Thunder Ridge is a privately owned and
maintained garden in south central Wisconsin
(formerly zone 4b, now zone 5, thanks to
global warming!). Our land includes several
perennial/annual flower beds, including
over 40 named iris varieties, an 80x30 vegetable
bed, an orchard, an oak/conifer forest,
and 25 acres maintained in the federal government's
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). I have
a Master Gardener Certification from the
University of Massachusetts.
We do our best to be primarily organic.
Anything that is for consumption, including
vegetables, fruit and edible flowers is
always grown organically. This site provides
articles and growing information for the
area, including organic controls that prove
successful. We also have irises available
for sale and trade during the summer. Thunder
Ridge Gardens is proud to offer the very
best vegetables, herbs, flowers and seeds
from the finest gardening retailers. We've
brought together the best plants and products
from Henry Fields, Gardens
Alive, Plow and Hearth, White Flower Farm and Dutch Gardens.
Been a great summer so far! Tomatoes have some blight but we're trying to stay ahead of it with copper spray.
Cucumbers are doing great - I've made several batches of refrigerator pickles so far.
Check out these great gardening products from Gardener's Supply.
Working in the garden is a whole lot easier with this ingenious kneeler. You can use your arm strength to lower yourself down for weeding or planting, and then push yourself up again without straining...
If your busy schedule keeps you from watering your patio plants every day, this Automatic Patio Dripper Kit will do it for you. It includes everything you need to tend up to 20 potted plants: 75 feet...
We think Tubtrugs are one of the most useful gardening tools ever, so we could hardly wait to try out this new size. These flexible, lightweight polyethylene tubs are washable, bendable, crushable...
Finally, a rose glove that protects your hands from thorns yet is comfortable, breathable and stays flexible even after washing. Made of supple, yet tough, synthetic suede that breathes, these gloves...
These brightly colored watering cans are a pleasure to use. Made in the U.S. of high-quality, UV-stabilized plastic, they have an extra-long, 19" neck to extend your reach, and an adjustable/removable...
When it's time to water hanging baskets or a distant garden bed, lugging hoses and watering cans can be a real hassle. This easy-rolling wheel pump sprayer lets you bring along your own water supply...
These professional-grade 50-foot rubber hoses are the highest quality and most colorful hoses that we've ever used. Naturally strong and durable, they won't crush or kink like...
You'll appreciate both the classic appearance and the generous size of this rugged steel hose bowl. It has the hammered finish and warm glow of real copper at a fraction of the price. Holds up...
Do your garden a big favor by saving a rainy day and collecting free rainwater to help your plants thrive. Our largest rain barrel comes complete with lots of great features: an overflow outlet for...
Simplify your watering chores without creating programming headaches. Our EZ Timer has just two dials to select duration and frequency of watering, and its top-quality construction guarantees...
Modeled after the water hoses at gas stations, our Fast-Fill Nozzle is handy for filling up everything from self-watering planters and Tomato Teepees to your car radiator without frustrating spillls...
No mortar, no mason, no maintenance required! Patterned after the stone wall at a Connecticut farmhouse, this durable plastic raised bed is indistinguishable from real stone. It assembles in minutes...
Maximize your harvest of peas, cucumbers, summer squash and melons by growing them up this space-saving trellis. The poly-coated steel poles clip together without tools to create a frame that's...
According to many gardeners, the ideal raised bed is a trim rectangle, attractive and easy to tend. Our Vermont-built raised beds are made of durable, rot-resistant red cedar. Copper corner caps...
Our heavy-duty Earth Staples come in several styles: Regular Earth Staples hold garden covers or plastic mulches securely in place 10-in. Extra-Tall Earth Staples sink deeper in the ground f
Turn your old soda bottles into a super-easy, inexpensive irrigation system. Our patented Aqua Cones fit 1-liter bottles for light watering or 2-liter bottles to deeply water thirsty plants.
Our slow-release granular fertilizer (5-6-5) gives your tomatoes all the nutrients they need, including plenty of phosphorus for big, abundant fruit. For a healthy start, mix a handful into the soil...
At last we've found a bracket that hangs on virtually any railing, from narrow wrought iron to 6" wood deck rails. Solid steel with a protective finish, these are the sturdiest, safest holders we've...
When Native Americans sowed their crops, they didnt use tractors or plows. To keep valuable seed from blowing away or being eaten by birds, they often hid it inside little balls of clay. The same...
Add a whole new dimension to your pond with a floating island that's home to plants and provides habitat to all sorts of aquatic creatures. These self-contained pond planters hold a growing medium...
Attach these graceful lotus flower chains to your roof valley or gutter end and they'll direct rainwater gently to the ground or right into a rain barrel. No more mud splashing on the house or heavy...
When it's time to move large planters, potted shrubs, trees, or even rocks, use this ingenious hauling device to do the job and protect your back from injury. Just place the self-cinching straps around...
Baking soda is something that has quite a few uses. Many use it indoors to help clean things and freshening rooms. There are many other tricks that you can do with this powder. While it is useful in...
Because orchids are a captivating and exclusive flower, they give a regal flavor to and are highly sought after for weddings.
Not only are they are special part of the wedding decorations, they are a...
Have you been thinking about keeping bees as a hobby? It's actually a interesting hobby with a lot of rewards. There's a lot to understand about it and many individuals get put off at the b...
This is a fascinating new development in the orchid world - watering orchids with ice cubes! There is much discussion about it on all the orchid forums. For instance, an expert orchid grower will sa...
Cultivating orchids in your home is not that different from growing any other common indoor plant. All plants need the necessary elements for life these being; water, nourishment, light, humidity and ...
Roses are not just attractive to humans, they also act as magnets to several pests that can maim, disfigure, and even kill them. Here are a few tried and tested Nine Indispensable Tools For Rose Gardeners
Successful rose gardeners swear by their tools.If you want to bring out the best foliage and blooms, you need to get yourself s...
With an increasing interest for empty nesters , young couples and singles towards higher density inner city living, and the desire to spend as little time as possible on maintaining gardens or othe...
Well, they are not really black as they are essentially a very deep red or dark purple. Innumerable Black is definitely an alluring color, which perhaps explains the number of Orchids Repotting Done The Right Way
Orchids Repotting should be limited to active orchids that are entering the growth phase and not plants that have already bloomed.
After the blooming has been completed, remove the spike or s...
YourBackyardGarden.com
is a comprehensive gardening site, with resources, articles,
ideas and a wide variety of gardening products including
plants, bulbs, flowers and much more! They provide easy
access to all the information you need to plan or transform
a garden or simply to keep it flourishing and at its
best from season to season.
The Gardens at Thunder Ridge web site was
originally published January 8, 1996
