http://bggarden.com/blog Thoughts and Ideas of a Midwest Gardener Wed, 16 May 2012 15:24:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Copyright © The BGgarden Blog 2011 ohgarden@gmail.com (Bren Haas of BGgarden.com) ohgarden@gmail.com (Bren Haas of BGgarden.com) 1440 http://bggarden.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg http://bggarden.com/blog 144 144 Thoughts and Ideas of a Midwest Gardener Bren Haas of BGgarden.com Bren Haas of BGgarden.com ohgarden@gmail.com no no http://bggarden.com/blog/2012/03/30/star-garden/ http://bggarden.com/blog/2012/03/30/star-garden/#comments Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:24:51 +0000 Bren http://bggarden.com/blog/?p=5633 http://bggarden.com/blog/2012/03/30/star-garden/feed/ 8 0:21:54 The seasons seem to be a bit out of sync with one another after we were thrust into Summer as the official date of spring arrived.  A week after spring arrived the cooler more seasonable temperatures arrived bringing a few below freezing nights that[...] The seasons seem to be a bit out of sync with one another after we were thrust into Summer as the official date of spring arrived.  A week after spring arrived the cooler more seasonable temperatures arrived bringing a few below freezing nights that were sure to damage the new summer growth on the shrubs and perennials.  During this time many garden connections have been boosting of planting annuals out in their below zone 5 gardens.  I recently acquired a few new roses from my friends at The Conard Pyle Company and I can’t begin to tell you how excited I’m to make up a new rose bed just for them.  Luckily I tweeted out to my friend @RedneckRosarian on Twitter.  He is the one to ask if you have any questions about roses and you are sure to get an answer with in hours of tweeting him a question.  Gotta love social media in the garden world! This Morning I shared a live stream #gardenwalk in my garden.   I made two videos just in case you missed the first tweet about the ‘event’.    In the video I share my late April landscape near my front porch and a few of my roses I’m growing thanks to inspiration and help from my friend Chris  of #rosechat. IF you can’t view these please visit my Youtube.com site at : BGgardenLive. I want to do a shout out to Chris VanCleave and share with you about his new BlogTalk Radio Channel #rosechat. Click on the image below to find out more about the Channel. My friend Chris took the time to share some basic rose care tips for spring with me in this short podcast.  I hope you will listen in as we talk roses.  My favorite part of the podcast is when Chris challenges everyone who listens in to add a rose shrub / bush to their garden. podcast Bren Haas of BGgarden.com no no http://bggarden.com/blog/2012/03/29/raking-weeding-planting/ http://bggarden.com/blog/2012/03/29/raking-weeding-planting/#comments Fri, 30 Mar 2012 02:54:30 +0000 Bren http://bggarden.com/blog/?p=5650 http://bggarden.com/blog/2012/03/29/raking-weeding-planting/feed/ 7 0:15:03 It’s officially Spring …. I know the actual date was seven days ago but now that the normal temperatures are back it is time to celebrate!  This time of year finds me out soaking up the spring sunshine and out of the house we just spent [...] It’s officially Spring …. I know the actual date was seven days ago but now that the normal temperatures are back it is time to celebrate!  This time of year finds me out soaking up the spring sunshine and out of the house we just spent the cold winter months taking shelter in. Conversing with my non-garden friends I’m finding they are not as excited as I am about raking the grass.  I figure anything that gets me outside and making my surroundings a prettier place to enjoy in the upcoming months is where I want to be!  Wide Open Space in my Garden  I know it is a weed but it sure is pretty…… After I’ve raked a good percent of the spots in the yard that seem bare and discolored from winter damage it is time to get pulling weeds.   You might consider using a tool like the one I use in the video below to physically remove the dandelions rather then using a chemical. The last but most important thing to do is to spread the grass seed.  I’ve been known to waste plenty of seed by grabbing hand fulls and just throwing it where I felt it was needed.  Little did I know that was totally wasteful and didn’t save any spring maintenance time.  Last Autumn  I was given a new spreaders called a SNAP by Scotts Lawn Care.  After using this tool and talking with my friend Emily this maybe my favorite tool that best helps me get my yard ready for summer.  I was able to complete my grass planting job  in the areas around my gardens in no time flat with seed to spare. Short video of a few basic grass maintenance going on in my garden right now. Can you imagine trying to pull all the weeds in that front meadow area featured in the video above?  For the past 5 years I’ve been staying away from chemicals in my grass and continue to pull the thistle and dandelion weeds as needed.  It is impossible to remove them all by hand but I do want to note that if you make sure you keep up with planting grass seed the weeds are usually crowded out. I’m excited to hear what you are doing in your garden and lawn this time of year and I hope you will share with me by commenting on this post! Early this week I spoke with my friend Emily who works over in Marysville Ohio at The Scotts Company.  She is new to gardening and I’m excited to share with her some new growing technique growing natural.  We talked about the new seed spreader and I had a few questions about the sun & shade seed.  Listen in as we talk basic grass maintenance that should be going on in your garden this time of year and I hope it inspires you to think basics and get out and enjoy spring!   Recommended by a blogger friend of my I want to note that the products featured in this blog post today were gifts and I was not paid by anyone to post information. Bren Haas of BGgarden.com no no http://bggarden.com/blog/2012/01/13/floral-symphony-nwfgs/ http://bggarden.com/blog/2012/01/13/floral-symphony-nwfgs/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:10:18 +0000 Bren http://bggarden.com/blog/?p=5363 http://bggarden.com/blog/2012/01/13/floral-symphony-nwfgs/feed/ 12 0:21:40 While much of the country has white mulch covering their gardens, Janet Endsley and her crew work hard moving the soil indoors to inspire the Northwest with A  Floral Symphony.  The Northwest Flower and Garden Show is a five day spectacular event fi[...] While much of the country has white mulch covering their gardens, Janet Endsley and her crew work hard moving the soil indoors to inspire the Northwest with A  Floral Symphony.  The Northwest Flower and Garden Show is a five day spectacular event filled with one of a kind garden art, music and of course garden displays designed by award winning artist. I had the privileged of speaking with Janet the other day on the phone and I”m thrilled to share our conversation about the show via a podcast attached to this blog post.  In this presentation you will get a better understanding of what it takes to put together an amazing show like this Seattle event as well as find out some fun gardening facts about Janet. One click over to The Northwest Flower and Garden Show website and you will quickly see that talented writer Janet truly loves her job.  The website is a ‘cyber flower event’ itself, filled with show facts as well as valuable gardening information. Click Image Above To Visit NWFGS Site Mark your calendar for Monday, January 16 for  when Janet Endsley @NWFGS   will be our guest host on #gardenchat .  She will be sharing current show information as well answering any questions you may have about this garden show.  Even if you can’t make it all the way to Seattle for this event in February it is inspiring to  follow along using social media.  The designs, speakers, market place and  other garden related events being shared Feb. 8-12 from the show will get you in the garden. podcast Bren Haas of BGgarden.com no no http://bggarden.com/blog/2011/10/23/helping-communities-grow-starts-in-school-gardens/ http://bggarden.com/blog/2011/10/23/helping-communities-grow-starts-in-school-gardens/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 03:59:12 +0000 Bren http://bggarden.com/blog/?p=5168 http://bggarden.com/blog/2011/10/23/helping-communities-grow-starts-in-school-gardens/feed/ 6 0:10:16 Carol & Kerrie are at it again … spreading their love for growing around this Autumn with the Seed Keeper Project.   I had the privilege of speaking with them this afternoon to get the facts on what I could do to make a difference in the s[...] Carol & Kerrie are at it again … spreading their love for growing around this Autumn with the Seed Keeper Project.   I had the privilege of speaking with them this afternoon to get the facts on what I could do to make a difference in the school of my choice. The Seed Keeper Ladies in their booth at IGC11 / Chicago Navy Pier Here’s how you can make a difference in the garden at your favorite school :  Each Monday The Seed Keeper Company is going to list five states they randomly pull out of a seed keeper kit. And you thought Monday’s couldn’t be any funnier with #gardenchat and all! If the state your  school is located in that you would like to nominate for the Seed Keeper Project is chosen please submit the schools at that time on their Facebook page.   Go to The Seed Keeper Company on Facebook where the states will be listed.  You have until Friday of that week to list the school of your choice from the five states chosen on Monday. On Friday of each week the Seed Keeper Girls will place all of the nominations in a Seed Keeper and draw a winner for each of the 5 states.  The winning schools receive a Seed Keeper and Certificate recognizing their school gardening efforts as well as a note letting them know you are responsible for their win.The Seed Keeper Project will conclude the week of December 21, 2012.  You can read all about this project on the The Seed Keeper Project Page. The Herb Garden Located in the Childrens Garden / Garfield Park Indy Above is a photo of the beautiful Garfield Park Childrens’ garden I toured this summer with the Garden Writers Association .  I just love the herbs planted in this beautiful recycled tires that the children painted. Be sure to check out my podcast with Carol and Kerrie from the Seed Keeper Company explaining all the details about this school garden project.    If you have any questions be sure to visit their site or you can leave me a question in this blog post. podcast Bren Haas of BGgarden.com no no http://bggarden.com/blog/2011/09/28/rosechat-on-healthy-roses-year-round/ http://bggarden.com/blog/2011/09/28/rosechat-on-healthy-roses-year-round/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:51:51 +0000 Bren http://bggarden.com/blog/?p=5095 http://bggarden.com/blog/2011/09/28/rosechat-on-healthy-roses-year-round/feed/ 8 0:17:30 Back in early Spring I  tweeted a S.O.S. out to my gardening friends on #gardenchat.  It was  no surprise that I was connect to at least a dozen garden enthusiast all eager to help with advice or at least rally the troops for more information.  Onc[...] Back in early Spring I  tweeted a S.O.S. out to my gardening friends on #gardenchat.  It was  no surprise that I was connect to at least a dozen garden enthusiast all eager to help with advice or at least rally the troops for more information.  Once the questions were answered and my fear of roses were overcome I’ve continued to share my healthy roses to this day.   Read more about the advice I was given using social media and how it gave me healthy rose blooms all season long.   The pruning advice provided by Chris at @RedneckRosarian give my  landscape  color from roses unlike I’d ever experienced before.  In the image above I share with you my roses by Proven Winners and Knock Out that are still blooming crazy along with my mums here in Ohio. Click Above Image To Visit Chris Site Filled with Amazing Roses! To ensure continuous blooms for next year I made a quick call to my dear friend Chris.   In the podcast today you will learn basic rose care for Autumn gardens.    If you have any additional questions be sure to tweet into #rosechat tonight on Twitter.  You can find more information about that event at #rosechat. Did you know that disease  can hang around till next year if you don’t clean up around the rose shrub the correct way?  Listen into these tips from @redneckrosarian. podcast Bren Haas of BGgarden.com no no http://bggarden.com/blog/2011/09/23/crimes-against-horticulture-with-billy-goodnick/ http://bggarden.com/blog/2011/09/23/crimes-against-horticulture-with-billy-goodnick/#comments Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:25:43 +0000 Bren http://bggarden.com/blog/?p=5056 http://bggarden.com/blog/2011/09/23/crimes-against-horticulture-with-billy-goodnick/feed/ 2 0:52:28 Photo by Courtney Tompkins Not often do I find myself giggling about unseemly acts as I did during what you are about to hear today.   I’m excited to add to my podcast collection, a piece created with my friend Billy who is not only a talente[...] Photo by Courtney Tompkins Not often do I find myself giggling about unseemly acts as I did during what you are about to hear today.   I’m excited to add to my podcast collection, a piece created with my friend Billy who is not only a talented garden writer for Fine Gardening, but also happens to be a witty social networker and the mastermind behind Crimes Against Horticulture. This is the first podcast that necessitated (in a good way) the use of my censor button, while also breaking my 30-minute rule for pod-casting duration by going well past the mark.  Just beyond the half-way point in this podcast, you will be referred to photos that are featured on Billy’s own Flickr page.  Listen closely as he directs you to advance to the next image.  By clicking the link below, you will be presented with a window that will enable you to follow along as the podcast plays. Click here : Crimes Against Horticulture Flickr Collection Or Follow by Clicking Along in this Slide Show By Billy Goodnick. Thank you for taking the time today to check out this podcast, and until next time I hope you find some crimes against horticulture to share on Billy’s facebook. podcast Bren Haas of BGgarden.com no no