This page is dedicated to one of our fellow master gardener volunteers, Nina Binkley. She wrote many articles durning her years as a MGV which where originally published by The Monroe Times. Our group is glad to able to share them with you here, on our blog. The beautiful pencil drawings are by Jeanne Ausmus and are of Nina’s home garden.
Columbine – Wisconsin Native
Nina talks about a great Wisconsin native plant, the columbine.
Rose Basics
Explore the basics of Roses with Nina.
September’s Garden To-Do List
Nina talks about the basic garden “To-Do’s” for a Wisconsin garden in the month of September. She discusses transplanting plants, frost, cutting plants back and which ones to leave.
Success with Seeds
Nina talks about the joys of spring and how to have success with starting your own seeds.
Dividing your Perennials
Nina will explain when and how to divide your garden perennials.
Hydrangeas
Learn about this beautiful plant, the hydrangea. Nina talks about its large blooms to growing conditions and more
Growing Vegetables
Thinking about growing vegetables? Let Nina walk you through the basics of starting a vegetable garden. She covers garden location, soil conditions and talks about different types of crops to plant.
Lady’s Mantle
Nina talks about another one of her favorite perennials, Lady’s Mantle.
Annuals in your garden
Annuals are a great addition to every garden. Nina explores the great perks of growing annuals in your summer garden.
Nina – the gardener
Nina talks about her gardening roots.
Early Spring Pruning
As the snow starts to melt and you start itching to get out in the garden, don’t forget about pruning those woody shrubs. Nina will walk you through the steps to prune at the end of winter and start of spring.
Perennials and Annuals in your garden
Explore what perennials and annuals have to offer your garden. Walk through the garden changes as Nina describes the advantages of using each plant type in your garden.
Hemerocallis – Daylily
Nina talks about a garden favorite, the Daylily. Read the basics of this wonderful plant including short historical information, growing habits and needed growing conditions.
Tulip
Great spring color for Wisconsin climate, Nina discusses a spring favorite, the Tulip.
Pruning Your Rose Bushes
Nina reviews basic tips on how to prune your rose bushes.
Clematis – the garden climber
Nina talks about clematis, the garden climber in this article. She covers growing conditions, the three groups and how to prune each the cultivar which fall under each group. Nina also discusses the plant basics such as blooms and plant height.
Dicentra Spectabilis – Bleeding Heart
Nina reviews this old fashioned plant, dicentra spectablilis or better knowns as bleeding heart. She discusses soil conditions, bloom color and shape and varieties.
Daisies
Nina gives you a quick overview of this casual garden favorite, the daisy.
Quiet Visitors – Butterflies
Learn about the garden’s quiet visitors, butterflies. Nina talks about butterfly basics and which nectar producing plants will help attract butterflies to your garden.
Composting
Nina discusses the benefits of using organic matter in your garden and the basics of composting.
Coreopsis
Looking for a perennial which provides a long bloom time? Then read this article about Coreopsis or Tickseed. Nina discusses this easy to grow flower.
Fall’s favorite – Garden Mums
Nina talks about everyone’s favorite fall plant, garden mums. She discusses color, size and general care tips to get the most out of your garden mums.
Plant Success
If you are thinking about planting a garden, for flowers or for vegetables, this article is a must read. Nina covers important factors every gardener should plan for with starting a garden. Nina will help you plant success.
Lilacs Fill May Air
Read about lilacs with Nina as she discusses the plant’s history, color and shape size and bloom ranges. She also discusses pruning techniques and how to select a proper place to plant your lilac.
Coneflowers
Nina writes about one of her favorite perennials, the Coneflower or Echinacea. She touches on soil conditions and general maintenance of this summer favorite.
End of July Garden Maintenance
End of July is usually very dry, learn about general garden maintenance for southern Wisconsin, touching on watering, fertilizing rose bushes and care of asters in a dry condition