Make plans now to join Melinda on her famous Garden Walks at Boerner Botanical Gardens in 2013! Download the schedule here.
Nationally renowned garden expert Melinda Myers helps everyday gardeners find success and ease in the garden through her Melinda’s Garden Moments radio segments. Melinda shares “must have” tips that hold the key to gardening success, learned through her more than 30 years of horticulture experience. Listeners from across the country find her gardener friendly, practical approach to gardening both refreshing and informative! On this page, Melinda shares some more extensive garden tips, which expand on the information provided in her one-minute radio segments.
New tips are added throughout each month, providing timely step-by-step tips on what you need to do next in your garden! Visit Melinda’s website www.melindamyers.com for more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and answers to your questions.
Recycle your old newspapers into biodegradable pots for starting seeds this year. It is a money-saving activity the whole family will enjoy.
In just a few minutes you can convert a single sheet of newspaper into a plantable container. A link to my easy to follow directions, complete with diagrams can be found on the kid’s activities page on my website.
After making a few key folds you’ll be ready to plant. Fill your paper pots with a well-drained potting mix or seed starting mix and set in a shallow container. Follow the directions for planting and care on the back of the seed packet.
After the danger of frost has passed, prepare your seedlings for the outdoors. Then plant in properly prepared soil, pot and all. The newspaper pot will decompose, allowing the plant’s roots to explore the surrounding soil. Using biodegradable pots reduces
transplant shock and the hassle of managing plastic pots.
A bit more information: Follow these simple directions for more details on folding your own pots. Using biodegradable pots, like these, reduces transplant shock and the hassle of managing plastic pots.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Start the New Year with a good luck meal of black-eyed peas and cabbage.
Be a part of this Southern tradition that dates back to the Civil War. Many people believe that the swelling of the peas as they cook represents prosperity, while others think their shape resembles coins.
Increase your Good Luck and prosperity by including a cabbage dish. This German, Irish and U.S. tradition is tied to the fact that cabbage leaves resemble money, promoting personal wealth.
Increase the fun of future New Year’s celebrations by growing your own cabbage and black-eyed peas.
Grow black-eyed peas in full sun and warm to hot temperatures. Allow some of them to mature on the plant. Pull and hang the plants to dry. Then shell and store the black-eyed peas for your winter and New Year’s meal.
Preserve your cabbage by quartering, blanching and freezing some for use in your favorite cabbage dishes.
A bit more information: Cabbage and other cool season crops like broccoli and cauliflower perform best in cooler temperatures. Be sure to plant cabbage in spring for an early summer harvest or mid-summer for a fall harvest.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Add some new sparkle to your garden with one of the 2013 All-America Selections (AAS) Flower winners.
AAS winners are tested throughout the U.S. and Canada and selected for their unique qualities and suitability for the home garden.
Buy plants or start South Pacific Scarlet Canna from seed, not a tuber, for a great focal point in a container or backdrop in the garden. This vigorous uniform plant grows 4 to 5 feet tall and produces large scarlet flowers throughout the summer.
Enjoy the colorful mixture of purple, pink, red and orange flowers the first season you grow Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower.
Pinto Premium White to Rose Geranium was selected as a 2013 Bedding Plant award winner. The large long lasting flowers start out white then turn to a rose-pink for a bicolor effect.
A bit more information: All-America Selection winners are “Tested Nationally and Proven Locally®”. New varieties are trialed next to several similar plants currently sold and grown in the garden. Judges look for improved flavor, pest resistance, habit, and more factors that make these a good choice for home gardeners.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
As the days shorten and gray, our indoor gardens may be suffering. A move to a new location may be the solution.
Moving plants to an unobstructed south-facing window in the winter, is often enough to give them the sunlight boost they need.
Next, help your plants deal with the dry air indoors. As we turn up the thermostat the humidity in our house lowers and our plants suffer. Group plants together or place on gravel trays to increase the humidity around your plants. As one plant loses moisture from its leaves, or transpires, the others benefit from this added moisture. And as the water evaporates from the gravel tray it increases the humidity around the plants.
Adjust your watering schedule to compensate for the reduced light and changes in room temperature and humidity. Only fertilize actively growing plants that need a nutrient boost.
A bit more information: If your plants continue to struggle, consider adding artificial lights to the natural sunlight your plants receive. For more information on artificial lights click here.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Add a bit of color to your indoor garden or dinner table this season with miniature roses.
Add a miniature rose to one of your large indoor planters or dish gardens. Or place it in a small decorative pot and use it as a centerpiece or place marker for your dinner guests.
Grow your miniature rose in a sunny location like a south or west facing window where it will receive at least 5 to 6 hours of sunlight. Regularly turn the pot so every side receives an equal amount of sunlight for balanced growth.
Water thoroughly and often enough to keep the soil consistently moist. And always pour off excess water that collects in the saucer. Or elevate the pot above the water on pebbles in the saucer to avoid root rot.
Avoid cold temperatures lower than 50 degrees and drafts of hot and cold air. Fertilize with a flowering houseplant fertilizer as needed.
A bit more information: Check your plants regularly for spider mites. These pests suck plant juices, causing stippling, yellowing, and browning of the leaves, and distorted growth. Use a strong blast of water to dislodge the mites. If the problem continues, make several weekly applications of insecticidal soap to reduce the mite population and plant damage.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Celebrate the first day of winter with a walk around the neighborhood or nearby botanical garden. It’s a great way to walk off a few of those holiday calories and plan for added winter interest in your landscape.
Look for evergreen and colorful flowers you would like to include.
Hardy pansies and Johnny Jump-ups provide color and cheer in both northern and southern gardens. In the north they flower until the snow covers the blooms and are among the first flowers to appear in spring. In warmer climates they brighten the landscape all winter long.
Cheddar pinks and some of the other perennial dianthus will hold their blue green foliage throughout the winter.
Candy tuft as well as creeping phlox are two evergreen perennials that brighten our spring gardens with flowers.
Many perennial geraniums and Bergenia have leaves that turn reddish-purple in fall and persist throughout the winter.
Change up your indoor décor and show off your favorite houseplants with a simple change.
Snake plants have long been a favorite indoor plant. Their simple beauty endures less-than-ideal growing conditions and the neglect from busy owners.
Liven up this modest plant with a bit of lumber, stain or paint, and a few nails. Create a frame to mount on a wall or set on a table. Use 1 x 4’s to make the outer frame large enough to accommodate the plant. Create a shelf to fit inside the frame. Cut a hole in the middle of the shelf large enough to support the pot and hold the plant in place. Insert and secure the shelf about 4 inches above the lower edge. Stain or paint and securely mount.
Set the plant in place and consider using a self-watering pot to reduce maintenance and water spilling on furniture and the floor below.
A bit more information: Lucky bamboo (Dracaenasanderiana) is another great candidate for your plant frame. The braided and trellised plants are especially dramatic, providing added interest to your framed living artwork.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Looking for a unique, personal and affordable gift this holiday season? Consider something from your garden.
Many gardeners collect seeds from their favorite heirloom flowers or vegetables. Consider packaging a few to share with family and friends. Decorate a label, the envelope, or a small airtight container. Be sure to label the package with the plant name and date. Include planting and spacing information as well as the light, soil and moisture the plant prefers. You might even include a photo of the plant growing in your garden.
Or take a cutting from your favorite houseplant or the Christmas cactus, jade plant, ivy or other plant passed down through generations in your family. Place a 4-inch cutting in a container with drainage holes filled with moist well-drained potting mix. Consider decorating the container with paint or permanent markers and be sure to provide tips on rooting, transplanting, and care.
A bit more information: Or give the gift of spring this season. Pot up spring flowering bulbs like daffodils and tulips that didn’t get planted this fall. Plant several bulbs in a container filled with a well-drained potting mix. Water thoroughly and place in the refrigerator for 15 weeks to initiate bloom. Be sure to provide directions including:
- the number of weeks that remain of chilling
- once fully chilled, move plants to a cool sunny place and water thoroughly when the soil is slightly moist.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
You purchase a beautiful pear, set it on the counter to ripen and a few days later take a bite. Seems it is either too hard or over ripe. In fact, 84% of people surveyed did not know how to tell when a pear was ripe.
Unlike apples, pears ripen better off of the tree. So harvest your homegrown pears when they easily separate from the tree. Lift the fruit to a horizontal position and if it detaches it is time to harvest. Then move them to a cool place for several days to improve ripening and longevity. Then finish ripening the fruit at 65 to 70 degrees.
Use the neck test to determine your pear’s ripeness. Hold the pear in the palm of your hand like a baseball. Use the thumb of that hand to gently press against the pear right below the stem. If it gives evenly under gentle pressure it’s ready to eat. If it resists wait a day or two.
A bit more information: Select Asian pears based on smell not firmness. A ripe Asian pear will be firm with a strong sweet aroma at room temperature and less so when the fruit is cold.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Looking for a unique party favor or gift for a teacher or friend? Consider a miniature poinsettia.
These small versions of the popular Christmas plant can be planted alone or mixed with foliage plants.
Set the mini poinsettia in your favorite ceramic container or a self-watering pot available at many garden centers and florists. Add the guest’s name and use these as a place card and party favor.
Or place a few throughout your home to brighten up those small and out of the way spaces.
Or add one to an existing or new indoor garden. Just sink the pot in the larger planter or decorative basket for a seasonal change.
Like full-sized poinsettias these miniatures prefer cool, draft-free, bright locations to extend their colorful display. Water thoroughly and often enough to keep the soil slightly moist. And always pour off excess water that collects in the saucer or decorative container.
A bit more information: December 12th is National Poinsettia Day in the United States. This is the date Joel Roberts Poinsett, the plant’s namesake died. Poinsett was an ambassador to Mexico where he observed the plants and then introduced them to the United States. This holiday honors Paul Ecke Jr., considered to be the father of the Poinsettia industry. He developed growing methods that allowed the Poinsettia industry to flourish. So give or buy yourself a poinsettia and celebrate the day.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Looking for a unique party favor or gift for a teacher or friend? Consider a miniature poinsettia.
These small versions of the popular Christmas plant can be planted alone or mixed with foliage plants.
Set the mini poinsettia in your favorite ceramic container or a self-watering pot available at many garden centers and florists. Add the guest’s name and use these as a place card and party favor.
Or place a few throughout your home to brighten up those small and out of the way spaces.
Or add one to an existing or new indoor garden. Just sink the pot in the larger planter or decorative basket for a seasonal change.
Like full-sized poinsettias these miniatures prefer cool, draft-free, bright locations to extend their colorful display. Water thoroughly and often enough to keep the soil slightly moist. And always pour off excess water that collects in the saucer or decorative container.
A bit more information: December 12th is National Poinsettia Day in the United States. This is the date Joel Roberts Poinsett, the plant’s namesake died. Poinsett was an ambassador to Mexico where he observed the plants and then introduced them to the United States. This holiday honors Paul Ecke Jr., considered to be the father of the Poinsettia industry. He developed growing methods that allowed the Poinsettia industry to flourish. So give or buy yourself a poinsettia and celebrate the day.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Consider a cyclamen for this holiday season. The uniquely shaped flowers come in a variety of colors and stand above attractive variegated leaves.
Select a healthy plant with just a few open flowers on stiff upright stems and lots of buds tucked under the leaves for maximum enjoyment. Grow this Mediterranean plant in a cool bright location indoors. Consider moving your plant to an even cooler room at night to extend the bloom time.
Water the plants thoroughly and often enough to keep the soil evenly moist. Always pour off excess water that collects in the foil wrap or saucer. Over- and under-watering are usually the cause of failure.
Start fertilizing your cyclamen about one month after purchase. Use a dilute solution of flowering houseplant fertilizer and remove faded flowers for a neater appearance and better bloom.
Once the plant is done blooming, the leaves will begin to turn yellow and the plant will enter a normal resting period.
A bit more information: Stop watering when all the leaves are yellow and dry. Allow your plant to rest by moving it to a cool dry place for several months. After the rest period you can bring your plant out of dormancy and encourage it to bloom. Begin watering and place it in a sunny window. You can also repot your plant at this time. Move potbound cyclamen to a slightly larger container. Plant it so that half of the tuber is above the soil surface. Fertilize with a dilute solution of flowering houseplant fertilizer about once a month.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Tired of the same old green cut flower? There’s a new beauty called Green Trick, available for use in holiday and everyday floral arrangements and bouquets. This new carnation is not like any you’ve seen before. The pompom shape and vivid green flowers are the size of tennis balls, making them a standout when used alone or with other flowers. It was selected as one of the outstanding flowers on display at the 2012 Chelsea Flower Show.
This relative of Sweet William is a bit tricky to grow in the garden. Treat it like a biennial or short lived perennial. You’ll probably need to order seeds as transplants will be hard to find. Grow Green Trick carnation in full sun, moist well-drained soil, and cooler temperatures for best results
Or just get your fix by buying a few stems to fill your vases and arrangements. They’ll last for 4 to 6 weeks.
A bit more information: Green Trick can flower as soon as 8 weeks of planting. Include it in cottage gardens, flower borders and container gardens. It grows 18 inches tall and 12 inches wide.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Save money, recycle, and give a gift that adds beauty to the recipient’s life for seasons to come.
Make your own plantable holiday cards. All you need is recyclable paper, a sponge, towel, strainer, large bowl, spoon, and of course small flower seeds.
Tear paper into small pieces and place in a blender. Use a mix of 1/3 to 1/2 paper and the rest warm water. Blend until the mix is a slurry (thin sloppy liquid).
Add a table of cornstarch to stiffen the paper and make it easier to write upon. Stir in seeds by hand. Pour onto a strainer or screen placed over the bowl. Press to remove the excess water.
Spread the mix over a cloth and press flat with a spoon or spatula. Press flattened mix with a sponge or towel to help remove additional water. Cover with a heavy item for half an hour to further flatten, uncover and allow to dry.
A bit of information: Cut into decorative shapes to adorn holiday cards, use as gift cards or bookmarks. Add color by including colored paper in the mix. And be sure to include a family photo of everyone having fun making the plantable gifts.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
As gardeners we think of light in terms of full sun, part sun and the shade our plants need to grow. We also need to think about light in terms of how it impacts the colors and beauty of our gardens.
Take some time to observe how light affects your landscape throughout the day and year round. Backlighting through ornamental grass seedheads and cacti needles at sunrise or sunset will make them just glow.
Midday sun can overpower or wash out the more subtle colors in your landscape. You may notice professional photographers avoid shooting pictures midday and prefer overcast days. Side lighting highlights one side of the plant while casting the rest into shadows. And overhead lighting brightens the tops of plants while the base disappears in the dark.
Design your gardens and place your furniture to get the best view of the naturally lit landscape. And don’t forget about the views from indoors looking out.
A bit more information: And don’t forget about how light impacts the views from indoors looking out into the landscape. Extend your use and enjoyment of outdoor living space by adding a bit of night lighting. A couple of small table lamps may be all you need for reading or enjoying another person’s company on a small balcony. Solar lights along a pathway can make it more inviting and easier to navigate your landscape at night. And uplighting plants can accentuate their form and texture year round.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
We get your letters...
What an amazing weekend!
First of all, a very big THANK YOU to everyone who came out to Grafton and Mukwonago and waited in line amid cold, windy and rainy conditions for those Wisconsin Dells Season Opener Cards.
For me, it is a chance to meet / hang out with YOU the listener and give you goodies!
Second, got this letter from our 99.1 The Mix Contact Us forum, from the Dawson family of Port Washington and was truly surprised that my "simple gesture" warranted the following...
Question: Your Name:
Answer: Michelle
Question: Your City:
Answer: Port Washington
Comments:
Yesterday I took my parents to Grafton to wait for season opener cards. It was quite a cold morning. We arrived at 10 because in the past there have been huge lines. My mother is recovering from a recent open-heart surgery. She is a very petite older woman.
Van McNeil was interacting with people people in line and I asked him if it would be possible for my mom to going to the bank to warm up. He unexpectedly took my mom's hand and escorted her into the building. He was so kind to her and gave her a hug. He made sure she was warm and dry and took very good care of her.
My mom and dad are thrilled to be going to the Dells. Unknown to Van my dad just got out of The hospital last Friday after 4 1/2 weeks of being in. It's been a very rough couple of months for my parents and their health. My mother was just beaming about how nice Van was.
I wanted to thank you for the season opener cards which will allow my parents and my family to enjoy a vacation in Wisconsin this summer, and send a special thank you to Van for being so wonderful to my parents.
You're welcome and THANK YOU Michelle!
Just doing what I do because that's how my mama raised me!
Enjoy the Dells!
-Van
#everylistenermatters
Perennial Garden Renovations
Give your tired perennial garden a boost without a total renovation. Topdressing your garden with compost every year or two provides most if not all the nutrients your perennials need.
Pull back the mulch if needed. Then spread an inch of compost over the soil surface. You can buy a quality compost or make your own.
Leave the compost on the surface or lightly mix it into the soil. The earthworms, ground beetles, and other organisms will take it from there – moving the compost into the soil and around the plant roots where it is needed.
Or, do a bit of vertical mulching. Use an auger bit on your cordless drill. Simply drill holes into the soil between plants. Then fill the holes with compost. This gets the compost closer to the plant roots and soil organisms that will help mix it into and improve the soil.
Soil preparation and repair will help transform your garden.
A bit more information: Apply a plant strengthener such as JAZ spray to increase plant vigor and their natural ability to tolerate environmental stresses, insect attacks, and disease problems. These natural products aren't fertilizers or pesticides. They can be applied to established plants at the beginning of the season to boost their ability to deal with stress or as soon as problems arise.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Growing Banana Plants Indoors or Out
Add a bit of the tropics indoors or out with a banana plant.
The large leaves are great for screening views and creating a bit of privacy on a balcony, patio or in the yard. Add a wicker planter or chair and you have your own tropical get-away.
The fiber banana (Musa basjoo) is hardy in zones 5 to 11. It grows in full sun. It will die back to the ground and benefit from winter mulch in northern areas of its hardiness zone.
Less hardy and smaller, the blood banana (Musa acuminata 'Zebrina'), has large leaves with red markings on 6 to 8 foot plants. It's only hardy in zones 10 to 11, but can be overwintered as a houseplant or allowed to go dormant in other areas.
Combine these tropical beauties with palms, ginger and bird-of-paradise. Or add some hardy tropical look-alikes such as Japanese forest grass, large leaf hostas and trumpet vines.
A bit more information: Push the limits of your growing region with special wintering techniques developed by Dr. David Francko, author of Palms Won't Grow Here and Other Myths: Warm-Climate Plants for Cooler Areas. And for those in warmer regions check out Creating the Tropical Look.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Preserving the Asparagus Harvest
Preserve the flavor and nutrition of asparagus to enjoy year round.
This flavorful vegetable is low in calories and high in Vitamins A and C as well as fiber. Unfortunately, it is most readily available and at the best price in the spring.
Insure the best flavor with proper harvesting. Select young tender spears 8 to 10 inches tall. Wash, remove the ends, and then cut to fit the freezer bag or container.
Blanch the asparagus before freezing to lock in flavor, color and texture. Dip the asparagus into boiling water. You'll need a large pan with a lid. Blanch small spears for 2 minutes, medium spears for 3 minutes and large spears for 4 minutes.
Remove and immediately set the blanched spears in ice water for 5 minutes to cool. Drain and freeze.
And, if you don't have an asparagus patch, you may want to consider planting one this year.
A bit more information: May is National Asparagus Month. For tips on planting and harvesting asparagus listen to my audio tip. And check out the National Center for Home Food Preservation website for helpful tips and guidelines for preserving your harvest.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Mexican Mint Marigold (Tagetes lucida)
Add a little color and flavor to your garden and salads with Mexican tarragon.
This subtle beauty is really a type of marigold, but the leaves and flowers have a tarragon fragrance and flavor.
Wait until after the danger of frost has passed to plant this zone 8 to 10 hardy plant. Grow it in full sun to part shade and well-drained soils. It is somewhat drought tolerant. Northern gardeners can treat it like an annual and those in the northern range of its hardiness zone may see it die back to the ground in a hard freeze. But don't worry its root hardy.
The yellow flowers appear in late summer and persist through fall. The 14 to 20 inch tall plants make a nice addition to herb gardens and flowerbeds.
Harvest the new growth to use fresh. Preserve the flavor by freezing the leaves or storing in vinegar. They tend to lose their flavor when dried.
A bit more information: You can find this plant listed under several common names including Mexican tarragon, Texas tarragon, pericon, and sweet mace. No matter the common name you can use the leaves and blossoms in soups, sauces and chicken dishes as well as salads. Some gardeners even seep it for tea. Visit Bonnie Plants for more information and gardeners ideas for growing and using this plant in the garden.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Year of the Watermelon
Year of the Watermelon
The National Garden Bureau has declared 2013 the Year of the Watermelon. Be part of the celebration and consider planting watermelon in this year's garden.
Don't let the sweet flavor deceive you – these are nutritious as well as delicious. High in Vitamin C, low in fat and calories - it is a great way to boost your energy. Plus, all parts are edible.
You can pickle the rind, eat the fleshy portion fresh or roast or grind the seeds for flavoring. In china they stir fry watermelon while the Russians often pickle it before eating. You may want to try some new ways of enjoying this tasty summer treat.
Grow watermelon in full sun and well-drained soils. Save space by growing these plants on a trellis or decorative obelisk. Just secure the heavy fruit to the support with a cloth or macramé sling. Or plant a few seeds in a container and let the vines wander over your balcony or trellis.
A bit more information: Try planting one of the large picnic-type watermelons that can weigh 15 to 50 pounds. These are sure to get everyone in the family excited about growing and eating this, the largest edible fruit in the United States. Or perhaps you want to try one of the icebox melons that is much smaller at 5 to 15 pounds and easier to squeeze into the fridge. And don't forget about those with unique colored rinds and flesh and of course those that lack seeds.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Clematis Stem Wilt
Clematis Stem Wilt
Your clematis looks beautiful until suddenly the stems and leaves start turning black. Though it looks bad your clematis will survive.
The fungus that causes this disease enters your plant through wounds and cracks in the stem near ground level. Fortunately new growth arising below this point will be disease free.
Reduce future problems by pruning out and destroying infested stems. Disinfect tools between cuts to reduce the risk of spreading this disease.
As new growth emerges from the soil carefully secure it to the support to reduce the risk of cracking and damage. Eliminating the entryways for the fungus will reduce the risk of disease.
In the future consider planting the crown of the clematis below the soil surface. This allows the plant to produce new shoots below the point of infection.
Try growing small flowered clematis that tend to resist this disease. Alpina, macropetala and the viticella types are a few to consider.
A bit more information: For a disease to occur you must have the causal organism (fungus, bacteria, virus) present, disease-promoting weather and susceptible plants. Remove one of these factors and you eliminate the disease. Keep this in mind when managing clematis stem wilt and other plant diseases in your garden.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
I'm a fan, are you?
Who doesn't LOVE a good Roller Coaster? Am I right?! I've been so very lucky to been have rasied in the Midwest, a stones throw away from Six Flags Great America, where I practicaly spent my summers as kid with my best bud Edgar!
Mom and dad would drop us off at open and pick us up at close. 10a-10p. Don't think I could handle that now. Heck, I could barley make it on one run of Batman The Ride Backwards!
Yes, that's right, for a limited time this season, (BTW... I tried to find out when from officials, they wouldn't budge, so get there soon!) Batman The Ride will be running BACKWARDS!!
MOBILE USERS: Click here to WATCH Van rides Batman: The Ride Backwards!
www.SixFlags.com
My Lucky Brewers Socks
I've been wearing these sock to the last few games I have attended at Miller Park and the crew always wins when I have them on. Do you think my socks lucky?
Matt Nathanson AND Plain White T's coming to Festa!
YES! That headline is correct...Matt Nathanson AND the Plain White T's will be performing at Festa Italiana, Saturday night, July 20th and I have the honor of being your ON STAGE HOST!!
I'm super stoked and looking forward to hanging with Platinum-selling singer-song writer Matt Nathanson, and Grammy-nominated Chicago-bred Plain White T's again!
Check out the videos from both groups last visit to The Mix Studios:
WATCH Matt Nathanson Interview and Performance.
WATCH Plain White T's Interview and Performance.
Watch for and Prevent Borers on Trees and Shrubs
Extreme heat and cold, droughts and floods can leave our plants stressed and more susceptible to damaging borers.
These insects are the immature stage of moths and beetles that feed under the bark and inside the stems of plants. Their feeding weakens and in some cases kills the plant.
Many borers are opportunists, attacking already stressed trees. We can't control the weather but we can help reduce stress on our plants. Start by growing plants suited to the climate and growing conditions in your landscape.
Mulch the area under and around the base of trees and shrubs. Organic mulches like wood chips keep the roots cool and moist and reduce competition from grass and weeds.
Be sure to water new plantings thoroughly and as needed the first few years. And do the same for established trees and shrubs during extended drought. This will keep them healthy and help ward off borers.
A bit more information: Incorporate trees and shrubs into perennial planting beds. You will create an attractive garden and better environment for the plants. Plus, planting beds as well as mulching will reduce the need for hand trimming and will keep weed whips and mowers away from the trunks of the trees. And don't pile soil or mulch over the stems of shrubs and the trunks of trees. These practices create entryways for pests and encourage disease problems.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Lawn Revival
If sparse, bare spots or lots of weeds describe your lawn, it is time for a little lawn revival.
Start by evaluating the current state of your lawn. If more than 60% is bare or filled with weeds, it is time to start over. Look at this as an opportunity to properly prepare the soil, select a more drought tolerant lawn or convert it into a no mow or low maintenance lawn or planting bed.
Overseed thin sparse lawns. Core aerate first or use a slit seeder to insure good seed-to-soil contact. For small bare spots use a lawn patch kit or make your own. Mix a handful of quality grass seed into a bucket of topsoil. Remove any dead grass and roughen the soil surface. Then sprinkle the commercial or homemade lawn patch over the prepared bare spot.
Keep the soil moist until the grass seed begins to grow.
A bit more information: Larger areas will benefit from the addition of organic matter into the top 6 inches of soil before sowing the grass seed or laying sod. Keep the soil moist until the sod has rooted into the soil below and the grass seed begins to grow. Consider overseeding the lawn to help create a more uniform appearance in the lawn. For more information, click here.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
In just a few minutes you can convert a single sheet of newspaper into a plantable container. A link to my easy to follow directions, complete with diagrams can be found on the 
Buy plants or start South Pacific Scarlet Canna from seed, not a tuber, for a great focal point in a container or backdrop in the garden. This vigorous uniform plant grows 4 to 5 feet tall and produces large scarlet flowers throughout the summer.
Add a miniature rose to one of your large indoor planters or dish gardens. Or place it in a small decorative pot and use it as a centerpiece or place marker for your dinner guests. 
Many gardeners collect seeds from their favorite heirloom flowers or vegetables. Consider packaging a few to share with family and friends. Decorate a label, the envelope, or a small airtight container. Be sure to label the package with the plant name and date. Include planting and spacing information as well as the light, soil and moisture the plant prefers. You might even include a photo of the plant growing in your garden.
This new carnation is not like any you’ve seen before. The pompom shape and vivid green flowers are the size of tennis balls, making them a standout when used alone or with other flowers. It was selected as one of the outstanding flowers on display at the 2012 Chelsea Flower Show.
Take some time to observe how light affects your landscape throughout the day and year round. Backlighting through ornamental grass seedheads and cacti needles at sunrise or sunset will make them just glow.
