous, almost begging the question of “how does my garden or lawn contribute to water…
Rain Garden Plants
Okay so I’ve been lagging behind getting my blogs out this past month. Getting back into the swing of things this week I wanted to talk about choosing plants for rain gardens. When we think of rain gardens we think of plants that will be submerged all the time like aquatic/pond plants. However, this is…
One Woman That I Admire
I’ve admired the work of Dr. Bonnie Lee Appleton for many years. I first ran across her work when I was working closely with Fine Gardening magazine/Taunton Publishing, and the editors sent me some of her work to use as a model. She wrote a number of books and magazine articles including Trees, Shrubs and…
Forcing Flowering Branches
In the drab, grey days of February and early March, indoor color is welcome. Most Nebraskans get a sort of “cabin fever” after being forced indoors for several months. Fight back with some blooming branches. Simply prune off several branches from spring flowering trees and shrubs and plunk them in a large vase of water. …
My Favorite Gardening Books
In recognition of February as National Library Lovers’ Month, I’m going to share my favorite gardening books with you. The Undaunted Garden—Planting for Weather-Resilient Beauty by Lauren Springer (ISBN 1-55591-115-3) has everything a gardener wants—colorful pictures of great gardens, a directory of tough plants (also with great pictures), and Springer’s straightforward narrative. The single best…
Three Must Have Books
This week on the GROBigRed Blog we are celebrating National Library Lover’s Month and the books that we love to use. I want to share two of my go-to books and a new addition that I am excited to have this year. Field Guide to Wildflowers of Nebraska and the Great Plains (ISBN 978-1-60938-071-7) by…
National Plan Vacation Day–Include A Botanical Garden!
It’s National Plan Vacation Day! In recognition of a gardener’s favorite vacation site–the botanical garden–we’re running this article that appeared in the December 2017 Master Gardener newsletter Roots & Shoots from Master Gardener Connie Lowndes. Enjoy! Horticulture Traveling on a Dime: Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Pass by Connie Lowndes, Master Gardener We love our Nebraska Statewide Arboretum…
Seed swapping and understanding seed packets
This time of year is the perfect time to think about swapping or buying seeds to get ready for the coming year. But many people are often confused about some of the language used on seed packets. What exactly does hybrid mean? or heirloom? What a bout non-GMO?
Winter Interest in the Landscape
As an arborist, horticulturist, etc. I always get the question – “what should I plant in my landscape?”….to which I answer, “First, take an inventory of what is there now, and plant something different”…an appeal to increase diversity. A common second answer is “Plant something that is appealing in all seasons, or at least in…
Denver Botanical Garden
Hailed as one of the top 5 botanical gardens in the US and often referred to as an oases in the city, the Denver Botanical Garden is a must on your places to visit. This week on the GROBigRed Blog we are talking about vacation destinations. I had the pleasure of visiting the Denver Botanical…