During Victorian times tropical gardens were very popular. Massive outdoor displays were cultivated during the summer and the plants were then moved into greenhouses or other protected areas during the winter to be saved until the next season.  This concept is seeing a resurgence in today’s gardens.  If a tropical vacation is not in the budget, bring the tropics to the Midwest by placing just a few tropical plants strategically in borders or as specimen plants.  The impact will be impressive.

Daisies are the April birth flower, along with sweet peas. Both flowers have traditionally signified innocence, purity, and love. Regardless of the meaning, they are harbingers of spring and a good growing season to come. The two most common white daisies in landscapes are the hybrid Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum × superbum) and Oxeye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare).

Galls are abnormal growths that occur on twigs, branches, and leaves. Some are small lumps; others are large, more complicated structures. They can be green, plain brown, or brightly colored. Although they look disconcerting, for the most part they are not harmful to the plant.

Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is the one plant the proves the point that not all native plants are pleasing. It is a perennial, woody plant native to Wisconsin and all of North America.  It is quite adaptable, prefers to climb, but will creep along the ground if it cannot find something upon which to climb. 

There are many reasons to consider raised bed gardening, including poor existing soil, increased accessibility, and stubborn persistent weed control. Regardless of the reason, raised bed gardening is a centuries-old technique that deserves some consideration for not only vegetable gardening, but also flowers and shrubs.

Anyone who has traveled with children knows it is inevitable that a sweet voice will come from the back seat and ask the question “Are we there yet?” Sometimes repeatedly. Sometimes within a mile of the driveway.

Hellebores (Heleborous×hybridus) are low maintenance perennials in the buttercup family that offer beautiful spring blooms with handsome evergreen foliage on sturdy plants that never need staking and are seldom bothered by pests or diseases.

Mulch is one of the most important tools in a gardener’s arsenal. In fact, it can make many of the other tools unnecessary over the course of the growing season. 

The days are getting marked off the calendar and we are moving closer and closer to spring. One sure sign of warmer weather is the emergence of spring ephemerals. In Wisconsin, these plants emerge typically between March and May only to quickly die away. In their short life span, they are an important part of the ecosystem, providing early pollen and fruit for bees and small mammals.

The decline of pollinators due to pollution, overuse of pesticides, and climate change is a widely recognized problem. Many gardeners are planting pollinator gardens to help mitigate the problem, but what about the lawn? Turf covers more than two percent of the land area in the United States and is an untapped resource for pollinator support.

Pineapple is the most economically important, easily recognized, and only edible bromeliad.  However, this tropical looking epiphyte (plant that grows on another plant, but is not a parasite) is an easy going, stunning house plant.  They are fun to grow with unusual variegated leaf colors and striking blooms.

Once indoor gardeners begin their houseplant journey, they often find that one or two plants just doesn’t satisfy the yen to have plants. This is a common problem for gardeners in general as outdoor gardeners suffer from the same quirk. Seeing plants just triggers some phenomena in the brain that makes accumulating plants a need rather than a want. Propagation is the process of growing plants from existing ones. It is inexpensive, relatively effortless, and yields more plants for either sharing with friends or increasing the current home population.

Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) is a group of herbaceous ornamentals that are noted for their importance in the lives of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). Much has been written about the decline of the monarchs and the drive to preserve them.  However, not all milkweed plants are equal and some can cause homeowners to regret planting them if they are not managed properly.

The holidays are fast approaching and most people have a gardener or two on their gift list. An informal poll of Master Gardeners in the area yielded some excellent ideas for those folks on the list.

This was a tough growing season for many perennials. With the driving, extensive rains in the early spring followed by near drought conditions in the summer, fungal diseases flourished and plants suffered. However, one plant that seemed impervious to the onslaught of negative weather conditions was the dahlias. They continued to thrive and put forth stunning blooms.

While this season is winding down, it is never too early to begin to plan for next season. Herbs are always a good addition to any garden. If not used for culinary purposes, many are good for pollinators, not only for the pollen and nectar they provide, but also for reproductive habitat.

Black walnut trees (Juglans nigra) and butternut trees, also called white walnut trees (Juglans cinerea) are commonly recognized by gardeners as having a toxic trait. They contain juglone, concentrated primarily in their buds, leaves, stems, nut hulls, and roots. This chemical spells trouble for many surrounding plants, causing wilting and ultimately death. Juglone is the walnut tree’s ultimate survival technique as it reduces any competition for nutrients and water in the surrounding area.

Fall is creeping up quickly and there are many things to be done to wrap up gardens before winter strikes. Much has been said about not doing fall cleanup in perennial beds because pollinators need the debris for habitat and reproduction. However, that is not the case in vegetable beds. Fall cleanup is essential to mitigate the spread of disease and control the proliferation of harmful insects