August is when your garden is in a “blaze of glory”! The blooms light up the landscape for your summertime enjoyment. Dahlias have gorgeous flowers in bright colors, yellow and orange sunflowers and celosia have spiky blooms. Lantana is showy too with their delicate orange and yellow blossoms which the butterflies love. Don’t forget the… Read More
Summer is the season to enjoy the fruits and beauty of your spring gardening projects. The summer months go by so fast. While it’s time to enjoy the beauty of the season, there are still things to do in the yard and garden. Here is my summer check list of things to do. Veggie Garden… Read More
A beautiful home deserves a beautiful garden and landscape. Maybe you feel very confident about decorating your living room or bedroom, but a little shy in planning your garden and landscape. Vision your landscape and garden just as you would an indoor project, go online to watch landscaping videos, look at photos on Pinterest or… Read More
Have you looked at your rhubarb lately? Mine is growing like crazy this year. I just found a recipe for Rhubarb Chutney. It can be used as a topping for meats or even an ice cream. 4 cups diced rhubarb 2 cups brown sugar 1 cup cider vinegar or dry red wine… Read More
Spring! It is here! It’s a wonderful time to enjoy the warm days and cool mornings and evenings. You may have to do some clean-up in the yard and garden, but think of all the exercise and fresh air you will be getting. Working outdoors gives your brain a boost too. Gardening is a positive,… Read More
Don’t forget the celebration of love on February 14. Of course a night out is wonderful for Valentine’s Day but a bouquet of roses (from Wagners) is appreciated and lasts longer. The day of love originated many centuries ago during the middle ages and many saints are honored on February 14. Even today, there are… Read More
The season of fresh evergreens and indoor blooming bulbs is upon us! Here are some quick and easy tips to make your holiday home bright. First you probably want to make a container of evergreens to brighten your entryway and welcome guests. Use a mix of pine, fir and spruce to add variety and texture…. Read More
Fall is here and it’s time to take in all the beauty and color that Mother Nature delivers at this time of year. You can make a “gourd gorgeous” with just a few simple steps. Carve a circle at the top or a little to the side, depending on the shape of the squash or pumpkin. Carve… Read More
As the summer transitions to fall it’s time to freshen up your outdoor planters. Maybe they are looking a little faded and need an upgrade for the season. Choose plants for the upcoming cooler temperatures such as colorful fall pansies, ornamental kale, mums, and a new fall celosia called “Twisted Orange”. Ornamental grasses are a… Read More
The allure of succulents is for all ages. There are so many ways to use them indoors or out and they come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. They don’t need a lot of maintenance and can tolerate a certain amount of neglect. They can be combined in living wreaths, terrariums, fairy gardens and… Read More
Gardening and nature go hand in hand. We recently had a very special guest in our perennial display. Check out the pictures of the bird hatching her eggs in one of our perennial containers. We took special care of her and one day she and the hatched babies were gone! Even the birds like our… Read More
Are you looking for an idea to keep the kids busy this summer? Help them create and plant a butterfly garden either in a container or a special garden. They can learn a lot about how a butterfly develops and what they like to eat. There are lots of articles, books and online information on… Read More
Do you know 2016 is the Chinese year of the Monkey? This year claims to be a lively and positive one oriented towards an active social life. We are supposed to experience a year full of laughter, optimism and creativity. Sounds good to me! This would be the ideal time to pursue your creativity and… Read More
There are many legends about Valentine’s Day. Some believed if a lady saw a robin on that day, she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man but be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire! Valentine was a priest back in early… Read More
This is the time of year when we turn our gardening enthusiasm towards houseplants so we can still have our “hands in the dirt.” As recently noted in the “Minnesota Gardener” magazine, the Aloe Vera plant is always a favorite due to its easy care and the many health benefits it offers. As you may… Read More
It’s time for poinsettias! Here are a few tips to keep your plant lush and healthy throughout the holidays and beyond: Pick a plant where the yellow flower buds in the middle of the colored bracts are unopened. Poinsettias originate in Mexico so they don’t like drafts or cold temperatures. We’ll wrap it up well… Read More
Now that the Halloween decorations are packed away, you may have started thinking about the holidays and asked yourself what you can do to set the mood. First, draw attention to the front door. Maybe position a pair of lanterns on either side of the entryway to set the scene for your special occasion or… Read More
Now is the time to plant spring bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, crocus, and hyacinth as well as many of the lesser known varieties such as allium, dwarf iris, fritillaria (Persian Lily), chiorodoxa (Glory of the snow) and more. Don’t be stingy when planting! Plant in mass and use a wide variety of bulbs to… Read More
This is the month to enjoy the results of your hard work in the garden: the heady scents, glorious colors, and the fruits and vegies you may be harvesting at this time. Why not preserve some of those vegies to enjoy next winter? Check out all the canning supplies at Wagners Minneapolis location and some of the recipes in the “Mason Jar… Read More
Summer is here and it’s time to enjoy your spring plantings. While there are still tasks to be done, the most important is to ensure your plants have an ample supply of water. Lawns need 1” to 1 ½” of moisture per week. Use a rain gauge or any container with vertical sides to measure… Read More
