Tips for When You Take a Trip to the Garden Center

Hello Friends,

Today I am sharing the article I wrote for the May issue for our local village newspaper, the Cameron Chronicle… “The Little Paper with Personality.”

Tips for When You Take a Trip to the Garden Center

By Carla TePaske of Cameron WI ~ The Little Garden That Could

Spring has sprung and we are ready to visit the Garden Center. Plants and seedlings can get expensive, the last thing you need is for your plants to die shortly after bringing them home from the Garden Center. Here are a few tips to help you pick out healthy plants.

1. What is your impression with the Garden Center. Overall, are the staff caring for the plants. Is the nursery clean? Do they take care in how they display the plants, hanging baskets and seedlings?

2. Inspect the leaves. Look under the leaves for eggs. Inspect curled leaves, indicating possible contamination. Look for pest damage on the leaves.

3. Check the potting soil, is it a well drained potting soil. Is the plant watered adequately? Check for fungus growing on the top layer of the potting soil.

4. Check the roots of the plant. Are they looking strong and healthy.

5. Do not purchase plants in full bloom. Look for plants with many flowering buds still to open.

6. Ask questions. Ask, ask ask.

Until next time happy gardening!

Rekindling a Tradition

Hello Friends,

I am sharing the article I wrote for the April Issue of the Cameron Chronicle.

Happy Reading!

Rekindling a Tradition

By Carla TePaske of Cameron WI ~ The Little Garden That Could

It is the April issue of the Cameron Chronicle, my subject this month has to do with the first day of May, the celebration of spring with a May basket.

May baskets are fast, easy and inexpensive to make, and they are a fun kick off for the garden season.

It is unknown when May baskets originated, but they are probably linked to ancient European rituals that marked the first day of May as the awakening of spring. May baskets became popular in the United States during the 19th century, when people began celebrating May Day by slipping a few early blossoms from a budding garden or field into a container and then quietly leaving it at someone’s door before knocking or ringing the doorbell, and running away. They are meant to be anonymous. May baskets are a gardener’s way to have fun, and put a smile on someone’s face.

Recycled tin cans make an attractive May basket. The cans are able to hold water. Affix a wire handle: punch holes near the top edge, thread wire through, and twist the ends neatly.

Let’s revive the tradition. Get ready, get set, tie some flowers to a doorknob, and run! Until next time happy gardening!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Hello Friends,

Today I am going to share the article I wrote for the March Issue of our Village Newspaper, Cameron Chronicle, “The Little Paper With Personality.”

How Does Your Garden Grow?

By Carla TePaske of Cameron WI ~ The Little Garden That Could

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockleshells, and pretty maids all in a row. This is the way we plant our seeds, plant our seeds, plant our seeds. This is the way we plant our seeds, early in the morning.

It is that time, it is time to start planning the garden. Decide now what you want to plant in spring and summer, and take the necessary steps to prepare.

If you intend to start plants from seed, now is the time to start.

Pick a project to improve your garden. If you plan to refresh or expand your garden beds, decide what plants you want. Get your decision-making off your list before the garden season picks up.

There are always things we want to add to our garden that we never get done. That’s because we don’t schedule it, and what doesn’t get scheduled doesn’t get done. If you really want to add that water feature or that greenhouse or start a wildflower garden, now is the time to map it out, including the steps and the timeline.

My gardening motto is the following, plant something fun, plant something new, and plant something tried and true.

The plant something new is important. As you pick your improvement projects and seeds to grow, remember to pick something new. As gardeners who have been at it a while, we tend to get stuck in ruts and grow the same things over and over. There are so many opportunities to try something new, and in the process, we grow with it and learn so much more.

As we plan out our garden season, remember that time is your most precious resource, our growing season goes by fast.

Seize the moment. Until next time happy gardening!

How to Use Newspaper to Make a Pot

Hello Friends, today I am going to share the article I wrote for the February Issue of the Cameron Chronicle.

How to Use Newspaper to Make a Pot

By Carla TePaske of Cameron WI ~ The Little Garden That Could

Making pots out of newspaper is an affordable way to get a jump start on your seed starting.

Save money and recycle your old newspaper by making newspaper pots.

Gather Supplies

Stack of newspaper.

Pair of scissors.

A 6 ounce can (the kind that tomato paste usually come in).

Cut the Newspaper

Grab two sheets of newspaper so you have a foursheet stack. Cut the newspaper into thirds, lengthwise, giving you three long strips.

Roll your Newspaper

On the end closest to you, lay the can on its side across the strip of newspaper. Leave about 1 inch hanging off the end of the can. Roll the can along the newspaper until its loosely wrapped all the way around. Fold the edges of the newspaper down over the can, and work your way around in a circle until the edges are folded firmly. They don’t have to be perfect, you can just smash the paper down with your fingers. It is fine if there is a small hole where the fold meets in the middle – that provides extra drainage.

Flip the can over so the folded edges are now on the bottom. Press the can down on the folds to really crease the edges against the bottom of the can.

Slide the can out and you have got a thrifty seedling pot!

Do not worry if it seems like the pot is flimsy or unraveling, especially at the bottom. Once filled with seed starting mix and moistened, the pot is surprising sturdy and holds it’s shape well.

The benefit of making recycled newspaper seed starters is that you can transplant your seedlings right into the garden, paper pot and all, and the newspaper will decompose naturally in the soil.

Have fun making your newspaper pots. Until next time happy gardening!

Happy New Year ~ Hello 2023

Hello Friends,

Happy New Year to you. The garden is sleeping. The gardener is busy planning for Spring! Sharing seeds, looking at what I have for seeds from last year and making plans to order seeds for the 2023 growing season.

I am sharing the article I wrote for the January issue of the Cameron Chronicle “The Little Paper With Personality.”

Microgreens

By Carla TePaske of Cameron WI ~ The Little Garden That Could

Happy New Year!!

It is January and we are in full blown winter in Wisconsin. Are you getting ready to get your hands in the dirt. A fun way to garden and eat tasty greens is to grow microgreens.

Microgreens are a variety of edible immature greens. They are harvested with scissors less than a month after germination. Usually the plants are up to 2 inches tall.

Salad seed, radish seed, sunflower seed and cabbage seed are tasty mircrogreens. You can also find microgreen seed mixes for sale.

Start with a warm, sunny windowsill. Direct sunlight from a south-facing window works well. A small container for planting is best. Plastic take-out dishes are perfect. Clear fruit or salad boxes or even a disposable pie plate.

It is time to get planting!

1. Read the seed packet to see if there are any special instructions.

2. Cover the bottom of the container with an inch or two of moistened potting soil or mix.

3. Scatter seeds evenly on top of the soil.

4. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Dampen the surface with a mister. If you prefer, you can skip this step and instead cover the container with a clear lid or plastic wrap until the seeds are sprouted.

5. While waiting for sprouts to appear, usually within three to seven days, use the mister once or twice daily to keep the soil moist but not wet.

6. Once seeds have sprouted, remove the cover (if you've used one) and continue to mist once or twice a day.

It is time to eat microgreens!

Depending upon the type of seeds you planted your microgreens will be ready to harvest in about two to three weeks. Look for the first set of "true leaves" as a sign of readiness. Then grab your scissors and snip the greens just above the soil line.

To serve, wash the microgreens with water and dry with paper towels. Serve them immediately for the freshest flavor. Microgreens work well added in soups, salads, sandwiches or main dishes. Store remaining cut microgreens in a plastic bag in your refrigerator.

A fun activity to do with children and microgreens!

Save and wash out some eggshells. These eggshells will become planters. Decorate your eggshell planter with a smile face or other fun ideas. Place the eggshell planters in the carton. Add a tablespoon of soil or a little less inside the eggshell planter. Sprinkle some seeds on the soil. Sprinkle some soil on the seeds. Use a mister to water the eggshell planter. In a few weeks time your eggshell planter will have grown hair/microgreens.

Have fun eating and playing with microgreens. Until next time happy gardening!

Armchair Gardening

Hello Friends, I am sharing the article I wrote for the Cameron Chronicle November Issue 2022. Enjoy!

Armchair Gardening

By Carla TePaske of Cameron WI ~ The Little Garden That Could

At the end of October, the garden is put to bed. The pots are packed away. Spring bulbs are planted and seeds have been harvested.

Now it is time for armchair gardening. Now is the time to study the books and flip through the magazines you did not have time for.

Seed catalogs will arrive, it is time to start to write notes about seeds and plants you want to include in the new season.

Armchair Gardening

Books

The Creative Gardener

Inspiration and Advice to Create the Space You Want

Author Adam Frost

The Complete Gardener: A Practical, Imaginative Guide to Every Aspect of Gardening

Author Monty Don

Magazines

Horticulture

Birds and Blooms

Weeds

Hello Friends, Today I am sharing the article I wrote for the Cameron Chronicle, “The Little Paper With Personality.”

Weeds

By Carla TePaske of Cameron WI ~ The Little Garden That Could

October is here. Cold and warm air mingle together. Our light turns golden and we start to put the garden to bed.

A very important autumn job to do is pull weeds. Hopefully you can pull weeds before the seeds drop. With dry soil and rain during September, new weeds have germinated. Use the opportunity of any dry October day to tickle the surface with a hoe, the quickest way of killing thousands of weed seedlings in a short time.

Other jobs for the month of October.

Add mulch.

Put your leaves to work for you. Use them as a mulch for your garden.

Plant tulips, daffodils, allium, crocus and other spring flowers.

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are October’s.”

L.M. Montgomery

Seed Saving from the Garden

Seed Saving from the Garden

By Carla TePaske of Cameron WI ~ The Little Garden That Could

Late summer is here. We can see the change in the daylight hours, cooler evenings and the hint of autumn color. Now is the time to start to collect seed pods. If you have never done this before, start with something easy like poppy, marigold or zinnia. Collect the seed once the flower has began to fade at the close of the season. Squash, pumpkin, pepper and tomatoes are also easy to save seed from. Be sure to dry the seed or seed head, once dry, split the seed head and harvest the seeds. Envelopes work well to store your seeds. Be sure to remember to label your envelope.

Do not forget to write in your garden journal. What worked well this season? What went totally wrong? Write down ideas you have seen and want to create in your garden next season. Did you taste any vegetables or herbs that you want to grow next garden season, write down the varieties, trust me, one forgets when April rolls around. This way when spring comes you will be all set to get into a new season of gardening.

Do not forget to order your spring flowering bulbs

!Special Occasion Bouquets and the Flower Shack!

Hello Friends! Welcome September! The end of the season is fast approaching. Here are a few housekeeping items for the month of September.

If you are in need of a Special Occasion Bouquet during the month of September please direct message me at thelittlegarden12@gmail.com

The Flower Shack will continue to be open during the week. Look for our sign out at Main Street or on Arlington Avenue.. that means we are open and have flowers.

Thank you for the great season!

How to Prepare the Garden When You Go on Vacation

How to Prepare the Garden When You Go on Vacation

By Carla TePaske of Cameron, WI ~ The Little Garden That Could

Going on Vacation? All of us gardeners need to have a summer holiday. At times that can feel very difficult to do because who will care for the garden? We love and care for our gardens. How will it survive with out us? I am happy to share, all it takes is a little planning and your garden will thrive. The exciting part is when you return you will get to enjoy all the new growth in the garden.

Here are a few tips on how to get the garden ready for vacation.

Enlist a friend, relative, or neighbor. There is nothing more reassuring than having a friend, relative, or neighbor keep an eye on the garden. Even non-gardeners can help. Give simple instructions. Have hoses, sprayers, and water cans easily accessible.

Other alternatives for keeping your plants watered are kiddie pools and plastic jugs.

Using a kiddie pool is perfect for bottom watering container plants. Put the pool in a shady spot and fill it with containers and an inch or so of water.

A plastic jug with a few holes in the cap, filled with water and placed upside down in the soil or your garden bed or in your plants container, will slowly deliver moisture. A milk jug or soda bottle is perfect for this.

Give all your plants a good drink before you leave.

Add mulch to your garden beds and pots to help retain moisture.

Hopefully these tips will help you prepare the garden for summer holiday, giving you peace of mind your garden will thrive.