Northern Gardening

‘Insects in the garden and bugs in the trees’ was the topic for July's edition of Nothern Gardening. Joining the program was Jeff Hahn, U of M Extension Entomologist and author of the book “Insects of the North Woods,” and Myra Theimer, Silviculturist on the Superior National Forest.

Northern Gardening airs live the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. - and is rebroadcast the following Saturday at 6 a.m. 

June's edition of Northern Gardening is  ‘Alpine Plants and Other Plants for Along Lake Superior,' Hosts Joan and Diane speak with Betty Ann Addison, a well-known alpine and rock garden expert, who owned Rice Creek Gardens in the Twin Cities and currently owns Gardens of Rice Creek. Betty Ann is probably best known for the rock gardens she designed for the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and the rock garden at Harriet Lake.
 
Northern Gardening airs live the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. - and is rebroadcast the following Saturday at 6 a.m. 

This month's edition of Northern Gardening featured "Native Plants for Use in Cook County Landscapes"  Guests included Jen Stenerson from Boreal Natives of Cloquet and Alisa Berns from Taproot Landscaping here in Grand Marais.  Northern Gardening is hosted by Diane Booth and Joan Farnam and is brought to you by Cook County Extension and the Northwoods Food Project.
 
Northern Gardening airs the second Thursday of the month at 7 pm and is rebroadcast the following Saturday, at 6 am.
 

WTIP’s 90.7 F.M. Northern Gardening radio program this week will feature ‘All About Perennials.’   Barbara Balgoyen, 17 year veteran with Walters Gardens, a huge wholesale nursery from Zeeland Michigan, will be sharing with us information about the best perennials for zones 3 and 4.  Joining us in the studio this Thursday, April 12 from 7 – 8 p.m. will also be local gardeners Mona Abdel Rahman and Alisa Berns.   So call in at 218-387-1070 with your questions and comments about the perennials you have growing in your gardens.  We would love to hear about your perennial growing experience!

Are you thinking about having a  greenhouse / hoop  house for flowers or vegetables? 
Or, do you have questions about problems with the  greenhouse / hoop  house that you currently have?  
 
Join Joan Farnam and Diane Booth on WTIP’s Northern Gardening to talk about these types of season extenders and how to grow in them.  

We will have some local  greenhouse / hoop  house growers in the studio to talk about their experiences. 
Additionally, Doug and Lois Hoffbauer, long time vegetable and flower growers from St. Louis County, will join the discussion about growing in these season extenders.
 
 

Join Northern Gardening for a discussion of what vegetable seed varieties to plant this year and tips on some new varieties that might surprise you. Heron Breen, an 18-year veteran with FedCo seeds, is the guest on the show, with hosts Melinda Spinler, Sally Berg and Joan Farnam. Grand Marais grower Adam Dettman is also a guest.

Northern Gardening co-hosts Diane Booth and Joan Farnam talk with Carey Gillam, investigative journalist and author of the new book, “Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer and the Corruption of Science.”  They’ll discuss what Carey has learned over the past 20 years about the pesticide “RoundUp,” what impact it has on the health of the the world and the United States and the company that makes it. 

The hosts will also talk to Julie Weisenhorn, U of M Extension horticulturist, about caring for holiday plants. discuss care of those new holiday plants.

Join hosts Diane Booth and Joan Farnam as they talk with Minnesota mushroom growers about their business and how to grow mushrooms in your own backyard. Scott Souder talks about how he grows shiitake mushrooms for sale at farmers markets in Bovey, and Ready-2-Fruit Mushrooms owner Matt Ratliff talks about some of the great indoor and outdoor growing mushroom kits that are available for that favorite gardening person in your life. (Link for Ready2Fruit: http://ready2fruitmushrooms.com/)
 
If mushroom growing isn’t a preference for your favorite gardener, learn more from Julie Weisenhorn, U of M horticulturist, about some great holiday plants you can purchase for gardening friends. She will also be back on our January show to tak about how to care for those holiday plants you may receive. 

Home Food Preservation is Baaaacccckkkkk!!   Join hosts Diane Booth and Joan Farnum on WTIP’s Northern Gardening for a great discussion about preserving food.  This is a very hot topic with young people who are using recipes from Facebook and other social media platforms that are not USDA tested or approved. 

This is also the time of year where peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, squash, apples – etc. are bountiful and some of us want some new ideas about how to preserve food we have spent the past 6 months growing.  Guests will include: Christina Ward, University of Wisconsin Master Preserver, and author of the new book, “ Preservation: The Art and Science of Canning Fermentation and Dehydration.” Sally Berg, local U of M Master Gardener, and Mary Routh and Raia Meltzer, longtime food preservationists, will join us in the studio.

The topic this month is 'Insect and Disease: Pests in our forest and backyards'. Guests include Myra Theimer, silviculturist on the Superior National Forest; Jessica Hartshorn, DNR forest health specialist; and Steve Katovich, USFS entomologist.  We discuss some of the needlecast diseases and blights that are found on red pine and spruce,  how to deal with white pine blister rust, the possibility of mountain pine beetles coming to Minnesota, and more.