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In this issue for October 2005:

FALL CHORE REMINDERS
RECIPE FROM THE HARVEST
BULLY BIRDS?
FEATURED BROADCAST PROGRAMS ON WPT
ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE

FALL CHORE REMINDERS

Fall winds are blowing and winter can t be far behind. But, there are still lawn and garden chores that require attention. Get some reminders at this link:

wihort/updates/MGCOctober2004.htm

RECIPE FROM THE HARVEST

Here's a recipe to use some of this year's bountiful garden and orchard harvest. It's taken from The Wisconsin Gardener Cookbook 2. Watch for an all-new edition of the popular cookbook in February, first available at the Garden Expo, Feb. 10-12 at the Exhibition Hall of the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.

Squash Apple Bake

2 lbs. butternut or buttercup squash 4 baking apples, cored and cut in 1/2-inch slices 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup margarine, melted 1 Tbsp. flour 1 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. ground mace nuts (optional)

Cut each squash in half. Remove seeds and fibers. Pare. Cut into 1/2-inch slices. Arrange squash in ungreased, oblong baking dish. Top with apple slices. Mix brown sugar, margarine, flour, salt and mace. Sprinkle sugar mix over the top. Top with 1/2 cup hazelnuts or walnuts if desired.

Cover loosely with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes or until tender.

BULLY BIRDS?

Got bully birds at the backyard feeder? Many bully birds are larger birds. To ensure the smaller species like goldfinches or chickadees get their share, put out feeders without a perch, which a smaller bird doesn't require, or attach weight to the perch. When the larger bird sits on it, it will tip and deny access to the food. A lighter bird won't tip the feeder and can eat. Bully birds generally don't like safflower or nyjer seeds so stocking that will keep undesirable species at bay. If starlings are crowding out others, hang a mirror. Starlings seem to dislike that, but other birds don't. Also, starlings avoid going under a cover, so place one over suet or other offerings to keep starlings away.

Material is adapted from work by George H. Harrison, a Wisconsin writer on backyard wildlife who also has produced specials for PBS.

FEATURED BROADCAST PROGRAMS ON WPT

Oct. 23 through Nov. 20

2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30
The Wisconsin Gardener "Plant Communities"
Host Shelley Ryan looks at some good and some bad things for flowers and trees. Gardener Web site. Funding for The Wisconsin Gardener is provided, in part, by Ariens ariens.com
2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20
The Wisconsin Gardener "From Distant Shores"
Visit a Native-American garden, a tropical garden and an Asian trial garden. wpt.org/garden Funding for The Wisconsin Gardener is provided, in part, by Ariens ariens.com
2 p.m. Sundays (except Oct. 30 and Nov. 20)
Garden Smart
gardensmart.tv/
2:30 p.m. Sundays
The Victory Garden
pbs.org/wgbh/victorygarden
3 p.m. Sundays
Great Lakes Gardener
mptv.org/gardener
3 p.m. Sundays (beginning Oct. 16)
P. Allen Smith's Garden Home
pallensmith.com/

Major funding for the Wisconsin Gardener
is provided by Ariens.

ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
We hope you enjoy receiving landscaping and gardening tips, broadcast information and other news in this format. You receive this e-newsletter because you signed up for it either through the Wisconsin Gardener Web site, the Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) Web site, in response to a mailing or at the annual Garden Expo. It is a cost-effective way for WPT to communicate with you. Please forward this e-newsletter to your friends who would enjoy receiving it. Your e-mail address only will be used for communications from WPT. Note that if the format of this e-newsletter is not to your liking, you can copy the text into a word processing file and alter it in any suitable way.
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How to Subscribe
The fastest way to sign up for an e-mail delivery of WPT newsletters is to complete the form at: http://www.wpt.org/enews/ or send an e-mail to ihm@wpt.org.

How to Unsubscribe
You can remove your name from this mailing at anytime by sending an e-mail to ihm@wpt.org specifying your request. Please forward this e-newsletter to your friends in the WPT community who would enjoy receiving it. Thanks for allowing us to reach you by e-mail. It is the most efficient way to share information. Your e-mail address will only be used for communications from WPT.

Wisconsin Public Television is a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and University of Wisconsin-Extension.

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In this issue for FEBRUARY/MARCH 2006:

COLUMN FROM SHELLEY RYAN, PRODUCER/HOST OF THE WISCONSIN GARDENER
START SEEDS NOW
TASTY RECIPE FROM ALL-NEW GARDEN COOKBOOK
GARDEN EXPO THANK-YOU, 2007 DATES
FEATURED BROADCAST PROGRAMS ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION

COLUMN FROM SHELLEY RYAN, PRODUCER/HOST OF THE WISCONSIN GARDENER

Longtime readers and viewers will have heard me tell stories about my Dalmatian, Rienzi, many times before. She was the perfect garden dog, loved eating all kinds of fruits and vegetables sometimes right off the plants themselves.

Sadly, she died a couple of years ago. We have a new dog now, named after the hobbit Pippin because of the tufts of fur growing up between his toes. Honestly, he looks like he s wearing fluffy bedroom slippers.

So far, he has frustrated my attempts to turn him into a garden dog. He turns up his nose at apple slices, spits carrots out and just walks away if I offer him raspberries (Rienzi's favorite). While I never expected him to replace Rienzi, as if any dog could, I was hoping he d at least follow in her footsteps.

Good news! Finally, I've found a vegetable that Pippin enjoys eating, arugula. Wouldn't you know I'd end up with a dog that only eats what s considered haute cuisine in the lettuce and greens world? Sigh.

It's snowing out, the ground is frozen and Pippin is asleep at my feet, bedroom slippers and all. It's the perfect time to be putting together my spring seed-and-plant list. Obviously, I'll be sure to include arugula on that list. It's easy to grow and I love its smoky flavor in salads.

You'd be surprised what else is going on the list for this spring carnivorous bog plants, miniature boxwoods and all kinds of ornamental kale and cabbages. All of these plants were used in containers on the new episode of The Wisconsin Gardener airing at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, March 5. I had so much fun producing it. I learned how to plant a bog in a container and how to create containers for winter. I hope you ll watch and be inspired too. http://www.wpt.org/garden.

START SEEDS NOW

As winter winds down, thoughts turn to spring. Those thoughts could include plans to start plants indoors to produce a bountiful harvest throughout the summer. Starting plants from seeds is economical and can be a nice harbinger of warmer weather. According to University of Wisconsin-Extension sources, onions can be started now. Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, peppers and tomatoes can be started after March 15. A few simple supplies are all that are needed to begin. For more information on planting early seeds indoors, University of Wisconsin-Extension Cooperative Extension Info Source.

TASTY RECIPE FROM ALL-NEW GARDEN COOKBOOK

To order a copy of the all-new Wisconsin Gardener Cookbook 3, visit the Wisconsin Gardener Web site.

Rhubarb Bars

Crust: 1-1/4 cups flour 1/2 cup butter or margarine 4 Tbsps. sugar

Bars

2 eggs, beaten 1-1/4 cups sugar 1-1/4 cups flour 1/2 salt 3 cups rhubarb, cut up

Mix together the crust ingredients and pat into ungreased 9 x 13-inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

Mix together bar ingredients. Spoon over crust and bake an additional 40 to 45 minutes.

When cool, may frost with powdered-sugar glaze.

Makes 12 servings.

GARDEN EXPO THANK-YOU, 2007 DATES

Thank you to all to who made Garden Expo a wonderful experience. The display gardens, demonstrations, seminars, vendors, raffle and workshops all made for a wonderful three days. In 2007, Garden Expo returns to the Exhibition Hall of the Alliant Energy Center. The dates are Feb. 9, 10 and 11. http://www.wpt.org/gardenexpo.

FEATURED BROADCAST PROGRAMS ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION

5:30 p.m. Sunday, March 5 Pot It
Explore the many possibilities of using container gardens in a new program that travels throughout Dane County and to Green Bay. http://www.wpt.org/garden. Funding for The Wisconsin Gardener is provided, in part, by Ariens Co., http://www.ariens.com.

6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 5 Gardening and Cooking With Herbs
Learn about dying silk scarves and new recipes using herbs. http://www.wpt.org/garden. Funding for The Wisconsin Gardener is provided, in part, by Ariens Co., http://www.ariens.com.

7 p.m. Thursday, March 1 In Wisconsin
Learn about elk reintroduction to Wisconsin and take a snowy walk through natural beauty with State Poet Laureate Denise Sweet of Green Bay. http://www.wpt.org/inwisconsin

2 p.m. Sunday, March 26 Garden Smart
Practical advice and ideas about the latest garden gadgets. http://www.gardensmart.tv

2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 26 The Victory Garden
Host Michael Weishan tours gardens and offers tips. http://www.pbs.org/victorygarden.

3 p.m. Sunday, March 26 Garden Smart
Travel North America to explore and enhance the joy and beauty of gardening. Hosted by Master Gardener Deanna Connellin. http://www.smartgardeningtv.com.

Major funding for the Wisconsin Gardener
is provided by Ariens.

How to Subscribe
The fastest way to sign up for an e-mail delivery of WPT newsletters is to complete the form at: http://www.wpt.org/enews/ or send an e-mail to comments@wpt.org.

How to Unsubscribe
You can remove your name from this mailing at anytime by sending an e-mail to collins@wpt.org specifying your request. Please forward this e-newsletter to your friends in the WPT community who would enjoy receiving it. Thanks for allowing us to reach you by e-mail. It is the most efficient way to share information. Your e-mail address will only be used for communications from WPT.

Wisconsin Public Television is a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and University of Wisconsin-Extension.