Northern Gardener - May/June 2019

MINNESOTA’S ONLY HOMEGROWN GARDENING MAGAZINE

Gardener Northern

12

UNEXPECTED ANNUALS

FOR GARDEN THRILLS

ENGLISH GARDEN STYLE

rk. chaser.

on of Warranty.

de: 025274778660 06 PU

MAG 80 NBAR .0104 BWA -0.0010

Encode: 025274778660 08 PU

MAG 80 NBAR .0104 BWA -0.0010

a nonprofit organization 06

0

25274 77866

0

U.S. $4.50 Can. $5.50 May/June 2019 Display until June 30

08

0

25274 77866

0

PEST OUTLOOK FOR

2019

editor’s note a nonprofit organization

The Minnesota State Horticultural Society (MSHS) is a nonprofit, educational and charitable organization established in 1866. Our mission is to serve northern gardeners through education, encouragement and community.

For information about subscribing to Northern Gardener magazine or becoming an MSHS member, visit northerngardener.org/membership, call 651-643-3601 or email membership@northerngardener.org.

Minnesota State Horticultural Society 2705 Lincoln Dr., Roseville, MN 55113-1334 651-643-3601

Publisher: Tom McKusick, 651-643-3601, ext. 202 Editor: Mary Lahr Schier, 507-581-4145 Horticultural Editor: Debbie Lonnee Copy Editor: Julie Jensen Design: Barbara Pederson

MSHS Staff

Executive Director: Gretchen Ambrosier; GAmbrosier@northerngardener.org Advertising Sales: Tom McKusick; TMcKusick@northerngardener.org Communications and Creative Content Manager: Brenda Harvieux; BHarvieux@northerngardener.org Director of Development: Diane Duvall; DDuvall@northerngardener.org Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator: Lara Lau-Schommer; LLSchommer@northerngardener.org Membership Marketing Manager: Becky Swee; BSwee@northerngardener.org Garden-in-a-Box Coordinator: Maria Brosofske; MBrosofske@northerngardener.org

MSHS Board of Directors

Mike Heger, Waconia, Chair Wayne Damerow, Shoreview, Vice Chair Margaret Klis, Minneapolis, Treasurer Joel Karsten, Roseville, Secretary At large: Tina Dombrowski, St. Paul Jennifer Ebeling, Maple Grove Del Hampton, Minneapolis Debra Kvamme, Blaine Susan Rupert, Forest Lake Laura Wagner, Minneapolis JoAnne Wahlstrom, Sunfish Lake Copyright 2019 by MSHS. Printed in the USA on recycled paper.

All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reprinted without permission from MSHS. The information published in Northern Gardener reflects the experiences and opinions of the writers and is not necessarily endorsed by MSHS. Northern Gardener is a registered trademark of MSHS.

(ISSN) 1529-8515. Northern Gardener is published bimonthly (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/ August, September/October, November/December) by the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, 2705 Lincoln Dr., Roseville, MN 55113-1334. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, Minn., and additional post offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Northern Gardener, 2705 Lincoln Dr., Roseville, MN 55113-1334.

Mary Lahr Schier

Ageless

G

ardening is what they call a “lifetime sport.” Even more than tennis, golf, cycling or other activities that you can enjoy in adulthood, gardening is adaptable over time.

If you’re young and living in an apartment, have some pots with herbs or a collection of houseplants. With children in the house, grow the fun stuff: sunflowers, gigantic vegetables, popcorn or strawberries. Later, you may want to go more ornamental or add lots of fruit trees, a boulevard garden, a collection of conifers or hostas—the options are endless.

Gardening’s ageless character struck me while reading the two profiles that run next to each other in this issue. One is about Judy Wehrwein, who grew up gardening in England and has been nurturing gardens in Minnesota since the 1960s. She recently celebrated her 89th birthday, but Judy still enjoys caring for her garden in St. Anthony Park in St. Paul. Sure, she has some help with the heavier chores, but her design sense, love of plants and deep knowledge of how to

grow them has not diminished, and they show through in every image of Susan Davis Price’s article about her. I hope you will check it out on page 32.

When you are finished, turn the page and read about two gardeners at the early stages of their gardening life. David Smith and Anton Hesse are friends who share David’s house in Northeast Minneapolis, where they started with a vegetable garden but have expanded into native plants in the front yard. David and Anton are typical of other gardeners in their age group, according to information from the National Gardening Association. They are frugal. They like to grow food. And, they are guys. Young men are one of the fastest growing groups of gardeners. I hope you enjoy reading Gail Brown Hudson’s article about their gardening adventures as much as I did.

Big news: MSHS is moving. Please read Executive Director Gretchen Ambrosier’s column on page 12 for more on this and other developments at MSHS. —Mary Lahr Schier, editor

mary@maryschier.com

Connect with us www.facebook.com/mnhort

www.instagram.com/mnhort

www.twitter.com/mnhort

www.youtube.com/mnhortsociety May/June 2019

1

Here’s to the tickle of grass between your toes, games that can be played with a drink in hand, and a fireworks display of amazingly colorful blooms.

SUSTANE PROVEN WINNERS AD AD

experience life in full bloom ⓒ 2019 Endless Summer/Bailey Nurseries, Inc.

BloomStruck® from Endless Summer®. Check out all our varieties of reblooming hydrangeas at endlesssummerblooms.com.

TM

www.northerngardener.org

contents

May/June 2019 | Volume 147, Number 3

in every issue

features

1

Editor’s Note

32

4

MSHS News: Calendar, classes

12

and more.

38

Director’s Note: Growing in new directions.

42

Plant herbs for pollinators.

Northern Natives: Cutting back to control height.

46

By Design: Garden movement.

BY DON ENGEBRETSON

24

50

Adjusting soil pH.

How-to: Fence picket planter.

53

Kitchen Garden: Peas, please.

BY SAMANTHA JOHNSON

30

For an up-to-date and colorful display, try these 12 head-turning annuals.

Up, Up and Away Climbing plants expand your garden and its beauty.

Tropical Wonder Colocasia’s massive leaves and new colors will make your patio an island paradise.

BY SONI FORSMAN

BY ERIC JOHNSON

28

The Flirty Dozen

BY SUSY MORRIS

Garden Solutions:

BY LAURA SCHWARZ

26

Tech-savvy and frugal, millennials embrace the gardening life.

BY MICHELLE MERO RIEDEL

BY LYNN M. STEINER

22

Next-Gen Gardeners

BY GAIL BROWN HUDSON

Pollinators:

BY RHONDA FLEMING HAYES

20

With English roots, this longtime gardener thrives in northern soil.

BY SUSAN DAVIS PRICE

BY GRETCHEN AMBROSIER

18

A Heritage Gardener

Pest Planning Which garden pests are likely to bug you in 2019?

BY MARY LAHR SCHIER

Plant to Pick: Fireside™ ninebark.

BY DEBBIE LONNEE

57

Gardener’s Market

60

Northern View: Turkey rations.

BY MELEAH MAYNARD

about the cover

Dianthus barbarus ‘Green Ball’ is a fun, unusual choice for beds and containers. Photo by Michelle Mero Riedel

a nonprofit organization

Northern Gardener is published by the Minnesota State Horticultural Society.

calendar

2019

Events are submitted to MSHS by community organizations, and are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Community Events American Daffodil Society and Daffodil Society of Minnesota Spring Flower Show Friday, May 3, 2 to 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hilton Hotel Minneapolis/Bloomington, 3900 American Blvd. W., Bloomington.

See hundreds of beautiful daffodils in combinations of orange, red, white, yellow and pink at the American Daffodil Society national convention.

Contact: daffodilmn1@gmail.com.

Edgerton Community Garden Open House and Tour Friday, May 3, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Edgerton Community Garden, Roselawn Avenue and Edgerton Street, Maplewood.

Meet other gardeners and get information from a master gardener.

Contact: maplewoodmn.gov/999/Community-Garden.

Lake Owasso Garden Club Lilies for the Shade: Martagon Lilies Frans Officer, presenter Monday, May 13, 6:30 to 8 p.m.; social time 6:30 p.m., program 7 p.m.

Presbyterian Church of the Way, 3382 Lexington Ave. N., Shoreview.

Contact: joyce.lasecke@gmail.com.

Orchid Society of Minnesota Wow Phals Nile Dusdeiker, AOS judge, presenter Saturday, May 18, 2 to 3 p.m.

Bachman’s, Heritage Room, 6010 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Trends in Phalaenopsis breeding, plus how to grow these beauties.

Contact: www.orchidsocietyofminnesota. com.

Garden Club of Ramsey County Border Gardens Martin Stern, Squire Gardens, presenter Monday, May 20, 7:25 to 8:25 p.m.

St. Luke Lutheran Church, 1807 Field Ave., St. Paul.

Contact: Susan, sswwriter@aol.com.

4

www.northerngardener.org

Twin Cities Rose Club

Orchid Society of Minnesota

Roses Don’t Need To Be Difficult: Growing Roses in Minnesota Sunday, June 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bachman’s, Heritage Room, 6010 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Seminar covers basic growing conditions for roses, how to plant bare-root roses, how to grow roses in containers and information on numerous rose varieties.

Contact: applerose44@hotmail.com.

Vanilla Orchids: Natural History and Cultivation Ken Cameron, University of Wisconsin botany professor, presenter Saturday, June 15, 2 to 3 p.m.

Bachman’s, Heritage Room, 6010 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis.

The orchid that creates the flavor and fragrance we all know.

Contact: www.orchidsocietyofminnesota. com.

Anoka County Master Gardeners Plant and Insect Clinics Wednesdays, June 5 through Aug. 21 (except July 3), 6 to 8 p.m.

Bunker Hills Activities Center, 550 Bunker Lake Blvd. N.W., Andover.

Free clinics to help homeowners identify plants and diagnose common insect and disease problems. See website for information on how to submit a sample.

Contact: www.anokamastergardeners. org/services.

Carver-Scott Master Gardeners Summer Garden Festival Tuesday, June 11, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Carver-Scott Master Gardeners Teaching Garden, Scott County Fairgrounds, 7151 190th St. W., No. 145, Jordan.

Learn about foraging and wild crafting, unusual plants for containers and spa gardening. Activities for children.

Contact: carverscottmastergardeners.org.

Men’s and Women’s Garden Club of Minneapolis Lilacs in Minnesota Peter Moe, director of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, presenter Tuesday, June 11, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Lakewood Cemetery Garden Mausoleum Reception Room, 3600 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis.

Learn how to use lilacs in our Minnesota landscapes.

Contact: www.mwgcm.org.

Williams Community Center Wildflower Tour Sunday, June 16, noon to 3 p.m.

Williams Community Center, 250 Main St., Williams.

Speaker at 1 p.m. followed by self-guided wildflower tour of marked flowers.

Contact: Patricia, troskey@wiktel.com.

Rochester Garden and Flower Club How to Grow Your Appreciation of Wine Margo Stich, food and wine consultant, presenter Thursday, June 20, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Rochester Community and Technical College, Heintz Center Room HB117, 1926 Collegeview Rd. S.E., Rochester.

Learn how to identify qualities of wines you like and don’t like. Then explore other wines with similar characteristics.

Contact: www.rgfc.org.

Mahtomedi Garden Club Garden Tour Sunday, June 23, noon to 4 p.m.

Triangle Park, 88 Mahtomedi Ave., Mahtomedi.

Calendar continues on page 6.

MSHS Office Hours Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday, by appointment

Submit and view more events online at northerngardener.org/communitycalendar-of-events. Questions? Contact shoehn@northerngardener.org.

At Last® Rose: FRAGRANT, CONTINUOUS BLOOMS, LOW MAINTENANCE AND DISEASE RESISTANT

2019

Before they reach your garden, our flowering shrubs undergo years of trials and testing for color, fragrance, quantity of blooms, foliage, and ability to thrive with ease. Only a few prove they’re worthy of the #1 plant brand.

provenwinners-shrubs.com May/June 2019

5

Classes are sponsored by MSHS but sometimes held at other locations. Enrollment is limited, and registration is required. Register online at www.northerngardener.org/ mshs-events. Questions? Contact llschommer@northerngardener.org. Refunds will not be issued for nonattendance except by cancellation at least one week before class.

MSHS Classes Garden Planning

Wednesday, April 24, 6:30 to 8 p.m. $10 members, $15 nonmembers Location: University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus, Plant Growth Facilities, Room 140, 1552 Gortner Ave., St. Paul.

This class will get you started in creating a garden design and production schedule for your garden. Using crop rotation, companion planting and succession planting, you can maximize your productivity and minimize potential pests, diseases and weeds. We will look at each of these concepts in depth, which will help you create a cohesive plan for your growing space.

Instructor: Courtney Tchida is the student program coordinator for the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Minnesota.

A Phlox at Your House Wednesday, May 1, 11 a.m. to noon and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. $20 members, $25 nonmembers Location: Scarborough Fair Boutique, 2238 Carter Ave., St. Paul.

Celebrate May Day and learn all about which phlox to grow in your garden. Horticulturist Mary Maguire Lerman will discuss the many perennial phlox we can grow in Minnesota, including garden, creeping, woodland and prairie phlox, as well as the newer annual phlox varieties. Each registrant will receive two of the new powdery-mildew resistant phlox to take home. Then, enjoy cucumber water and cheese with crackers as you shop the boutique. Ten percent of all sales on May Day will be donated to MSHS. Instructor: Horticulturist Mary Maguire Lerman was the environmental horticulture coordinator for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board for 32 years.

Tools and Tricks: Growing Food 101 Wednesday, May 8, 6:30 to 8 p.m. $10 members, $15 nonmembers Location: University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus, Plant Growth Facilities, Room 140, 1552 Gortner Ave., St. Paul.

6

www.northerngardener.org

This class will cover arugula to zucchini—vegetables, fruits, herbs and edible flowers that you can grow in Minnesota.

We will talk about both the easiest and the hardest crops to grow with tips for every crop along the way. We’ll cover tools—which you can’t live without and which may be a waste of money. We will touch on pest and weed control strategies for the beginning grower.

Instructor: Courtney Tchida.

Photography in Your Garden—Webinar Thursday, May 16, noon to 1 p.m.

Free for members, $5 nonmembers Location: Your computer.

Photographer Michelle Mero Riedel will show you how to take amazing garden photos in various weather and light conditions, all seasons and subjects, blur backgrounds to highlight your subject and choose the most suitable camera.

Instructor: Photographer Michelle Mero Riedel has been a master gardener for 20 years. She’s a regular contributor to Northern Gardener.

Grow Gourmet Mushrooms at Home Saturday, June 15, 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3:30 p.m. $45, kids 16 and under free with paying adult Location: Heidi’s GrowHaus, 7555 County Rd. 116, Corcoran.

Join us at Heidi’s GrowHaus to learn about growing gourmet mushrooms at home. This class happens to be the day before Father’s Day; could this be the perfect gift for that “fun-gi” in your life? The first portion of the class will cover ways to grow edible and medicinal mushrooms with resources you have at home. Learn about the different types of mushroom cultivation, tree and media selection, mushroom types that are easily cultivated, spawn run, how and when to inoculate and force fruiting your logbased mushrooms. The second part of the class is hands on. Participants will be inoculating their own perennial shiitake mushroom log to take home.

Instructor: Matt Ratliff is the owner and operator of Ready-2-Fruit Mushrooms, LLC.

Calendar continued from page 4.

Self-guided tour of six unique gardens.

Cost: $12 in advance, $15 day of tour.

Contact: www.mahtomedigardenclub.org.

St. Paul Garden Club Once Upon a Summer’s Day Flower Show Tuesday, June 25, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, June 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul.

A Garden Club of America flower show.

All exhibitors are required to adhere to the Garden Club of America’s national standards of excellence.

Contact: bethpetejackson@gmail.com or fitzcolleen@gmail.com.

Carver-Scott Master Gardeners Art from the Garden Tuesday, June 25, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Carver-Scott Master Gardeners Teaching Garden, Scott County Fairgrounds, 7151 190th St. W., #145, Jordan.

Explore garden art and create some, too.

Contact: carverscottmastergardeners.org.

Hudson Artful Garden Tour Saturday, June 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, June 30, noon to 4 p.m.

Octagon House, 1004 Third St., Hudson, WI. Start at the historic Octagon House and proceed to six area gardens. Rain or shine.

Proceeds go toward local garden projects.

Cost: $12 per person.

Contact: Bobbi, rkpomin@comcast.net.

St. Anthony Park Garden Tour Saturday, June 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

St. Anthony Park Library, 2245 Como Ave., St. Paul.

Features sustainable pollinator, edible, cottage, backyard and brewery gardens.

Proceeds benefit University of Minnesota horticulture scholarships and local community gardening activities.

Cost: $12 in advance; $15 day of tour.

Purchase advance tickets online at www. stanthonyparkgardenclub.com, at Speedy Market (2130 Como Ave.) or Scarborough Fair (2238 Carter Ave.). Purchase tickets day of tour at St. Anthony Park Library.

Contact: sapgardenclub@comcast.net; www.stanthonyparkgardenclub.com.

SUCCESS

Starts in the Soil!

Let CreekSide Soils help you be Successful!

Check out our full line of Professional Products. www.creeksidesoils.com

CreekSide Soils Hutchinson, MN

May/June 2019

7

Plant Sales Twin Cities Rose Club Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m. to noon Hoffman’s, 3834 Queen Ave. N., Minneapolis.

All types of roses plus Bob’s Mix fertilizer. Ordering info and plant pictures on website.

Contact: twincitiesrose.org.

Hennepin Technical College Tuesday through Thursday, May 7 to 9, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Hennepin Technical College (HTC), Lower Greenhouses, 9000 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Park.

A huge variety of quality plants grown

by HTC students.

Contact: www.hennepintech.edu.

Men’s and Women’s Garden Club of Minneapolis Tuesday, May 7, noon to 6:30 p.m.

St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church Great Hall, 3450 Irving Ave. S., Minneapolis.

New and unusual plants not seen at your local nursery. Experts on hand to provide information. Rain or shine.

Contact: www.mwgcm.org.

Friends School Plant Sale Friday, May 10, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, May 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(1/3 discount on Sunday) Minnesota State Fairgrounds, 1755 Dan Patch Ave. W., Falcon Heights.

The largest plant sale in the Midwest with more than 2,500 plant varieties.

Full catalog with photos on website.

Contact: www.friendsschoolplantsale.com.

Water Garden Society at the Friends School Plant Sale Friday, May 10, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, May 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Minnesota State Fairgrounds, 1755 Dan Patch Ave. W., Falcon Heights.

Water and bog plants plus fish for sale.

We’re at the west end of the Grandstand.

Contact: mwgs.org.

8

Annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, plus perennials from member gardens.

Contact: plantsale@edinagardencouncil.org.

pick-up service.

Contact: www.anokamastergardeners.org.

Anoka Area Gardeners

Wednesday, May 15, 3 to 6 p.m.

VFW, Southtown Plaza, 570 First St. S., Montevideo.

Annuals, perennials, tomatoes and more.

Benefits community projects.

Contact: doleson56@hotmail.com.

Saturday, May 11, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

St. Stephen’s School Parking Lot, 2020 Fifth Ave. N., Anoka.

Wide variety of plants—some hard to find. All plants grown by members.

Contact: anokaareagardeners@gmail.com.

Champlin Garden Club Saturday, May 11, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Willy McCoy’s parking lot, Hwy. 169 and Hayden Lake Rd., Champlin.

Annuals, perennials, natives and herbs.

Pollinator plants. No neonicotinoids.

Contact: gardeninginChamplin@gmail.com.

Northfield Garden Club Saturday, May 11, 8 a.m. to noon 12 Bridge Square, Northfield.

Plants and seeds, decorative pots and watering globes. Proceeds go toward community service projects.

Contact: www.thenorthfieldgardenclub.org.

Eagan Garden Club Saturday, May 11, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Holz Farm Park, 4665 Manor Dr., Eagan.

Perennials from members’ gardens, annuals, vegetables and herbs. Cash and checks only.

Contact: egc1972@gmail.com.

Perennial Garden Club of Stillwater, Trillium Chapter Sunday, May 12, 8 a.m. to noon Private residence, 601 Olive St. W., Stillwater.

Perennials and annuals that pollinators love. Vegetables, annuals and herbs.

Proceeds go toward community projects.

Contact: trilliumchapter@outlook.com.

Petal Pushers Garden Club Sunday, May 12, 8 a.m. to noon 12970 Baltimore St. N.E., Blaine.

Features perennials and shrubs. Some annuals, houseplants and containers.

Contact: Marlene, collen330@hotmail.com.

Edina Garden Council

Anoka County Master Gardeners

Friday, May 10, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Arneson Acres Park, 4711 70th St. W., Edina.

Tuesday, May 14, 3 to 7 p.m.

Wednesday, May 15, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Anoka Armory, 408 Main St. E., Anoka.

Wide selection of plants. Drive-up,

www.northerngardener.org

Montevideo VFW

Rochester Garden and Flower Club Wednesday, May 15, 4 to 7 p.m.

Thursday, May 16, 8 a.m. to noon Olmsted County Fairgrounds Horticulture Building, 16th Street and Third Avenue S.E., Rochester.

Over 150 plant varieties. Proceeds go to community projects.

Contact: www.rgfc.org.

Lake Owasso Garden Club Friday, May 17, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, May 18, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Private residence, 824 County Road B2 W., Roseville.

Nursery-grown annuals and perennials and perennials from member gardens.

Contact: joyce.lasecke@gmail.com.

South St. Paul Garden Club Friday, May 17, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 18, 8 a.m. to noon Tom and Dar Alleva’s Gardens, 2024 Third St. N., South St. Paul.

Homegrown perennials, garden art and tips from experienced gardeners.

Contact: www.sspgardenclub.org.

Alexandria Garden Club Saturday, May 18, 8 a.m. to noon Knights of Columbus Hall, Sixth Street and Nokomis, Alexandria.

Wide variety of plants selected for west central Minnesota hardiness.

Contact: pollysperkins@gmail.com.

Dakota Gardeners’ Perennial Sale Saturday, May 18, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Community of Christ Church, 5990 134th Street Ct., Apple Valley.

Numerous perennials donated by club members. Selection of annuals and vegetables.

Contact: joyce.vickers712@yahoo.com.

Plant Sales continue on page 10.

ALL Natural and organic 4-Step lawn fertilizer

sustÅne’s organic lawn building program

Suståne’s 4-Step natural and organic fertilizers for turfgrass produce professional quality lawn without the use of chemicals. Formulations and programs are based on more than 30 years of feeding turfgrass on the most prestigious lawns and landscapes around the world. Follow each of the 4 steps or mix and match to create your own program.

Each 30 lb. bag treats up to 5000 sq. ft. and is safe for kids, pets, and pollinators.

Spring Weed and Feed Suståne 9-0-0 with NonGMO Granular Corn Gluten Meal (CGM) is a natural broadleaf pre-emergent that helps prevent weeds from establishing in the spring.

Blended with 15% Suståne fertilizer means no bright yellow lawn after application, plus more Slow Release Nitrogen which helps promote thicker lawns and lasting turf color. CGM from Suståne is consistent and easy to apply.

Turf Maintenance Suståne 9-0-2 combines Slow Release Nitrogen which helps promote thick lawns and lasting turf color with quickly available natural Chilean nitrate for a fast turf response. Suståne Turf Maintenance is made from a blend of aerobically composted turkey litter, green waste compost, feather meal, Chilean nitrate, and sulfate of potash.

Turf Starter & Over-seeder Add Suståne 4-6-4 mixed with new grass seed to an existing lawn as a great way to promote dense grass coverage and help crowd out weeds.

Specifically formulated to be applied directly with grass seed and not burn, it combines aerobically composted turkey litter, feather meal, and sulfate of potash.

Fall Winterizer Suståne 8-0-4 provides the plant nutrients that grass needs to prepare for winter resulting in a quick spring green up.

Suståne Fall Winterizer promotes thicker lawns and early spring color.

Suståne 8-0-4 is made from a combination of aerobically composted turkey litter, green waste compost, feather meal, and sulfate of potash.

Available at better retailers everywhere VISIT WWW.sustane.com OR CALL 1-800-352-9245 May/June 2019

9

Plant Sales continued from page 8.

Garden Club of Ramsey County Saturday, May 18, 8 to 11 a.m.

Edgcumbe Recreation Center, 320 Griggs St. S., St. Paul.

Hundreds of plants from some of the best gardens in Ramsey County.

Contact: https://ramseygardeners.org.

Wright County Horticultural Society Saturday, May 18, 8:30 to 11 a.m.

Sturges Park on Buffalo Lake, Hwy. 25 and Second Ave. S., Buffalo.

Annuals, perennials, shrubs, vegetables grown by members. Cash or check only.

Contact: Kathy Douglas, 763-497-1979.

Apple Valley Garden Club Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Redwood Park Pavillion, 104 Redwood Dr., Apple Valley.

Wide variety of plants from our members’ gardens. No pre-sales.

Contact: janmew55@yahoo.com.

Burnsville Native Plant Market Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to noon Parking lot across the street from Burnsville City Hall, 100 Civic Center Pkwy., Burnsville.

Native wildflowers, ferns and grasses from multiple vendors.

Contact: www.burnsville.org/NativePlants.

Crystal Fund for Community Progress Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Crystal Community Center, 4800 Douglas Dr. N., Minneapolis.

Locally grown plants plus presenters on pollinators, pruning and design.

Contact: www.cfcpinc.com.

Dakota County Master Gardeners Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to noon Dakota County Fairgrounds, 4008 220th St. W., Farmington.

Minnesota-grown perennials, shrubs, vegetables, heirloom tomatoes and more.

Contact: www.dakotamastergardeners. org.

10

Minnesota River Valley Master Gardeners Saturday, May 18, 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Caledonia Curling Club (east door), 600 Hope St., Mankato.

Perennial divisions from master gardeners’ gardens and more. Cash or check only.

Contact: Kelly Hulke, 507-304-4326.

Saturday, June 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Robbinsdale Historic Library, 4915 42nd Ave. N., Robbinsdale.

Assortment of garden plants from members’ gardens; perennials, annuals and tubers for sun and shade.

Contact: www.robbinsdalediggers.com.

Shoreview Community Garden Club

Hopkins Avenues Neighborhood

Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Shoreview Community Center, Haffeman Pavilion, 4600 Victoria St. N., Shoreview.

New this year: nursery-grown annuals.

Plus member-grown hardy perennials.

Contact: JZCS68@gmail.com.

Saturday, June 1, 9 to 11 a.m.

Alice Smith Elementary School Parking Lot, 801 Minnetonka Mills Rd., Hopkins.

Local garden gurus share plants from their gardens. Master gardeners on site to answer questions.

Contact: Elizabeth, plantsaleinfo@gjd.io.

Golden Valley Garden Club Saturday, May 18, noon to 3 p.m.

Brookview Park, large picnic shelter, 316 Brookview Pkwy., Golden Valley.

Hardy perennials dug from local gardens, plus tomatoes and herbs.

Contact: Barbara, bego9110@gmail.com.

Ramsey County Master Gardeners Sunday, May 19, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Barn, 2020 White Bear Ave., Maplewood.

Hundreds of great plants, carefully tended by expert gardeners. Sales support community youth programs.

Contact: Loretta, loretta@tordahl.com.

Washington County Master Gardeners Sunday, May 19, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Washington County Fairgrounds, 4-H building, 12300 40th St. N., Stillwater.

Quality perennials from master gardeners as well as vegetables, herbs, annuals.

Contact: www.mastergardenersinwashingtonco.org.

Duluth Garden Flower Society Saturday, May 25, 8 to 10 a.m.

Duluth Rose Garden Parking Lot, 15 S. 13th Ave. E., Duluth.

8 a.m. until sold out.

Contact: www.dgfs.org.

Hennepin County Master Gardeners

Grandview Gardeners

Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Minnehaha Academy, 4200 River Pkwy. W., Minneapolis.

Many plants including “Minnesota Winners” seedlings. Proceeds benefit master gardener programs.

Contact: www.hennepinmastergardeners.org.

Thursday, May 30, through Saturday, June 1, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

726 Grandview Ave. W., Roseville.

Herbs, houseplants, divisions from our gardens, vegetables and others we start from seeds.

Contact: mmagnuson11@yahoo.com.

www.northerngardener.org

Diggers Garden Club

St. Anthony Park Garden Club Saturday, June 1, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church, 2323 Como Ave., St. Paul.

Divisions from the St. Anthony Park Library garden, plus member-grown perennials, native shade plants, pollinator packs and special surprises.

Contact: sapgardenclub@comcast.net.

St. Croix Valley Master Gardeners Saturday, June 1, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Octagon House, 1004 Third St., Hudson, WI. Perennials, including some trees and shrubs, annuals, vegetable seedlings.

Contact: cjweeksmg@gmail.com.

Minnesota Chapter-North American Rock Garden Society Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m. to noon; 10 a.m. auction; 10:20 to noon plant sale Roseville Central Park Jaycees Shelter, 2540 Lexington Ave. N., Roseville.

Plants for both small space and traditional gardens. Credit cards accepted.

Contact: www.mn-nargs.org.

Landscape Revival: Plant Sales and Expos Saturday, June 1, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Shepherd of the Hills, north parking lot, 3920 Victoria St. N., Shoreview.

Saturday, June 8, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Oakdale City Hall Parking Lot, 1584 Hadley Ave. N., Oakdale.

Learn how to select and grow native plants. Local growers will sell native plants. No cultivars or systemic insecticides. Cash or check preferred.

Contact: John, john@metroblooms.org.

Experts trust the #1 brand in organic gardening Laura LeBoutillier grew up working in her parents’ garden center.

Since then, she and her husband Aaron have published hundreds of inspirational and educational gardening videos online for over 2.4 million loyal fans. Laura loves her garden and uses only the best products to ensure it looks beautiful. That’s why she trusts Espoma Organic® for her fertilizer and potting soil needs.

Espoma. A natural in the garden since 1929.

Visit www.espoma.com/video to see our inspirational videos.

May/June 2019

11

director’s note

Gretchen Ambrosier

Growing in New Directions

M

SUBMITTED PHOTO

SHS is all about growing things. We love to grow plants, and we love to grow gardeners. It has always been that way. Over the past 152 years, this organization has continually evolved and adapted to serve the needs of the gardening community. With your support, we intend to continue doing so for a long time to come.

As you likely know, throughout its long history Northern Gardener has been an invaluable source of gardening information specifically targeted to this region. But are you aware that MSHS does much more than publish this amazing magazine, and that your membership and donations are supporting those efforts?

Over the last few months, MSHS has been evaluating its business model as a nonprofit organization, analyzing our finances as they relate to the work we produce and its outcomes, and through this research we’ve developed statistical data to help guide us in our future direction. Membership dues account for approximately 50 percent of our annual

Children love growing food through our Garden-in-a-Box program.

12

www.northerngardener.org

operating budget, and an additional 20 percent comes through donations from the generosity of individuals and institutions.

Our members and supporters contribute to the Garden-in-a-Box (GIAB) and Minnesota Green programs, as well as the other outstanding educational opportunities we offer. And, when applied directly to our programs, those gifts do a whole lot of good. For example, here is how a gift of $20 impacts our northern gardening community.

• $20 provides gardening materials and education for two children served by the GIAB program.

• $20 pays for 170 miles worth of fuel to transport Minnesota Green plants to community gardeners.

• $20 enables 38 members to take free horticulture-based webinars over a three-month period.

Because of your support, many thousands of individuals have been introduced to the benefits of gardening.

I’ve had the honor of meeting with some of our GIAB participants, and I can tell you firsthand that children LOVE this program and are sharing their growing experiences with others. We estimate that over 4,500 people are positively impacted each year by the Garden-in-aBox program because the recipients are sharing the fruits of their harvest with other gardeners, family members, classmates, food shelves and their surrounding communities. On a side note, we recently welcomed Maria Brosofske to our team as the new GIAB coordinator.

You can read more about Maria in our MSHS Spotlight on page 14.

Through our evaluation process we have also been assessing how we currently manage our financial resources.

Over the last few years, we’ve seen a steep decline in the use of our library and our store by both MSHS members and the public as more people than ever use online sources to access information and to shop. It’s become apparent that continuing to pay retail lease rates for

space that is so little utilized does not make financial sense.

Therefore, our board and staff have decided to steer funds toward programs and services that will have a much greater impact on the gardening community overall. We are closing the store and the library in May, and will be moving to a new location in Roseville, not far from our current office. From there, we will focus our efforts on producing a more diverse range of programming that serves more gardeners and broadens our reach beyond the Twin Cities to greater Minnesota and neighboring regions.

We’ll continue to sell plants and merchandise at events. We’ll also continue to offer great member benefits like the MSHS Discount Card. And, of course, with Northern Gardener we will continue to publish a magazine of the highest quality edited exclusively for cold-climate gardeners.

Our outreach expansion is already underway. It has resulted in a number of innovative new programs: the creation of a free-for-members webinar series; events and classes hosted at offsite venues such as breweries and design studios; and the recent screenings of the film Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf, which were held at five theaters as far away as Fargo, and were a great success. Look for many more exciting offerings like these in the future.

At a time when we are all affected by changes to our culture and climate, and by many other external factors, the need to promote gardening through education and programming is ever more essential.

These strategic changes will help us grow the quality services we are known for, ones that are relevant, easily accessible, and which will increase the number of gardeners we serve.

We thank you for your support and look forward to growing in new directions with you!

Gretchen Ambrosier is the executive director of MSHS.

May/June 2019

13

Maria Brosofske: Garden-in-a-Box Coordinator

MSHS SPOTLIGHT

Discount Partners

MSHS is pleased to welcome Maria Brosofske as the new coordinator of the MSHS Garden-in-a-Box (GIAB) program. Maria has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and design from the University of Minnesota, and for the past 10 years has worked as a floral designer.

She’s had a passion for plants, art and gardening from an early age, and started helping her father in his garden at the age of 7.

“I‘m so happy to be a part of the team at MSHS,” says Maria. “I was particularly drawn to the GIAB program because I understand the importance of growing your own food, and I want to share my knowledge and understanding of plants with program participants.”

Now in its 11th year, GIAB provides raised-bed vegetable garden kits to

14

community groups, organizations and schools that serve low-income or atrisk children and families throughout Minnesota.

Maria is excited by the expected growth of the program this year. “In 2019, we hope to increase the total number of GIAB kits distributed to 600!,” she says. “We’ll have a total of five pick-up distribution sites in the Twin Cities, Rochester, Wadena, New Ulm, and one more site in the northern part of the state.”

According to Maria, visiting participants at their sites to assess the results of their efforts and offer gardening advice is crucial for the success of the program, and she encourages MSHS members to get involved by volunteering to visit GIAB sites this season.

Maria Brosofske

For more information, you can reach her at mbrosofske@northerngardener. org.

—Tom McKusick

MSHS Members SAVE with these Discount Partners!

Learn more online at northerngardener.org/membership/discount-partners 101 Market Abrahamson Nurseries Alexis Bailly Vineyard Anoka-Ramsey Farm & Garden NEW! Arden Hills Nursery Axdahl’s Garden Farm & Greenhouse Bachman’s Beier’s Greenhouse Beisswenger’s NEW! Buffalo Rock Winery NEW! Cal’s Market & Garden Center NEW! Carlos Creek Winery NEW! Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Costa Farm & Greenhouse Countryside Lawn & Landscape Dan & Jerry’s Greenhouse Davey Tree Expert Company NEW! Dolan’s Landscape Center Dundee Nursery & Landscape Eco Gardens EggPlant Urban Farm Supply Extended Seasons Indoor Gardening NEW! Fair’s Nursery Farmington Greenhouse Flower Power Garden Center & Fred Holasek & Son Greenhouse Forest & Floral Garden Center NEW! Friends School Plant Sale

www.northerngardener.org

Garden Divas Garden Stories NEW! Green Earth Growers Green Lake Nursery Hafner’s Greenhouse NEW! Hartman Garden Center & Landscaping Hedberg Supply Heidi’s GrowHaus Hill’s Country Greenhouse NEW! Home Sown Gardens Hugo Feed Mill & Hardware Indian Island Winery NEW! Jean’s The Right Plant Place Kelley & Kelley Nursery Kelly’s Cottage Garden NEW! Kern Landscape Resources Knecht’s Nurseries & Landscaping Landscape Alternatives Lilydale Garden Center Living Sculpture Trees Lynde Greenhouse & Nursery Merschman Sales & Service NEW! Mickman Brothers Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Morgan Creek Vineyards NEW! Mother Earth Gardens My Sister’s Garden Nagel Sod & Nursery

Natural Landscape Minnesota

Nature’s Garden World Nelson Nursery Next Chapter Winery NEW! Otten Bros Garden Center & Landscaping Pahl’s Market Patio Town Pleasant View Gardens NEW! Pond King Water Gardens NEW! Prairie Restorations, Inc. Sailer’s Greenhouse NEW! Sargent’s Gardens Sargent’s Nursery Schulte’s Greenhouse & Nursery NEW! Seed Savers Exchange Seven Sisters Greenhouse South Cedar Garden Center Squire House Gardens Superior Outdoor Expressions Terra Garden Center Terrace Horticultural Books The Garden By the Woods The Winery at Sovereign Estate NEW! Travers Des Sioux Garden Center NEW! Wagner Greenhouses Walker Art Center Winter Greenhouse

mshs news

For more information on MSHS events and activities, visit our website at www.northerngardener.org.

Fundraising Every year, MSHS staff and board of directors gather with our supporters for a tour and reception at one of the most beautiful private gardens in the Twin Cities metro area. Donors who give at the $200 level and above and Heirloom Circle members receive invitations. If you have not already, please make your gift soon—you won’t want to miss this historic garden that was featured in the January/February edition of Northern Gardener, and was recently included in the Garden Club of America archives at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. For more information about this event and to find out if your gift qualifies, please contact Diane at 651-643-3601 or dduvall@northerngardener.org.

GAIL BROWN HUDSON

A Garden Gathering ‘Rooted in History’

A prairie-style garden filled with monarchs and other butterflies will be the setting for the 2019 Garden Gathering for MSHS supporters. This garden was recently featured in Northern Gardener magazine and has been included in the Garden Club of America Archives.

Watering Tools & Gardening Accessories

Available

at your

local Independent Garden Center or Online Retailer

®

Professional Quality for Life www.dramm.com

May/June 2019

15

Washington County Master Gardeners: The Fairest Garden

GROWING TOGETHER tion garden shows homeowners how to plan their landscapes.

The pollinator and native plant gardens and the official monarch waystation (monarchwatch.org) provide important food and habitat for pollinators.

The Fairest Garden offers educational programs to home gardeners.

“We planted fox caught a turkey and left it for the pollinator plants gardeners as a thank-you gift for all of but didn’t have any pollinators,” says their hard work.

Mary. “As soon as we stopped using The Fairest Garden will be on the chemicals, we got a wealth of pollinaLearn and Grow with Us Garden Tour tors and the other wildlife that comes July 20. with a balanced ecosystem.” Now they —Brenda Harvieux encounter insects, birds, reptiles, deer, To learn more, visit www.mastergardenersinwashingtonco.org or view turkeys, bunnies and even a fox that has the episode of PBS’ Prairie Sportsman Show that features the garden been seen hunting in the garden. The at https://video.tpt.org/video/monarch-waystations-nqzed8/.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LISA MORAN

Former master gardener research plots at the Washington County fairgrounds have recently seen a vast expansion and reimagining. Now 13 display gardens, collectively known as the Fairest Garden, the space is a much-loved destination.

“We don’t have a financial sponsor,” says Mary Green, who leads the master gardener project with Jackie Ellis. “The garden has grown so much recently because of the community’s passion for it.”

Fairgoers enjoy the garden and the educational demonstrations and tours the master gardeners provide. The garden features signs with QR codes that link people to current plant lists.

The Teaching Cottage is a large shed that’s used for 4-H education, classes, events and storage, too. Outside the structure, a home landscape demonstra-

The Donation Garden

MINNESOTA GREEN

16

www.northerngardener.org

One person washes and preps; another is the planner.” The garden contributes fresh produce to three area food shelves as well as those attending monthly community meals at three local churches.

Janie is grateful for The crew at the Donation Garden and a typical summer harvest the support the group Janie is also thankful for Minnesoreceives from some local businesses and ta Green, which has provided a large individuals. “Harvest Moon Food Co-op quantity of the seeds and plant material in Long Lake furnishes cooler space used in the garden. “Without Minnesota so we can put the fresh-picked veggies Green we could not have accomplished right in the cooler from the garden,” she so much!” says. Otten Bros. Garden Center and —Tom McKusick Landscaping, Riverbend Farms and Greg For more information on the Donation Garden, visit www.thedonationgarden.org.

Reynolds are also sponsors.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Since 2011, the Donation Garden in Long Lake has planted, harvested and delivered fresh vegetables to local food shelves. Growing vegetables on a little less than a tenth of an acre, the garden yielded more than 2,700 pounds of produce last year, and 100 percent was donated to people in need. Janie Delaney is the lead coordinator of the Donation Garden, which is a member of MSHS’ Minnesota Green program. She describes the group effort that goes into tending the garden.

“There is a core group of about six dedicated volunteers who spend two to three hours working in the garden twice a week,” she says. “We have quite a system and everyone gravitates toward doing one or two things that they manage themselves, like taking care of the squash, or the tomatoes or the beans.

mshs news Membership Matters Go Green with Digital Membership Cards Members—we’ve gone digital! To save resources and give you faster, easier access to your membership benefits, we’re now sending you a digital membership card that’s accessible on a smartphone. Join thousands of members who’ve already gone green—it only takes a minute.

1. Open the email from membership@ cuseum.com on your smartphone (iPhone or Android), not on a computer or tablet.

2. Tap on the big, green download button, and then follow the prompts to add to wallet.

3. Open the Wallet (on iPhone) or PassWallet (Android) app on your phone and look for your new membership card (white with green text).

4. Need help? See FAQs at northerngardener.org/membership-card-faqs or email membership@northerngardener.org.

Don’t have an email address attached to your membership? Email membership@northerngardener.org, call 651643-3601 or log into your online account to add your email address anytime.

If you don’t have a smartphone, email or call us to discuss other options. Don’t worry, all members and subscribers will continue to receive a paper copy of the magazine.

Thanks for helping us save paper and postage—this means less impact on our environment and more of your membership dollars go directly to valuable community programs that bring gardening tools and education to our underserved neighbors.

420 10TH STREET SW FARIBAULT, MN 55021 507-334-7156

donahuesgreenhouse.com

Style

CONTAINED Sunnyside Gardens for houseplants— outdoor summer container design inspiration.

3723 W. 44th St. Mpls., MN 55410 | (612) 926-2654 | sunnyside-gardens.com

May/June 2019

17

pollinators

Rhonda Fleming Hayes

W

ould-be and wanna-be gardeners often ask me how and where to begin. They may feel overwhelmed by the possibilities or the limitations of their garden, or the realization that there’s only so much space, time, money and ambition to go around. And, they are eager to help pollinators at the same time. My answer is easy—plant herbs.

No other group of plants will give you more bang for your buck or do more to help bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and a host of beneficial insects for so little effort and energy.

Herbs are usually defined as plants for use and delight. For this column, let’s stick with culinary herbs, the kind you might grow out your back door or on the patio. That’s the beauty of herbs— these are not huge shrubs or swaths of perennials that require a big yard. Most are small enough you can either dedicate a little patch to them among other plants or put them in a few pots. They don’t demand a lot of care, either. They are a generous and forgiving category of plants.

Depending upon the herb, you may want to use the leaves, flowers or both.

The same goes for pollinators. With herbs such as basil, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme, the plants do better when you harvest them frequently for their tasty and aromatic foliage. Snipping the stems makes them grow fuller and bushier. Stop snipping and they will soon flower so that pollinators can enjoy those, too. The blooms consisting of clusters or spikes of smaller florets are the ideal shape and size for many types of bees and butterflies to access for nectar.

Chives, on the other hand, bloom early—before the plants reach ample size for harvest. The pompom-shaped, lilac-colored blooms are a favorite of butterflies, such as painted ladies and red admirals. White-flowered garlic chives do the opposite and bloom late in August, attracting all sorts of pollinators. Beware, however, they are prolific re-seeders.

18

www.northerngardener.org

RHONDA FLEMING HAYES

Plant Herbs for Pollinators Bees flock to borage and other herbs.

Herbs belonging to the wild carrot family, such as dill, fennel and parsley, do double duty. Their ferny and feathery foliage is a seasoning for our food, while black swallowtail butterflies use it as their larval host plant. So don’t be sad if you see striped caterpillars munching on them—just plant enough to share! When these herbs bloom, the graceful umbels attract all manner of pollinators and beneficial insects, such as lacewings, tachinid flies and lady beetles. The larvae of these beneficial insects, in turn, gobble up destructive pests, including whiteflies and aphids.

Then, there are what I call “iced tea” herbs; others might call them “cocktail” herbs. Anise hyssop and bee balm (Monarda) make delicious herbal teas (technically called “infusions”) using their tender foliage and colorful flowers.

Anise hyssop is a super herb for its ability to lure bees and butterflies in huge numbers as well as hummingbirds. The International Herb Association named it the Herb of the Year for 2019.

Borage with its fuzzy-ugly foliage yet beautiful sky-blue flowers defies catego-

rization, though it is a favorite of bees.

I’ve never attempted borage soup but I do harvest a few of the petite blooms to garnish salads and drinks.

After decades of planting herbs in all sorts of styles, I plant the Mediterranean-types (rosemary, thyme, oregano) in containers. I like the look of one species per pot. One of my many dream gardens would be a simple courtyard with rows of potted lavenders. As it is, I group all of the rustic pots in a sunny spot on my patio, close to my kitchen door. This encourages me to use them often.

Annual herbs, such as dill, cilantro, parsley and fennel, are planted among the rows in my kitchen garden. Visually, these taller, finer textured plants contrast nicely with the sturdier foliage of cabbage, squash, broccoli and beans.

Best of all, they bring more pollinators into the garden, helping to make my garden more healthy and productive. It’s a win-win. ng Minneapolis-based Rhonda Fleming Hayes is the author of Pollinator Friendly Gardening (Voyageur Press, 2016).

Spring

Garden Gala

Our roots run deep

connecting PEOPLE & PLANTS

Thank you

to the following sponsors:

GARDEN CENTRE

Event Sponsor

Presenters

Debbie Lonnee and Ryan McEnaney of Bailey Nurseries

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

Heidi’s GrowHaus & Lifestyle Gardens

j

Everything you need for a greener lifestyle

Floral Sponsors

Inspiration & Tips

Grow with us!

CUSTOM CONTAINERS

Unique Garden Centre & Nursery Experience Extensive Selection of Native & Edible Plants Year-Round Educational Events & Workshops Fine Gardening & Seasonal Containers Landscape Design & Installation Services

Whether you come here or we go there, a beautiful garden we’ll all share!

FINE GARDENING

763.420.2909 | 7555 County Road 116, Corcoran | GrowHausMN.com

Print Sponsor

Photography Sponsor

COWSMO THE FINEST QUALITY ORGANIC COMPOST

j Thank you to the businesses, discount partners and individuals that generously donated items for our gift bags, giveaways, silent auction, raffle and wall of wine.

A full list is published on

northerngardener.org Thanks to the Friends of MSHS for organizing the event.

Packages for retail, and bulk for larger projects.

Healthy Soil = Abundant Growth Our organic, manure-based Compost and Potting Soils will work hard for you by:

• Adding nutrients, organic matter, and living microorganisms to promote soil health • Suppressing weeds and improving soil texture Visit our website or call to find out which product is right for you:

Cochrane, WI • cowsmocompost.com • 608-626-2571 May/June 2019

19

northern natives

Lynn M. Steiner

Cutting Back to Control Height

O

ne of the major complaints about native plantings is that they can look messy. A big part of this comes from tall plants that flop over, either in the garden or along paths, sidewalks and driveways. There are several things you can do to avoid this—starting with not using these tall plants. But that’s no fun! All gardens need varying heights and textures. Staking is a popular solution, but it takes a lot of time and needs to be done within a specific window of time early in the season.

Another technique to reduce the height of late-summer and fall-blooming perennials is to cut them back in midspring, when plants are 12 to 18 inches tall. You can prune them back to 6 to 10 inches, or about one-third to one-half of their height. This may

seem ruthless, but the plants will soon bounce back and you won’t even be able to tell the cuts were made. Your reward will be a compact, often heavier blooming plant that won’t require staking. It may bloom a few days or a week later, but this can also be used to your advantage. By pruning back only the plants in the front of a group, you will get an extended bloom time with the rear plants blooming first and the ones in front a bit later.

Some plants shouldn’t be cut back in spring. These include blanket flowers (Gaillardia species), gentians (Gentiana species), Michigan lilies (Lilium michiganense), false indigos (Baptisia species), blazing stars (Liatris species) and royal catchflies (Silene regia).

Sprawling plants look messy, so you should plan for some type of support.

In a closely planted informal garden, grasses and nearby plants can provide natural support. For the flower border, many systems using hoops and sticks of wood or metal are available from nurseries. Use small tomato cages for bushy plants. Long-stemmed plants will need a stake for every blooming stem. Get stakes in the ground as early as possible to avoid root damage, and loosely tie plants to the stake with inconspicuous green or brown twine.

With a little attention in spring, your native plants can still stand tall and look amazing. ng Lynn Steiner is the author of Grow Native: Bringing Natural Beauty to Your Garden (Cool Springs Press, 2016).

Perennials That Can be Cut Back in Spring Agastache species (anise hyssop) Boltonia asteroides (boltonia) Chelone species (turtlehead) Echinacea species (purple coneflower) Eutrochium species (joe-pye weed) Helenium species (sneezeweed) Heliopsis helianthoides (oxeye) Lobelia species (cardinal flower, lobelia) Monarda species (bee balm) Phlox maculata (wild sweet William) Phlox paniculata (garden phlox) Physostegia virginiana (obedient plant) Rudbeckia species (black-eyed Susans, coneflower) Solidago species (goldenrod) Symphyotrichum species (aster) Tradescantia species (spiderwort) Verbena species (vervain) Vernonia species (ironweed) L.S. 20

www.northerngardener.org

LYNN M. STEINER

A sneezeweed plant right after being cut back

“MSHS is the #1 resource for Zone 4 gardeners and has been the primary resource for us as we have gone from beginning to competent gardeners.”

—MSHS member

Prairie Restorations, Inc. Bringing people together with the land

Designing, Installing and Maintaining Native Landscapes Since 1977!

Retail Stores in Princeton and Duluth Native Seed, Seed Mixes, Potted Plants, Trees, Shrubs and Sod Flats.

Products and services for large or small native landscaping needs

Hands down, pollinators prefer native plants!

Join or renew today:

northerngardener.org/ membership info@prairieresto.com

800-837-5986

www.prairieresto.com May/June 2019

21

by design

Don Engebretson

Garden Movement

W

hat moves you? Hopefully, your garden is on the list.

Movement is what elevates a landscape from the perfunctory to the sublime and can be achieved through a variety of tricks and techniques. Let’s take a look at them, beginning with the obvious and wending our way to the advanced.

Sound is one great reason to add a water feature to your landscape but as important is the addition of movement from flowing water. A slope of any size featuring attractive plantings will look nice. Add a curving, flowing brook to the scene and that portion of the landscape erupts into grander levels of beauty. If the size and slope of the area allow for it, a waterfall raises the bar even higher. The sound is good while the sight is superb.

A simpler, less expensive option is to add a fountain. Advances in technology have made fountains an uncomplicated do-it-yourself project. You can select from a huge variety, including classic tiered, artful statuary, basalt column and drilled boulder.

Boulder fountains are my favorite and I’ve installed many. Landscape supply yards offer drilled boulders from small to large and will walk you through the installation process. Pick a colorful boulder—I tend to prefer jagged over smooth or rounded as you get mini-waterfalls in the deal—and bring a water bottle so you can view it wet. They don’t make much noise but the flowing water across the stone face is captivating.

Kinetic Sculpture Garden sculpture designed to physically move, sometimes mechanically but most often from wind, is another simple and effective way to add movement to your garden. Good nurseries will offer some styles but shop online and you’ll be amazed at the myriad options available in a wide price range. Wind chimes belong on the list also, come to think of it.

22

www.northerngardener.org

PHOTOS: DON ENGEBRETSON

Water Features

The broad canopy of a redbud tree moves the eye upward in this garden.

Paths that curve move the eye.

Flowing water in a fountain adds sound, too.

Paths and Walkways

just like their aquatic cousins. Additionally, a pathway curving out of sight adds mystery to the landscape. What delights await around the corner?

I realize garden paths and walkways don’t move. Or do they?

I think they do because they move the eyes. A curving pathway—concrete paver, flagstone, steppingstone, gravel or even plain mulch—causes the eye to follow. Pathways through the landscape are slender rivers that should weave and flow

Eye Movement via Plant Form Tall columnar evergreens such as juniper and arborvitae varieties add eye movement as they vault upward to the sky.

Summer is short. Fill it with color.

live outdoors.

Small trees with spreading trunk and limb habits—redbud, river birch, crabapple, pagoda dogwood or fringetree, for example—attract the eye, then cause it to scan.

Weeping trees and shrubs, both evergreen and deciduous, are like waterfalls that the eye greedily follows up, over and down.

Eye Movement via Plant Placement Repeating a particular plant evenly across a view of the landscape causes movement, too. Years ago I landscaped a low, grassy area featuring a long stretch of creek with five clump-style river birch, staggered and spaced somewhat evenly along the far bank of the creek. Viewed at a distance from the large picture windows along the back of the house, the eye started at one end and hopscotched gleefully to the other end.

You can use this trick in any scale. Five different hostas of approximately the same leaf size staggered evenly through a shady area filled with non-hosta shade plants create a similar effect. Focusing on foliage and/or bloom color does the

Minneapolis open year round 6024 Penn Ave. S. 612-922-6901

Hugo open mid-april 4860 Frenchman Rd. 651-653-8863

BlooMington open mid-april 2100 W. Old Shakopee Rd. 952-884-7889

Once Upon A Summer’s Day

A Garden Club of America Flower Show Presented By The Saint Paul Garden Club Plants that droop add motion and interest.

same. Repeating a strong yellow, silver or reddish foliage across a stretch of landscape, or white, blue, red, yellow or whatever bloom fairly evenly across the perennial garden causes movement. The eye does the moving. ng Garden writer Don Engebretson can be reached at his website, renegadegardener.com.

June 25-26, 2019 Minnesota History Center 345 West Kellogg Blvd., Saint Paul Free To The Public A juried show featuring floral designs, horticulture displays, photography, botanical arts, and conservation and garden design exhibits. www.saintpaulgardenclub.net May/June 2019

23

garden solutions

Laura Schwarz

Adjusting Soil pH for Blueberry Plants

I

planted three blueberry shrubs last year. I love blueberries, and I’ve always wanted to grow them myself.

In my great excitement, I amended the soil around my new blueberry plants without getting a soil test first. I did this because I know that blueberries prefer soil with a low pH and that the soils in Minneapolis, where I live, tend to be alkaline. I mixed in a generalized “recommended” amount of soil sulfur and as much peat moss as I had on hand.

It’s a little embarrassing to admit my unscientific approach.

In a professional setting, I always recommend getting a soil test before adding soil amendments, especially with regard to soil pH. While it’s fairly easy to influence soil pH for the immediate future, the pH will tend to migrate back toward its original state unless the grower continues to manipulate it. So, growing blueberries in my home garden involves a long-term commitment to monitoring the soil pH and amending accordingly. This spring, I promise to get a soil test before adding anything else to my blueberry patch!

How pH Affects Plants

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

A quick refresher: soil pH is a measurement of the soil’s acidity.

Acidity affects the availability of a soil’s nutrients for plant intake. For example, there might be significant amounts of iron present in a soil, but if the soil’s pH is too high, plants won’t be able to access that iron. The pH scale runs from 0 to 14; 7 is a neutral pH reading. A pH below 7 is acidic, while a pH above 7 is alkaline.

If you can get the soil right, there’s nothing as delightful to grow as blueberries.

24

www.northerngardener.org

ELEMENTAL SULFUR APPLICATON RATES TO LOWER SOIL PH TO 4.5 Initial pH

Soil type sand, loam, loamy sand, silt loam sandy loam Amount of elemental sulfur (S) to apply: lb./100 sq.ft.

7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0

1.9 1.5 1.2 0.8 0.4

5.8 4.6 3.5 2.4 1.2

In Minnesota, many of our native soils are alkaline; however, healthy, thriving blueberry plants require acidic soil, with a pH between 4 and 5. Soils with a higher pH will cause light green or reddish leaf discoloration on blueberry plants. The plants will grow very slowly, hardly producing any new shoot growth, and they might eventually die.

Your soil test results will include a precise pH reading (a number between 0 and 14), as well as an estimated soil texture. Soil texture will be estimated as “coarse,” “medium” or “fine.”

Both of these readings will help you determine the proper course of action for soil amendment.

If the desired soil has a pH higher than 7—or its soil texture is “fine”—your best option is to build a raised bed (at least 18 inches tall) and bring in new soil altogether. Although the University of Minnesota Extension recommends getting an “acidic planting mix” to fill the raised beds, I don’t know where to purchase this product in bulk. A standard garden soil mix should be fine, and then you can add amendments accordingly.

For coarse to medium soils in the 5.5 to 7 pH range, you can mix 4 to 6 inches of sphagnum peat moss into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil. Peat is a good option because

E I S SW E N G E R ’ S B HARDWARE . POWER EQUIPMENT . GARDEN CENTER For 100 years Beisswenger’s has been serving your community.

Not your average hardware store, with a not-so-average garden center it also increases the soil’s organic matter, which is important for blueberries.

However, as the soil decomposes over time, you will need to continue adding peat moss or another acidifying agent.

Using Elemental Sulfur Elemental sulfur (often sold as “soil sulfur”) is another product that will lower soil pH over time. Sulfur is less expensive than peat moss, but it also requires more precision and time to be effective. If you have the ability to plan ahead, it’s best to apply sulfur the year before you plant your blueberry shrubs. Incorporate the sulfur into the top 6 inches of soil. Depending on your soil pH and texture, you will need between 0.4 to 5.8 pounds of sulfur per 100 square feet of soil (lower for coarse soils, higher for medium soils). See the chart from the U of M on the facing page for more details.

Three to four months after your initial sulfur application, you should test the soil again. You might need to reapply. To help maintain your newly acidic soil over time, use a fertilizer that is specifically for acidic plants.

Fertilizers that use ammonium sulfate or urea as their nitrogen source will help keep the soil pH low. Do not apply fertilizer after July, as this will increase the potential for winter injury on blueberries. Continue to monitor the new growth and leaf color of your blueberries. Watch for symptoms of high pH, and test your soil every few years to determine if you should add more peat or sulfur. ng

Just north of 694 on 35W and Hwy 96 1823 Old Highway 8 NW, New Brighton, MN

651-633-1271 • beisswengers.com

FEED

YOUR

PASSION

Horticulturist and writer Laura Schwarz lives in Minneapolis, where she works in garden design, installation and maintenance.

612-822-4769 5 3 5 3 N I C O L L E T AV E S O , M P L S tangletowngardens.com

the

absolute u r b a n g a r d e n c e n t e r e x p e r i e n c e .

May/June 2019

25

how-to

Eric Johnson

E

levate your container plantings and they’ll return the favor with a “wow” factor.

Nothing commands attention at a doorway or introduces a focal point like height. Tall ceramic pots are great for this, but they can be pricey and need to be hauled into the garage or inside over the winter. Even plastic pots can be expensive. Plus, you’ll also have to search for just the right one to be at the scale you desire.

This planter is an easy do-it-yourself project made from privacy fence pickets and is designed to hold a square plastic pot that has a lip—a style that is easy to find. There are many advantages to this design: You don’t need to fill the tall container with soil, just the pot. It supplies a lot of dramatic effect for little money. And it can be customized to any dimensions you like.

In essence, a rectangular box is built from 2-by-2-inch furring strips and faced with 6-inch pickets cut to length, and attached horizontally. I used cedar pickets, but you can use any type you like. The furring strips create the frame and the pickets finish the look and solidify the structure. The opening is sized so that a square pot with a lip slips in and the rim

PHOTOS: ERIC JOHNSON

Fence Picket Planter rests on the planter to support the pot. The pickets are screwed into place using 1½-inch wood screws.

Directions Cut the furring strips to four lengths of 34½ inches and eight lengths of 12⅝ inches. The fence pickets are cut to 10 17-inch lengths and 10 15½-inch lengths.

Note: If you work with wood, you know that lumber dimensions can vary from type to type. For example, the 6-inch pickets I used were 5¾ inches wide and the 2-by-2 furring strips were 1½ x 1½ inches. The height of my planter was determined by the sum of the five pickets stacked horizontally. The width of the planter was determined by the width of the pot, so that the bowl of it would fit within the opening, with the rim resting on the wood frame.

To construct the frame, build a box by screwing four of the 12⅝-inch furring strips between the ends of the four 36-inch-long furring strips to create a base. At this point it will be like a table without a top. Flip the piece and repeat

the steps on the other end. You now have a rectangular box frame.

Two opposing sides of the planter will be covered with the 17-inch pickets and the other two sides with the 15½ inchers. When attached, the 15½-inch pickets will be the same width (or very close) as the sides of the box. Begin with the two sides using these. There is no true top or bottom until you insert the pot, so beginning on either end, place a picket, screw it into either side of the board with two screws at both corners, then repeat until the side is covered.

Continue onto the second side. On these two sides, the pickets will cover the ends of the pickets on the first two sides, creating a neat look.

Complete the planter by inserting a square pot with a lip into the top of the planter and start planting. Adjust the dimensions of the planter to fit any square or rectangular pot you find or customize to a particular space. I left the wood of my planter bare to weather naturally, but you can stain or paint as you like. ng

Minneapolis-based Eric Johnson blogs at www.gardendrama.wordpress.com.

Left: Build a frame that fits a square pot of your choice. Right: The frame is faced with fence pickets.

26

www.northerngardener.org

Travel Tours Mark your calendars for 2020— watch our website and e-newsletter for updates on tour details and registration.

This Spring look for premier hanging baskets, annuals, perennials and vegetables from your local

Farm Fresh Selects® retailer.

Miami

February 12-17, 2020 and optional Key West extension February 17-20, 2020

In our Farm Fresh Selects® greenhouses we select only the finest performing plants.

England

Mid-May 2020

These Farm Fresh Selects® varieties are chosen by testing in trial gardens and selecting the varieties that will perform well for you.

Visit us at farmfreshselects.com.

Master Gardener VOLUnteer PrOGraM | HennePin COUnty

Japan

Early November 2020

annual Plant sale saturday, May 18th

Minnehaha academy, 4200 West river Parkway, Minneapolis tiOn saturday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. neW LOCa Thousands of plants grown by Master Gardener volunteers.

Choose from perennials, natives, exclusive Mn Winners® (annual flowers, vegetables, herbs) and more!

Master Gardener Volunteers will be available to answer your gardening questions and provide information.

Come early for the best selection! Bring a cart or wagon, boxes are available. Cash/checks/credit cards are accepted.

Proceeds benefit U of M Extension Master Gardener community programs in Hennepin County.

Travel tours hosted by C. Colston Burrell For more information:

northerngardener.org

www.HennepinMasterGardeners.org

May/June 2019

27

kitchen garden

Samantha Johnson

Peas, Please

Peas remind me of one of my cooking failures as a child. I don’t know why I decided to invent my own recipe using peas, but I did. I (over)cooked some frozen peas and threw them in a bowl along with some milk and several slices of cheese. Some salt and pepper might have been nice, if I’d thought of it (I didn’t).

28

www.northerngardener.org

I microwaved the mixture to melt the cheese, stirred it all together, then added the pièce de résistance: a bag of croutons.

I mixed it all together and carried the sticky, gooey concoction to the table and shared my masterpiece with my family.

My siblings didn’t hesitate to tell me exactly what they thought of my dish (“Eww!”), and my mother suggested that perhaps the recipe could use a little fine-tuning. My father ate two helpings without complaint. But there were a lot of leftovers that night.

These days, I’ve found more palatable ways to cook peas. The beauty of peas is that they’re versatile and can star in a wide range of dishes from soups and salads to pies and sides.

Split pea soup is an obvious and popular choice made with dried peas, but you can also make soup using fresh peas from the garden.

(A hint of mint makes a nice addition.) Or maybe you’ve had your fill of soups and are ready for the summertime fresh-

ness of a salad.

I love cheese, and bacon is splendid, and so is mayonnaise. Mixing all of those together with a pound of fresh peas, some onion and assorted spices makes for a memorable and delectable salad that is filling and fabulous.

Or try combining peas with strawberries, blueberries and radishes, then toss with a simple salad dressing for a fresh and flavorful salad that’s packed with goodness.

Potato salad is another perfect place to incorporate peas, so why not try them in your favorite recipe?

And if you need a hot meal that’s filling and easy, you really can’t go wrong with a chicken pot pie with peas. Creamy and comforting, it’s a dish that’s sure to please the whole family. You could even throw in some croutons—then again, maybe not. ng Based in northern Wisconsin, Samantha Johnson is the author of several books, including The Beginner’s Guide to Vegetable Gardening, (Voyageur Press, 2013).

Homemade pea salad with fresh peas from the garden—what could be more delicious?

ISTOCK.COM

Peas in the Kitchen

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

P

eas are the perfect early summer crop. They don’t mind if the temperatures are still chilly, they’re hardy and vigorous, and they have an exquisite beauty that’s pleasing to behold in the garden.

The basics of planting peas are easy.

Sow the seeds as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring, which to me means after the frost is out of the ground and the mud has dried. Peas love temperatures in the 50s and 60s. You can plant pea seeds when the soil temperature is in the 40s, but germination will likely be delayed. Set the seeds 1 to 2 inches apart in rows that are 24 inches apart.

Plant the seeds 1 to 1½ inches deep and provide some type of trellis for your peas to climb as they grow. With ample water and sun, you’ll be harvesting your peas and putting them to work in the kitchen in about 12 weeks.

A quick word about harvesting: If you’re growing peas with edible pods, you’ll want to harvest them when the peas are small and tender. If you’re growing shell peas, harvest when they’re beginning to fill out the pod. I grew Swenson Swedish peas last year and it was a highly productive variety that I liked very much. But I left some of them on the vines for too long before harvesting, which drove home the importance of harvesting at the proper time to enjoy peak flavor and tenderness. Other favorite varieties include Blue Podded Blauwschokkers, because they’re gorgeous; Tom Thumb for cuteness; Green Arrow is excellent, prolific and very tasty; and, of course, it’s hard to beat Sugar Snap for an all-around wonderful variety.

MSHS Pollinator Plant Packs

Visit one of the Frattallone’s Garden Centers To get a must-have product for all your gardening needs.

Available at Garden Centers and Plant Sales this Spring!

a Monarchs a Bees



Great for raised bed gardens



Ideal for ALL vegetables



For annuals and perennials



Slow release fertilizer promotes growth

www.frattallones.com

a Hummingbirds a Butterflies Each pack has 6 different plants perfect for the type of pollinator garden you want to grow.

Learn And Grow With Us Garden Tour

Please join us for a self-guided tour of seven beautiful gardens in the Lake Elmo area designed and maintained by University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners. .

Each garden includes an opportunity to learn about:

•Growing Vegetables•Prairie Restoration •Lawn Care & Watering•Tree Pruning •Composting•Planting for Pollinators •Landscape Design Plus, Master Gardener Top Ten plants for your garden!

View the list of plants in each pack and locations where you can buy them at:

northerngardener.org/ pollinator-plant-packs

Washington County

Master Gardeners Learn And Grow With Us

Saturday, July 20, 2019 • 9am-4pm For information and tickets online:

www.mastergardenersinwashingtonco.org

May/June 2019

29

plant to pick

Debbie Lonnee

Physocarpus opulifolius ‘UMNHarpell’ PPAF First Editions® Fireside™ Ninebark

O

PHOTOS: DEBBIE LONNEE

ver the past 30 years, Physocarpus, also known as common ninebark, has changed from an ordinary green shrub to an exciting, colorful foliage plant that can add a lot of interest to the landscape.

Plant breeders around the world have infused color into this wonderful garden plant. New varieties come in chartreuse yellow or dark purple; some are almost black; others lean toward red. Whichever color, the foliage is attractive and the plant itself is super easy to grow.

Many of you know Diabolo® ninebark, which has been on the market for more than 20 years. Its foliage is dark purple, sometimes looking almost brown or black. While it was originally thought to mature at around 8 feet tall, it ended up growing to more than 15 feet in many garden settings. To me, that makes Diabolo a garden thug—it just plain takes up too much real estate. Other dark-leaved forms have followed Diabolo, including Summer Wine® and Little Devil™—both are more dwarf in habit.

Leaves of the new Fireside™ ninebark emerge with hints of red, but mature to a deep purple. In fall, the plant glows red again.

A New Ninebark In 2018, Fireside™ ninebark was introduced and it is distinctively different from some of the older forms you’ll find in garden centers. Developed many years ago by the late Harold Pellett, who was a University of Minnesota horticulture professor and later operated the Landscape Plant Development Center in Oregon, Fireside has a unique leaf color, as well as a tidier and more compact habit.

When it leafs out in spring, the foliage on Fireside has a distinct red look to it. When the sun is setting, the light through the leaves creates a delightful red glow. As the plant matures through the season, it takes on more of the classic purple tones of other ninebarks. In fall, it turns bright red again before the leaves drop for the winter.

Maturing at a height of 5 to 6 feet, this variety will not take over your garden or foundation. It grows more slowly than oth30

www.northerngardener.org

er ninebark cultivars, too, so give it time.

It is naturally self-branching, but you can prune it to encourage a thick, bushy plant, and to keep the height in check if you like.

It is almost as wide as it is tall, but when you stand back and look, you can see the upright, vase-shaped habit of the plant.

An added bonus are the beautiful pink ninebark flowers in late spring to early summer. While not as showy as some other shrub blooms, they contrast nicely with the red foliage.

In early trials, Fireside shows good resistance to powdery mildew, which has become an aesthetic problem on older cultivars.

For best results, plant Fireside in full sun because it loses its beautiful foliage

color in shade. It can handle average soils and can be pruned almost anytime during the growing season. It is hardy in USDA Zones 3-7 so will work for all northern gardeners!

Introduced in Bailey Nurseries First Editions® program, you will find it in local garden centers this spring. It is a patented introduction, so propagation is prohibited. Royalties generated from Fireside benefit the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. By the way, the name “Fireside” might remind you of another stellar University of Minnesota introduction: the Fireside apple. ng Debbie Lonnee works in the horticulture industry and gardens in South St. Paul.

Make Gardening a Part of

Your Legacy MSHS

l o o m C ir c

l

e

H

e ir

MINNESOTA GROWN DIRECTORY Find garden centers, farmers markets, wineries, berry farms, and much more!

“As members and volunteers of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, we’ve seen the society grow and prosper. We are making sure that growth continues by including the society in our will.”

—Lee and Jerry Shannon, MSHS Lifetime and Heirloom Circle members

minnesotagrown.com

Friends School NG color 2019.qxp_Friends Plant Sale Phoenix 2010 3/25/19 12:50 PM Page 1

Mothers Day weekend State Fair Grandstand FREE admission FRIDAY, MAY 10 9:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

Legacy gifts from members like you help to ensure that MSHS gardening programs inspire generations of gardeners to come.

For more information about ways to make a legacy gift to MSHS, please contact:

Diane Duvall: 651-643-3601 dianed@northerngardener.org

30

SATURDAY, MAY 11 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 12 Remaining plants 1/3 off 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

An MSHS partner Discount Card selling Committed to ithout plants grown w es neonic pesticid

www.FriendsSchoolPlantSale.com

Full catalog online—you can browse photos and make your shopping list Photo by Michelle Mero Riedel

May/June 2019

31

SUZANNE SCHAFF

A HERITAGE GARDENER

Yellow irises and purple alliums and geraniums brighten the corner border in spring.

32

www.northerngardener.org

Judy’s cottage-style garden reflects her English roots.

With English roots, this longtime gardener thrives in northern soil.

Story and photos by Susan Davis Price

At 89, Judy Oakes Wehrwein can look back on a lifetime filled with gardens— first those of her parents and neighbors in England and later her own in America. And she can look ahead as she makes plans for her gardens to come. “A garden is always in process,” she maintains. “It is never finished. That’s part of the interest.”

Wehrwein grew up in England, Middlesex to be exact. “Everyone gardens in England,” she says, adding tactfully, “Some are more effective than others.”

Her father tended a large vegetable garden, an allotment, and her mother grew flowers.

“The garden was something of an escape for my father,” she explains. “It would stay light until 10 o’clock. He’d go out after dinner and work until dark.”

From his efforts, they had the benefit of fresh vegetables almost all year. The family ate kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, beets, carrots and potatoes into the winter; pole beans, peas, broad (fava) beans, leeks and celery in warmer months.

Her mother tended a bountiful array of ornamentals, including bulbs like daffodils and tulips; perennials such as delphiniums, Russell lupines, goldenrods and lavenders; and annuals such as calendulas, snapdragons and wallflowers.

“When company came, you always went around the garden,” Judy says. “You’d

catch up on the relatives and neighbors.

But, of course, you also talked about how the plants were doing. So I have the memory of gardening, a heritage you might say.”

It is a heritage Judy has used wisely.

It has given her a taste for soft colors, a sure hand at design and a confidence to tackle any garden task. Despite Minnesota’s climatic limitations, she has created lush gardens filled with flowers, fruits and vegetables that bring the glory of English gardening to St. Paul.

Creating a Cottage Garden Judy met her late husband, Austin, in London after World War II when both worked at the U.S. Embassy. They came to the United States in 1951, Minnesota in the late ’60s, and St. Paul in 1978. At all of her homes, Judy planted gardens; but the most extensive has been the one in St. Anthony Park.

The yard she inherited in “the Park” had little to commend it. “There was May/June 2019

33

A Heritage Gardener

Near right: Judy’s house and cottage garden complement each other.

Far right: Goldenrod and contrasting ‘Victoria Blue’ salvia add color to the garden in fall.

“Many of the plants I grow here— peonies, phlox, roses, delphiniums— are ones I knew all my life.” a scruffy lawn and an old honeysuckle hedge,” she remembers. But she wasted no time in starting the gardens. First came the bed for the black currants and raspberries she loves. With the help of her son Peter, who dug up the “earth,” she planted the fruits. They have flourished and multiplied. Today she makes currant and raspberry jams that are legendary.

From that initial planting, Wehrwein has continually expanded the gardens so that now on her large lot, there are only small bits of lawn to set off large swaths of perennials and annuals. Against the house, around the trees, along the driveway, beside the fence and hedge, she has set interesting shrubs and colorful flowers. In true English fashion, she has placed two large, floriferous beds along the front of her property. Running out of room within the yard, she added another vegetable bed for tomatoes and runner beans on the boulevard space. “Many of the plants I grow here—peonies, phlox, roses­, delphiniums—are ones I knew all my life,” she says. “They just have a shorter growing season in Minnesota.”

With the exception of the veggie plots, 34

www.northerngardener.org

Judy prefers an informal landscape. “An English garden is arranged in curves, with nothing set out in rigid patterns.

There are clusters of things, not plants lined up like little soldiers,” she says. So, her roses are not the stiff hybrid teas quarantined to their own beds, but shrub roses—the pink ‘Morden Centennial’ and the darker ‘Winnipeg Parks’—integrated into beds with perennials and shrubs. The arborvitae hedge is not trimmed with straight sides and top but in undulating curves, especially lovely when snow drapes over the sides. The wide perennial beds wind gently around the trees and along the back borders of the lot.

All are edged with bricks or stones; all laid by Judy. These edgings give a restrained frame to the gardens’ profusion; their color and textures add a sense of age. Over the years, Judy has collected the stones and brick herself. She’s a great finder and has gathered from road construction sites, housing projects and cobblestones from the area around her lake cabin. “If I see a lone brick, I’ll grab it,” she admits, knowing it will ultimately come in handy.

Curving beds of hostas reflect Judy’s informal style.

Top: Marsh marigolds bring a burst of bright color to the spring garden.

Center: Dainty hepatica blooms above leaf mulch.

Bottom: Russian sage adds late summer color.

May/June 2019

35

A Heritage Gardener

“I just love doing it.

I get out there and I find it so absorbing, so interesting.”

The spikes of pink obedient plant look stately in fall.

A Year-Round Garden Judy’s gardens are handsome year-round.

Spring brings new green leaves, colorful bulbs of all sorts and flowering shrubs such as forsythia, rhododendron and lilacs. In summer, the bloom of roses, lilies, astilbes, daisies and clematis fill the yard with the pinks, blues, soft yellows and purples she prefers. Phlox, monkshood, aster and boltonia become showy late in the season. They are framed by the shining greens of hostas, pachysandra and boxwood, and the various purple and green shades of heuchera and cranesbill. Even winter has its beauty. Then one notices the trimmed boxwood and arborvitae hedges, and the sculpted yews beside the front door. The built elements of the landscape—the slender trellises, a wooden bench, cobblestone paths, front picket fence and back privacy fence become more visible without the cover of leaves and vines.

Judy’s attention to the texture, color and shape of plants and leaves has an impact. “Most perennials bloom only two weeks,” she notes, “so it’s important to consider a plant’s other features. What does it add to your garden?” As an example, she notes the sedum ‘Vera Jameson’ with bluish-purple leaves that lend a spot 36

www.northerngardener.org

In early spring, may apples come up, looking like tiny trees.

Lungwort and pink hyacinth bloom behind them while hostas emerge in the foreground.

of soft color throughout the season. Her Rosa glauca produces fragrant single blossoms in June. But its dusty mauve foliage and tall (5 feet) stature are continually interesting; the dark rose hips hang on through a Midwestern winter. For all-season bloom, Judy likes annuals. She plants clumps of pink wax begonias and ‘Blue Horizon’ ageratum in all her beds.

Such abundance can sometimes create chaos in a cottage garden. Not so in Judy’s. She admits that she is a visual person. “I get ideas at garden centers and on tours and, of course, from being in my mother’s garden,” she says. “I don’t draw

out plans. But I like to just go out and stare at the beds. You see that it’s nice to combine a spikey plant with a soft, mounded one. You notice a spot that needs a bit of color.”

For decades, Judy has been an active member of the Ramsey County and St. Anthony Park garden clubs, gleaning ideas from speakers and other members, and contributing her expertise to others.

Her own corner lot has become a “destination” for aspiring gardeners.

She also has an Englishwoman’s preference for tidiness. Her blossoms are deadheaded immediately; her shrubs

Judy keeps a neat but soft garden, trimming her boxwood naturally and using annuals such as begonias to fill in and add color.

Annuals in Judy’s favored pastels fill a textural iron pot.

trimmed regularly. The weeds are tossed out unceremoniously. “I do like a certain neatness to the garden and that probably comes from my heritage,” she says.

For years, Judy handled this very large garden alone, trimming hedges, saving and delivering compost, spreading mulch. Recently, she’s hired a helper for a few hours a week to manage some of the tasks.

Observers will only see a lovely landscape, but Judy remembers the failures as well. She mentions the gooseneck loosestrife that looked effective until it tried to take over the garden. And then there is the tri-color beech she so wanted to grow that was chewed down by marauding rabbits. There was a coreopsis she bought, but the light yellow ‘Moonbeam’ turned out to be the neon-bright ‘Zagreb,’ not the best shade for her color scheme. No matter the hard work or plant mishaps. “I just love doing it,” she says. “I get out there and I find it so absorbing, so interesting.”

Fortunately for the Twin Cities gardening world, it is an interest that has never flagged. ng St. Paul-based Susan Davis Price is a regular contributor to Northern Gardener.

May/June 2019

37

Anton Hesse, left, and David Smith have embraced gardening at David’s house. The roommates began with vegetables, but now grow native plants in a front-yard garden.

NEXT-GEN GARDENERS

Tech-savvy and frugal, millennials embrace the gardening life.

Story and photos by Gail Brown Hudson

Using the square-foot gardening method, Anton plants seeds in one of the vegetable beds.

38

www.northerngardener.org

Swiss chard grows in the raised beds.

This is not your mom and dad’s yard. For the newest generation of gardeners, the mark of pride is no longer an expanse of green, neatly mown lawn and tidy, mulched beds with well-spaced plants and shrubs. With shovels and their favorite forms of social media in hand, many millennials have a different idea of what a good garden looks like.

“I look at grass lawn as kind of a wasted space,” says 26-year-old David Smith, a mechanical engineer who has owned his house in Northeast Minneapolis for a little over two years. “You can’t really do anything.” Dedicating most of his landscape to something more “utilitarian” like vegetable gardening is more in line with his values. “Sustainability, locally grown kind of thing and, obviously, the eco-friendliness [are] huge,” says David.

Roommate and gardening buddy, 27-year-old Anton Hesse, who is studying exercise physiology, also believes in growing vegetables. “I had this theory that I’m in grad school right now, and maybe it will be a little cheaper to grow my own stuff,” he says. “But honestly with the labor costs, it’s probably not. It is really enjoyable, though!”

A New Generation David and Anton are typical gardeners in their age group. The 2018 National Gardening Survey by the National Gar-

dening Association found that members of the millennial generation (born 1981 to 1996) and younger now make up 29 percent of gardening households. The average millennial gardener is male and less than 34 years old.

They are also tech-savvy, concerned about health and the environment, but not overly confident. “Millennials are less confident in their knowledge about gardening and general flower knowledge,” says Chengyan Yue, a University of Minnesota professor and horticultural marketing expert. Like David and Anton, millennials are generally frugal and prefer edible gardening “due to their value consciousness and the ‘local food’ movement.”

David and Anton wasted no time in tearing up the sod on the sunny side of David’s house soon after he bought it.

Cellphones in hand, they began to create a “home improvement” album on Facebook, too, documenting their progress.

“The amount of acquaintances who

Hops grow on string near the house. The gardeners worry it may climb the roof soon.

Heath aster is one of the native plants used in the front garden.

May/June 2019

39

Next-Gen Gardeners

have approached me and said, ‘Oh, I’ve been keeping up with everything you’ve been doing in the house and around the yard,’ ” David says, “is kind of surprising!”

Wanted: Easy Gardening

Peas grew well in David and Anton’s garden.

Cherry tomatoes flourished in the raised-bed gardens.

Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) blooms in the front garden.

40

www.northerngardener.org

The big chunk of lawn gone, it was time to create their first garden “with a purpose,” as David says. They built three raised beds out of cedar planks—their biggest financial investment in gardening to date. “I did a little bit of research,” Anton says. With raised beds, “you don’t have to worry as much about weeds … and it’s an easy way to make your garden look nice and easy to manage.”

But raised beds were only part of the plan. David and Anton wanted to employ the principles they read about in Square Foot Gardening (Cool Springs Press, 2013) by efficiency expert Mel Bartholomew.

Seeds and starter plants grow in a 1-by1-foot grid. The number of plants per square depends on the vegetable. It’s a system the author has promoted since the 1980s as ideal for beginning gardeners and do-it-yourselfers who want to “grow more in less space.”

Anton created a spreadsheet to sort out what would be planted where. They decided to grow tomatoes, kale, chilies, cool-weather greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and more. The gardeners saved money by starting tomatoes, peppers and chili pepper plants indoors from seed, then transplanting them into the beds. “Everything we planted from seed seemed to come up for the most part,” he says.

Next to the raised beds, David and Anton added two more beds with wooden trellises for vining plants such as snap peas and beans, summer squash and cucumbers. Hops seedlings were planted and positioned to run up strings attached to the house. “I’m sure they’re going to grow up and over the roof and we’ll have to figure out what we do with those,” Anton says, laughing.

Once the weather turns warm, the two say they quickly settle into a regular schedule tending the plants. “If we’re both here, we come out and do some gardening in the morning,” David says. “I think gardening is pretty easy, honestly.

You just put [the plants] in. As long as

you water them regularly … you can’t do much wrong.”

Native Plants Out Front Flowers “with a purpose” were the focus in their second year of gardening. “Even when we started the raised beds, I had the idea of replacing the front yard with prairie plants,” David says. “But that’s kind of a daunting task if you’ve never done any gardening.” He attended a “how-to” class on native plants he heard about on Facebook, then signed up to buy several flats of pollinator plants from Wild Ones, a nonprofit that promotes “natural gardening.”

“I liked the idea of providing habitat with flowers,” Anton says. “Whether it’s bees, whether it’s small birds—if we have a lot of pollinators coming over, that’s better for your garden.” And besides, he adds, “not having to mow as much is primo!”

In two days, the front yard was stripped of turf and replaced with native plants and shredded wood mulch to keep the weeds down. David and Anton planted everything from asters, butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) and dotted horsemint (Monarda punctata) to fragrant hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), rigid goldenrod (Solidago rigida), purple coneflowers (Echinacea) and large beardtongue (Penstemon grandiflorus). They say the hard work has paid off.

“It’s kind of nice coming home, walking through the front door and walking through the garden,” David says. “It’s a lot more rewarding than what was there—just grass—and there’s a ton more bees.”

Gardening Challenges In August, David and Anton took stock of their initial gardening experiences.

“One challenge is, you’ve got to put some time into it,” Anton says. He figures he was able to fit in a couple of hours a week around his studies to garden, while David invested about eight hours. “I love spending time outside,” David says. “I get up early, kind of excited to go out and check some boxes on my list.”

Anton says he struggles with timing the harvest of some vegetables, such as broccoli. “I was excited—I expected it to

look a little bit more like supermarket broccoli,” he says. “But then I saw a couple of flowers.” A quick look at the Old Farmer’s Almanac helped him determine what was happening and that it wasn’t too late to harvest the side stems off the main head.

He says the beans went “way too wild, taking over everything;” he noticed the spinach “had some weird stuff going on with its leaves” and admitted he and his friends couldn’t eat enough garden lettuce or arugula before it bolted. “I was pushing salads as hard as I could,” he laughs. “I even had a few breakfast salads, just to try to eat more of it before it went to waste. Eventually, it just got super bitter.”

Future Plans Like many young gardeners, David and Anton say their enthusiasm hasn’t waned—they are just getting started.

In February, they began to build an aquaponics system on a shelf in their kitchen paired with a 40-gallon fish tank.

“To have fresh herbs, fresh basil, fresh rosemary all year long—you can’t beat it,” Anton says. “Smells good, too,” David adds.

Outdoors, the two say they plan to rig an automatic watering system for the raised beds that’s tied into their rain-barrel system that even detects soil moisture. David wants to add anti-pest plants, too, like lemongrass, marigolds and catnip. And Anton wants to try “basketweaving” a row of tomatoes with stakes and string—a technique used to tie up the plants in a figure-8 pattern.

Their enjoyment seems to outweigh any negatives gardening has brought so far. “I like the peas, snap peas and the beans,” David says. “Oh gosh, those are so good—crispy and crunchy,” Anton says.

“Especially now that there’s more stuff to harvest—it’s really fun to go out here like in the morning … grab six or seven tomatoes off the vine, put them in a salad.”

As famous British gardener Gertrude Jekyll once mused, “The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies.” ng

Above: A trellis between the house and the raised-bed garden grows green beans.

Right: A bee savors the Liatris planted in the front garden.

Below: Arugula was one crop that grew almost too well for Anton and David.

Gail Brown Hudson is an Emmy® awardwinning journalist, writer and video producer, as well as an avid gardener in Minneapolis.

May/June 2019

41

Flirty THE

DOZEN For an up-to-date and colorful display, try these 12 head-turning annuals.

Angelface® ‘Perfectly Pink’ angelonia Capsicum annuum ‘Black Pearl’

Story and photos by Michelle Mero Riedel Castor bean (Ricinus communis)

FIRST-TIME GARDENERS OFTEN GROW old-fashioned annual plants—geraniums, pansies and impatiens, just to name a few. It’s probably because that’s what their mothers and grandmothers did. Plus, garden centers carry an abundance of these affordable flowers each spring. Although the tried-and-true plants work and are easy to grow, these standards are not necessarily showstoppers. Adding something unusual and unexpected will give your containers and gardens a modern look.

Annuals are the foundation of the garden. They are born to germinate and grow leaves and flowers to the limit, then expire—all in one short season. Perennials are also important, but their blooming takes a break or disappears at some point in the season. Annuals, with their constant color, easy maintenance and fast growth, are exciting to grow. Every year, I make an effort to try something new and unfamiliar for garden interest, depth and energy. There are oodles of unusual nursery plants bred to perform well in both containers and the garden from spring into fall.

Here are a dozen happy-growing, undemanding and underused annuals to add personality to your garden. Plant height will depend on the variety you are growing.

42

www.northerngardener.org

WITH FLOWERS

sun to part shade, 18 to 24 inches 1 Many of us are familiar with snapdragons that bloom and Summer Snapdragon (Angelonia angustifolia),

then quit partway through the season. Angelonia is similar to the common snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) and penstemon.

Instead of double lips that open and close, angelonia’s mouth is fixed, more like a penstemon. Strong upright stems hold clusters of colorful flowers, like that of a foxglove, but smaller in size and shape. And unlike snapdragons, angelonia blooms all season in hues of pink, purple or white.

Pepper (Capsicum annuum), 2 Ornamental sun to part sun, 12 to 18 inches

Some vegetables are too pretty for the vegetable garden.

Ornamental peppers are fashionable enough for containers and flowerbeds. These spicy, hot peppers are a late-summer, delicious delight, but grow them for non-edible purposes, too.

Although peppers produce flowers midseason, it’s the mid- to late-season fruits and foliage that attract the most visual attention.

Bean (Ricinus communis), 3 Castor full sun, 5 to 10 feet

In the back border of the garden, exotic castor bean cascades above all the other plants. I love tropical leaves, so this plant is perfect with its large, palmate (star-shaped) leaves reaching more than a foot across. Select the burgundy leaf varieties;

Gomphocarpus physocarpus ‘Oscar Swan’

Bright Lights™ ‘Double Moonglow’ osteopermum

Luscious™ ‘Royale Cosmo’ lantana

they are prettier than the plain green ones. The spiny red flower takes second place to the leaves, but it’s still a bona fide garden stunner. Caster bean is easy to grow from seed. With lots of heat and sun, the plant will easily reach its height potential by late summer. Castor bean pairs nicely with tall ornamental grasses.

Beware, however: Castor beans are poisonous to humans and dogs. Don’t plant them if you have a child or pet that may accidentally ingest them.

Daisies (Osteospermum hybrid), 4 African sun to part shade, 8 to 24 inches

The phrase “everything’s coming up daisies” certainly applies to osteospermums. More dazzling than a traditional daisy, osterspermum comes in all the traditional flower colors. They thrive in fall, spring and moderate summer temperatures; they take a short break during the summer’s intense heat. Most varieties have a purple eye with attached single or double petals that fan out. It’s worth trying the recently introduced osteospermums, which boast a yellow center disc. This new variety’s best feature is season-long heat tolerance, which is a plus for impatient gardeners who need four months of color.

5

Balloon Plant Milkweed (Gomphocarpus physocarpus), sun to part shade, 4 to 6 feet Another back-border plant, balloon milkweed will reward you with an abundance of Monarch butterflies and larvae. In mid- to late-summer, the plant blooms are showy, elegant, cream with a touch of purple, dangling flower clusters. After it flowers, you’ll

get show-stopping, hairy, light green, balloonlike pods about 3 inches across. They are a conversation piece, and rightly so, as the stems make excellent dried flower arrangements.

(Lantana camara), 6 Lantana sun to part shade, 12 to 24 inches

Lantana might just be the easiest annual to grow. It can handle neglected soil, it doesn’t need deadheading, and it comes in an array of sizes, colors and habits—upright, trailing or mounded. I prefer the trailing lantana in a pot and the mounded habit in the garden. Some of the varieties with an upright habit tend to sprawl, which is great if there’s plenty of garden space. They are a welcome eruption of color; the more colorful they are, the more they lure butterflies and bees. My favorite flower cluster color combo is pink, orange and yellow.

“Adding something unusual and unexpected will give your containers a modern look.”

May/June 2019

43

The Flirty Dozen

Cleome ‘Cherry Queen’

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Cappuccino’

Acalypha wilkesiana ‘Copperhead’

7 sun to part shade, 12 to 36 inches

Gloriosa Daisy (Rudbeckia hirta),

Rudbeckia is also known as black-eyed Susan for its sultry eye and daisylike petals. Most nurseries grow annual rudbeckias for their luscious, large flowers, and some reach 7 inches across on strong stems. One of my favorite features is their willingness to handle frosty temperatures. The lucky gardener may notice that some plants self-seed. Pinch back the spent flowers to encourage more blooms. Rudbeckias are excellent cut flowers; a vase full is pure joy!

Flower (Cleome hassleriana), 8 Spider sun to part shade, 20 to 50 inches

Cleome’s flower shape is why it’s aptly called the “spider flower.” It carries a light and airy 6-inch cluster of petals with long stamens that stick out like a star. Cleome performs best in a full-sun garden, but I’ve had luck with them in part sun in both containers and the landscape. Cleome is a terrific garden addition for a variety of reasons: its arching exceptional stems rarely need staking; it tolerates heat and drought; it has beautiful color spring through fall; and it’s pretty much pest-free. Some gardeners think its odor is pungent, but I don’t have a problem with the scent, and there are some odorless varieties available.

44

www.northerngardener.org

SANS FLOWERS

sun to part shade, 2 to 4 feet 9Grown for its foliage, acalypha is attractive as a houseplant, Copperleaf (Acalypha wilkesiana),

a thriller in a patio container or as a grouping in the garden— showcasing itself in a green-leaved garden. No matter which variety I choose, the plant’s dappled colors on toothed leaves are a sure attention-getter. At first look, it resembles a coleus. But upon closer inspection, the leaves are glossier, and its flowers are lacy, small and insignificant. By the end of the growing season, the plant has reached about 3½ feet tall. This is definitely one worth growing!

10 maritima), sun to part shade, 8 to 18 inches

Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria or Jacobaea

I know this silver plant has been around for decades, but there are some new varieties worth trying. The old-fashioned variety has delicate, fernlike foliage. The newer varieties have broader, larger leaves similar to a white oak. These plants thrive in sun, are drought-tolerant, require little care and have long-lasting leaves. Landscapers love adding Dusty Miller to minimal-care garden borders. I favor it as a complement to brighter annuals in a container planting.

Dusty Miller

Polka Dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)

Pennisetum setaceum ‘Fireworks’

11

Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya), part shade to shade, 8 to 18 inches Originally grown as a houseplant in low light, newer polka dot varieties were bred as an accent annual plant for shady areas.

Polka dot plant comes in white, pink and red leaves mixed with green. Although deadheading isn’t needed, when the stems get leggy, I like to trim them back to a bushier habit. Bring the plant indoors at the end of the season so you can enjoy it during the cold-weather months.

12 sun to part sun, 24 to 48 inches

Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum),

Fountain-shaped grasses are a gardener’s dream come true.

They’re excellent as a single accent plant in the landscape or as a container garden thriller; however, I prefer them mass planted.

Green grasses are available, but I tend to buy the showier purple or red variegated varieties with long pink plumes. They perform better in full sun, but they can tolerate as little as 4 to 6 hours of sun. They may take a while to mature, so I usually purchase a large plant where available. ng U of M Extension master gardener and professional photographer Michelle Mero Riedel is a frequent contributor to Northern Gardener.

THE IMPORTANCE OF N-P-K FOR ANNUALS Unlike perennials that come back year after year, annuals have one season to make it right. Since they grow so fast, plant food or fertilizer is extremely important. Fertilizers contain three major nutrients: • N: Nitrogen promotes leaf growth necessary for photosynthesis.

• P: Phosphate fosters healthy roots and promotes flowers and stems.

• K: Potassium helps annuals digest food.

Fertilizing helps annuals grow larger flowers and more leaves and it gets them fuller faster. Feed annuals regularly with water-soluble (preferred) or slow-release plant food. Plant food packaging will show three numbers, such as 20-10-20. This stands for the ratio in order of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. I use watersoluble fertilizer every two weeks. I follow the directions and enjoy lush, healthy plants.

—M.M.R.

May/June 2019

45

(Hot tub)

Climbers are great screens. Can you see the hot tub hiding behind the plants?

UP, UP AWAY AND

Climbing plants expand your garden and hide its flaws.

Story and photos by Susy Morris

46

www.northerngardener.org

Climbing plants are a valuable addition to any landscape. They allow us to expand garden space, screen eyesores, add drama and wonder, or create mystery in the garden. They can also be planted to scramble up trees and shrubs, adding another layer of interest to enhance woody plants during their off-season.

You can find both annual and perennial vines that grow masses of lush greenery in a single season, those that provide stunning displays of flowers, and vines that provide fruit and vegetables for your kitchen. If you want to raise the thrill quotient of your garden, go up.

Designing Up In a small garden, where space is at a premium, adding climbers can double or even triple the growing area. The footprint of a climbing plant is relatively small compared to the vertical area it takes up. Climbers will cover fences, sheds and houses, softening them and anchoring them into their space and the garden.

Walls and fences can also be turned into features with climbers, allowing us to use those spaces for more color and, of course, more plants!

Climbers are also valuable allies in screening things we’d rather not see—compost piles, the neighbor’s house, an ugly wall, and those necessary but not so pretty garbage and recycling bins. You don’t even have to screen it all. A trellis with a flowering vine in the foreground can distract attention from the unsightly view beyond.

They can be used to mark changes in garden areas and create intrigue. An archway leading into the vegetable garden creates drama and interest by hiding part of the garden while providing a place to grow flowers for pollinators or vegetables for the table.

This red barn is attractive, but the morning glories add another layer of interest.

Sweet autumn clematis adorns a rustic fence.

Layers of Interest Layered into trees and shrubs, climbers add additional layers to the garden and color to evergreens during the off-season. They can be valuable allies when shrubs look less than lovely. For example, mock orange (Philadelphus) is stunning when in bloom but bland the rest of the summer. A late-blooming clematis scampering up and over it will add color over a longer time. Hydrangea vines climbing large tree trunks are a favorite of mine; not only do they add masses of lovely white flowers, the vines themselves add stunning texture during the winter months.

Many climbers can be planted together to extend the season of blooms or add extra color during bloom time. Clematis and climbing roses are perhaps the most popular combination and grow quite happily together, the clematis covering the scraggly lower branches of its companion. They can be selected to bloom simultaneously or in succession.

So Many Options You can easily find both perennial and annual plants that will scramble up and over trellises, arbors, walls, fences and other plants. Climbers can be selected for height as well, with some

A metal trellis and purple clematis blend effortlessly together.

May/June 2019

47

Up, Up and Away Northern Favorites Perennials: Clematis, Hydrangea petolaris, Lonicera peliclymenum, grape vines, trumpet vine (in some areas, this is considered invasive), roses (particularly ‘New Dawn’), hops, Virginia creeper (a lovely native with stunning fall foliage) Annuals: Sweet peas, climbing beans, hyacinth beans, Spanish flag, morning glories (start early indoors from seed), cardinal vine, cup and saucer vine —S.M.

(Security light pole)

Light pole? What light pole?

The hummingbird vine completely distracts your eye.

growing only 4 feet tall while others can grow 20 to 25 feet in a single season. Annual vines can be valuable to create virtually instant height in garden areas. Perennial vines will take a few years to settle into place and start growing in earnest.

Choose your climber depending on the situation. Hydrangea vines are happy on the north side of the house and will grow up a tree trunk in shade as well (even dry shade once established).

Trumpet vines and morning glories are happy on south walls and hot corners of the garden. Climbing roses, honeysuckles and clematis all thrive on east- and west-facing walls. I have a yellow vine honeysuckle (Lonicera prolifera) happily scrambling up the wall beside our front door. It’s paired with Gertrude Jekyll and ‘New Dawn’ roses, which also love the climate of the east-facing house wall.

Structure and Strength Climbers need something to attach to, of course, and it should not be your house walls. Many vines can damage siding and masonry, even growing into bricks. Most climbers will also need to be tied to their supports. While some vines have strong tendrils that grab on their own, even those types benefit from a couple of strong ties to add support during windstorms and heavy winter snow loads.

A classic garden entry includes a trellis covered in a climbing rose.

Annual climbers grown up trellises and wigwams create instant structure in beds and borders, first from the support, and then from the vine itself as it grows. They can be grown year after year on permanent supports, or they can be used as temporary dividers or as fillers as other plants mature. Their impermanence means they can be used as a planning tool. Use one for a summer to see if you want to add a permanent trellis and climber in a specific location in the border.

When training climbing vines up trellises, be sure to attach the trellises securely to walls or anchor them well in the ground.

A mature vine can be heavy and can catch wind readily during storms. A good foundation is key to avoiding any catastrophe with mature plants. Trellises attached to walls need to have space between the trellis and the wall. Use blocks of wood or some other medium to keep them 5 to 6 inches away from the wall. This gives the plant better air circulation and enables easier access for tying and pruning.

Whether you want to add height, cover an unsightly wall or layer in more blooms, there’s a climbing plant that will suit your garden and your needs. More than likely, after adding one, you’ll be searching for more places to layer more climbers in the garden, creating your own paradise of vines. ng Susy Morris gardens in Maine and blogs at www.chiotsrun.com.

48

www.northerngardener.org

Caring for climbing plants is pretty straightforward.

Caring for Climbers

With its unusual leaf shape and yellow blooms Lonciera prolifera adds texture and color to a wall.

A simple teepeelike structure gives beans something to climb.

When planting a vine to grow up a wall or tree, be sure to give the plant space—plant the root ball at least 2 feet and preferably 3 feet from the wall. Even after a drenching rain, the soil next to a wall or tree can still be bone dry. If needed, use an angled support to guide the plant toward the wall. Amend the soil well at planting.

Despite their small footprint, climbers can be large plants and will be healthier over the long run if provided with good nutrition from the start.

Most vines benefit from additional fertilizer, especially if they are layered into a garden with other plants.

Any complete fertilizer will do (tomato feed is a good option). My preferred regimen is mulching thoroughly with compost in spring and adding a foliar feed of halfstrength seaweed fertilizer twice a month during the growing season.

Pruning tends to cause gardeners the most anxiety, especially pruning clematis. In northern climates, clematis that bloom early in the season (May or June) do not need pruning—simply clear away dead growth in spring. Clematis that bloom later should be cut back to 6 to 12 inches above the ground in early spring. Other woody vines should be pruned like shrubs—trim out caption can go here— dead or diseased branches after bloom to avoid pruning (Polkadot) off future blooms. They can also be pruned to maintain size and reduce weight on trellises.

—S.M.

Cardinal vine covers a downspout for late-season color.

Climbing hydrangeas cover a tree trunk.

May/June 2019

49

‘

TROPICAL WONDER

Tall, with cup-shaped leaves, ‘Coffee Cups’ taro is a stunner in the garden.

Colocasia’s massive leaves and new colors will make your patio an island paradise.

Story and photos by Soni Forsman

C

olocasias, known as taros, have brought a touch of the tropics to my northern waterscapes for many years.

The large heart- or arrow-shaped leaves droop down, giving this plant another popular name: elephant ears.

Members of the arum family (Araceae), colocasias are easy to grow when given lots of water, full to part sun and fertilizer. These adaptable plants thrive in soil that retains moisture or in a water garden. I grow them sitting in water but I see them in gardens, too, as a dramatic backdrop for foreground plantings or a featured plant but most often as the thriller plant in a container of annuals. They seem to have no insect or disease problems and are deer resistant.

The species Colocasia esculenta, called “giant taro,” has bright green leaves and stems. Hybrids sport foliage in all shades of green and purple to almost black, and some are patterned. These leaves are held aloft on 3- to 6-foot petioles—the stalk that joins the leaves to the stem—in hues of green, purple, black and cream.

50

www.northerngardener.org

Planting and Care Whether I receive my taros bare-root by mail or buy them growing in 5- or 6-inch plastic pots from garden centers, I plant or repot them into 2-gallon nursery pots using a good quality top soil, preferably with some clay. I do not use bagged potting mix for water plants because it is lightweight and tends to wash out. I dose the bottom third of the soil with a granular aquatic fertilizer and add a couple of aquatic fertilizer tabs each month through August.

To plant in the garden, amend the soil with compost and add a timed-release fertilizer. Use a bagged potting mix with fertilizer for container arrangements. In either case, water plantings frequently; routinely add a water-soluble fertilizer for best growth.

I recently moved my taros out of my inground water gardens and into water-tight decorative containers to accessorize our patio, deck and porch. I showcase single taros in jardinières and combine a taro with a couple of other water plants that have

contrasting and complementary foliage in larger pots. Companion plants include canna, Mexican petunia (Ruellia brittoniana), sedge (Carex), sweet flag (Acorus) and umbrella plant (Cyperus) especially the Graceful Grasses® cultivars Prince Tut™ and Baby Tut™.

Clumping Options Colocasias grow from a bulblike root called a “corm.” Runners or stolons shoot out from the rootstock, growing new plantlets as they move out from the parent. Within the past 15 years, new clumping hybrids have hit the market.

These new cultivars produce few or no runners, making them less invasive in the garden.

The taro breeding program of John Cho at the University of Hawai’i has introduced many of these new varieties.

The taros in the Royal Hawaiian® series are also in demand for their foliage and stem colorations. Other new non-running cultivars are coming from Brian Williams of Brian’s Botanicals in Kentucky.

Native to Southeast Asia, colocasia became a food staple for the people who live there and in Hawai’i. As a food crop, colocasia is used in poi, a traditional Hawaiian dish made by cooking and mashing the corm.

To overwinter a taro growing from a corm, cut off the foliage once it is damaged by frost. Lift the rootstock, shake off the soil and let dry in a cool place for a couple of weeks. Pack in dry peat moss and store in a cool, dark location.

Another option is removing a small plant growing at the end of a runner, plant and winter as a houseplant, keeping it moist.

For clumpers, cut off all but the two newest leaves before frost. Move inside into bright light and provide plenty of water.

TAROS TO TRY

‘Violet-stem’

‘Illustris’ The purple-black, velvet-looking leaves are accented with bright green veins and petioles. It grows to 4 feet.

‘Black Magic’

My first taros were Colocasias esculenta ‘Violet-stem’ and ‘Black Magic’. I still grow the classic cultivars, but I try one or two new varieties each year. ng Soni Forsman gardens in Eagan and frequently writes on water gardening and other topics.

Colocasia adds drama to this water garden.

‘Fontanesii’ (Violet-stem) This longtime favorite is prized for its deep purple stems that support glossy green leaves.

The petiole color extends into the prominent veins on the undersides of the foliage. It is a tall variety, growing up to 5 feet.

‘Black Magic’ In full sun, the foliage is charcoal-black. With less sunlight, it can be lighter with areas of plum and green. The 4-foot petioles are burgundy-black.

‘Heart of the Jungle’ This tall variety can reach 5 feet. The dark purple color of the petioles continues into the veining on the backs of the leaves. The edges of the large blue-green leaves are slightly ruffled.

‘Illustris’

‘Coffee Cups’ The cup-shaped leaves collect water and even small debris.

Eventually the water evaporates or the wind tips it just enough to empty. The nearly black stems can reach 5 feet.

‘Elena’ This shorter taro has bright chartreuse-green foliage accented with a pink-purple dot where the stem attaches to the leaf.

The petioles are creamy white at the base, gradually changing to purple where they meet the leaves. However, mine did not return true in its second year.

The leaves were larger and randomly blotched with darker green shapes. It also grew at least a foot taller. I emailed pictures to Brian Williams of Brian’s Botanicals asking “What happened?” He answered that I now have Colocasia esculenta continued on page 52

‘Heart of the Jungle’

May/June 2019

51

more TAROS TO TRY ‘Midori Sour.’ ‘Elena’ is a sport.

He concludes his response: It (‘Midori Sour’) may send out an all yellow sport later which would be ‘Elena.’

‘Mojito’ The large green leaves have irregular speckles and spots of near black. Purple and pink stripes on the 4-foot petioles accent the striking foliage.

‘Elena’

‘Midori Sour’

‘Hawaiian Punch’

‘Black Coral’

‘

‘Black Ripple’, PPAF, formerly ‘Puckered Up’ The former name describes the uniquely textured dark foliage of this introduction from Brian’s Botanicals. The leaves and 3- to 4-foot petioles are the same dark color. Leaf undersides are maroon.

‘Maui Gold’ PP24482 From the Royal Hawaiian® series, this taro lights up its space with large lime green leaves set off by the ivory 4-foot stems that turn light purple where they join the foliage.

‘Hawaiian Punch’ PP24596 Another taro from Cho, the large glossy army-green leaves are edged with a thin burgundy ribbon that matches the petiole color. It grows 4 feet tall.

‘Black Coral’ PP23896 This bold specimen plant with large, glossy, jet-black leaves accented with ripples comes from the Hawaiian hybridizer.

The 4-foot petioles match the foliage color.

—S.F.

52

www.northerngardener.org

PLANT HAVEN INC.

‘Electric Blue Gecko’ PPAF The black-purple petioles are up to 4 feet long and display foliage of the same color with maroon undersides. The leaf veining on the leaf tops may appear slightly blue depending on the angle of the sun. It comes from Brian’s Botanicals.

MEG COWDEN

Leaf-footed plant bug nymphs

PEST PLANNING

» Which garden pests are likely to bug you in 2019?

By Mary Lahr Schier

I

n July 2018, I noticed swarms of iridescent flies on the row of ‘Karl Foerster’ grass that separates my patio from my neighbors. Dozens and dozens of flies covered the grass and the vegetable garden nearby. Other gardeners reported similar infestations in 2018—horse flies, deer flies, Colorado potato beetles, flea beetles, soldier beetles and newer, more concerning insects such as Japanese beetles and spotted wing drosophila.

Was 2018 a particularly good (bad?) year for garden pests?

And, what about the coming season—did the polar vortex that settled over the Upper Midwest in January really knock back old garden pests or new invasive insects?

Maybe, maybe not, say two University of Minnesota Extension entomologists. Let’s run through the lineup.

WHITNEY CRENSHAW, BUGWOOD.ORG

Adult Colorado potato beetle

Flies and Garden Pests Blow flies (the guys on my grass) did have a sudden, short-lived increase in numbers during the summer of 2018, possibly due to the wet, warm weather experienced by parts of the state.

Any other increases seen in typical garden pests were likely a localized phenomenon, says Jeff Hahn, an extension entomologist. These surges can be related to rain, soil conditions, how you care for your garden and past infestations.

“The thing to remember about most vegetable garden pests like Colorado potato beetles is that they have been around here a lot longer than we have,” Hahn says. “They can handle the climate and conditions here and thrive.”

The snowy, cold winter of 2018-19 is not likely to make a difference in their numbers. Insects that are newer to our climate, such as emerald ash borers, Japanese beetles, spotted wing drosophila and the latest threat, the brown marmorated stink bug, could be affected by severe cold, however.

Emerald Ash Borers The insect most likely to suffer a setback from the cold winter is the emerald ash borer. The borers overwinter under the bark of trees, which provides some protection from cold. A United States Forest Service study after the last polar vortex in 2014 found that temperatures of minus 20 degrees F or lower

»

May/June 2019

53

Pest Planning

Japanese Beetles

MARY LAHR SCHIER

Japanese beetles have been in our area for more than 50 years, says Bill Hutchison, a U of M entomologist who specializes in insects and fruit. They continue to thrive here, in part because the beetles are not picky eaters and reproduce like crazy. Roses, grapes, linden trees, birch trees, green bean plants—they’ll happily eat any of it. Drought around mating time can knock back their numbers, Hutchison says. They overwinter as grubs underground, sometimes as far down as 6 to 8 inches. Any snow cover during the severest portion of the winter protects them. The U is currently studying winter survival rates of Japanese beetle grubs. Going into the winter of 2018-19, grub numbers were high in the test area in Rosemount: 26 Japanese beetle grubs per square foot. Bottom line: You’ve been warned.

Japanese beetle

54

www.northerngardener.org

The spotted wing drosophila is a frustrating pest to deal with for both home gardeners and commercial fruit growers, says Hutchison. Like Japanese beetles, it’s not choosy about its targets. Raspberries are a favorite because the soft skin of the fruits makes it easy for the females to deposit eggs inside the fruit. But they will invade other berry crops and even thinskinned grapes. They have a rapid reproductive cycle and the females lay up to 400 eggs at a time—so gardeners can go from having a minor problem to a severe one quickly.

Spotted wing drosophila

Hutchison recommends using monitoring traps to discover if you have spotted wing drosophila in your garden. Covering plants is one way to exclude the insects, though timing is crucial because you want bees to be able to pollinate plants.

For commercial growers, targeted treatment with insecticides when the pest is first discovered can keep the insects from infesting a field, resulting in lower crop losses and less overall use of insecticides.

The New Guy The brown marmorated stink bug is the newest threat to northern gardens, though numbers are still very small, says Hutchison. This type of stink bug came into the United States from Asia in packing crates. It can damage up to 300 types of crops, including many fruits and vegetables. Stink bugs cannot survive winter in Minnesota outdoors, so most overwinter in

Brown marmorated stink bug

SUSAN ELLIS, BUGWOOD.ORG

will kill about half of the borer larvae. Up to 90 percent may die in temperatures of lower than minus 30 degrees. However, even a severe setback does not eliminate the threat of borers to urban landscapes and Minnesota forests. “The effect will be temporary,” says Hahn. “If we had minus 30 every year, it would be interesting to see what would happen.”

Spotted Wing Drosophila

HANNAH BURRACK BUGWOOD.ORG

ERIC R. DAY. BUGWOOD.ORG

Emerald ash borer

houses, garages and barns. Brown marmorated stink bugs resemble other common garden pests so the U and other universities have created an app to help gardeners identify it. Search for the “Midwest Stink Bug Assistant” where you get apps for your iPhone or Android device. Stink bugs do stink—some say the smell is like cilantro—and they can be a big nuisance in houses in the fall when they seek shelter.

Predicting pest numbers is speculative at best, says Hahn.

Factors such as cold, snow cover and local conditions determine how many insects will be in your garden this spring. For home gardeners, monitoring your landscape regularly, knowing which insects are likely to visit your garden and which are beneficial is the most sensible approach. ng

»

Mary Lahr Schier edits Northern Gardener magazine.

Resources What Insect is This? Go to extension.umn.edu and search for “garden insects” to find this U of M resource.

Garden Insects of North America: The Ultimate Backyard Guide by Whitney Crenshaw (Princeton University Press, 2017) —M.L.S.

VEGETABLE GARDEN FOES

Colorado potato beetles emerge in May, about the same time as potatoes. The adults mate, and females can lay up to 350 eggs on the leaves of a potato plant. When larvae emerge, both adults and larvae eat the leaves. Once they get through the potatoes, they move to tomatoes, peppers and other members of the nightshade family. For home gardeners, the best control is to patrol your potato patch regularly, picking the adults and either squishing them or dropping them in a bucket of water. Look for the distinctive orange-yellow egg masses on the backsides of the leaves and destroy them.

WHITNEY CRENSHAW

Colorado potato beetle eggs

Cutworms cause damage in spring when the worms, which are larvae of moths, slice through the stalks of transplanted vegetables. A sure sign of cutworms is the neat cut at the base of the plant. To deter them, try using cutworm collars made of cardboard rolls, such as toilet paper rolls. Place the rolls around the stems, a few inches below and above ground, effectively blocking the worms from getting at your plant.

Squash vine borers are the larvae of the clearwing moth, which emerge in late June or early July and lay eggs at the base of susceptible plants. The eggs hatch and burrow into the stems and vines of the plant, eating their way through the vine, and killing the plant from the inside. Once they are done feeding, they drop into the ground, make a cocoon and stay there until the next summer. They can be tough to control and your best strategy may be to plant vine crops that the borers don’t like, such as butternut squash, cucumbers and melon. You can also cover your plants with row covers when the clearwings are flying around.

Remove the covers after the plants have flowered to give bees access to the plant for pollination. Some gardeners wait until mid-July to plant out squash. The borers are safely underground at that point.

Tomato hornworms get their name because of the stingerlike horn protruding from their back end.

They are the caterpillars of sphinx moths and feed only on members of the nightshade family. Hornworms are about the size of your pinky finger and green in color, which camouflages them. Defoliation of the top of a plant is usually the first sign of their presence. If you find one, cut it in half. (Gross, but effective, and totally organic.) Hornworms can destroy a tomato plant in a matter of hours.

—M.L.S.

Tomato hornworm

MARY LAHR SCHIER

Most bugs are good bugs. They help with pollination, provide food for birds and are part of the ecosystem of your garden.

In vegetable gardens, some pests can be destructive, however, and may require more than monitoring. Here are four common vegetable garden pests.

May/June 2019

55

Pest Planning

MARY LAHR SCHIER

DEER CONTROL DISCOVERIES

By Kent Scheer Deer can be an occasional irritation or a constant threat to the garden, and the Internet is full of remedies. But much of this flood of advice is so questionable that it borders on folklore. Commercial repellents work, but they can be costly over time.

stabilize it. While 16-by-16 is not large, the enclosed area could produce hundreds of dollars worth of vegetables or protect a special nursery plot or safeguard parent stock of a prized hosta collection.

Here’s why it works: Deer are afraid of being trapped and micro-exclosures create a psychological roadblock. The operational assumption is that deer make

Micro-exclosures can be any size or shape and built of a variety of materials, but they must be at least 4 feet high. The ones I built were made from 16-foot cattle panels. The four panels were secured using cable clamps at three of the corners, with one left open to allow entry to the area. A steel T-post was secured at the center of each side to

56

KENT SCHEER

Recently, I’ve experimented with what I call a “deer micro-exclosure,” and in cooperation with the Regional Sustainable Micro-exclosures are small fenced Development Partnership areas. They seem to deter deer from of the University of Minentering because deer fear being nesota Extension, we’ve trapped. found its effectiveness approaches 100 percent when it is built according to specifications.

www.northerngardener.org

judgments relative to safety. If an area appears too small, they will not risk entry even when the fence is fairly low because they don’t want to be trapped there. If a breach occurs, it is easily resolved by making the enclosed area appear smaller.

Simply string a visible wire, hung with flagging, across the center to reinforce the sense of enclosure. While we know deer can adapt to new situations, the preliminary results of this method are excellent.

Guess what else works on deer? Homemade egg spray!

The same project found that homemade egg sprays worked as well as commercial sprays most of the time.

A simple formula of three eggs thoroughly blended into a gallon of water that is used regularly and reapplied as needed was reasonably effective at deterring deer.

Kent Scheer owns Green Island Preserve, a nature area open to the public, in Wadena. He welcomes your observations and feedback on these or other deer control methods at kentscheer@ outlook.com.

gardener’s market ACCESSORIES

BOOKS

GARDEN CENTERS

SQUIRE HOUSE GARDENS

GIFT SHOP • GARDENS • NURSERY LANDSCAPE DESIGN

SEE OUR WEBSITE

www.squirehousegardens.com 3390 Saint Croix Trail South Afton, Minnesota 55001 651-436-8080

ACCESSORIES

Busse Gardens Perennials Unique perennials, native plants, Hostas, and Minnesota Mums

WHERE FLOWERS FEED YOUR SOUL

Open to the public most weekends in May and June Landscape Design and Installation Custom Stonework and Sculpture Including Unique Benches, Birdbaths, and More Visit our Display Garden in Inver Grove Heights

Visit www.bussegardens.com for specific dates and times

Huge Ceramic Pottery Event

April 26 – 28 BUY ONE – GET ONE FREE Pots or Sets – Mix and Match Call for Open Hours or Appointment 651-453-9101 www.NaturalLandscapeMN.com

Photos and more online

We are about an hour’s drive from the Twin Cities. Directions and more at www.bussegardens.com

In the next Issue

We offer a wide selection of unusual perennials, trees , shrubs, evergreens, annuals, pottery, garden accessories and gifts. As well as landscaping and custom potting services.

HWY 13 at 35E 941 Sibley Memorial Highway St. Paul, MN 55118 • (651) 457-6040

www.lilydalegardencenter.com

Small footprint Surprising selection spring everything summer natives fall pumpkins year round gifting

Northern Gardener July/August 2019

◙ A Japanese Garden in the North ◙ Shed Style, Part II ◙ Grow a Garden for Insects

2 Minneapolis locations 3738 42nd Ave S 2318 Lowry Ave NE motherearthgarden.com

◙ White Vegetables www.northerngardener.org May/June 2019

57

gardener’s market GARDEN CENTERS

LANDSCAPING

NATIVE PLANTS

Over 40 Years of Excellence

* Heirlooms * Vegetable Plants * Annuals * Perennials * Trees, Shrubs, & Much More 18364 County Rd. 9, Lester Prairie * (320) 395-2780 Open Year-round * Closed Sundays

ORGANIC GROWER’S BLEND + TOPSOIL + RAISED GARDEN BLEND + COMPOST + MANURE + TEN VARIERTIES OF MULCH + CLASS FIVE + RIVER ROCK + SAND + SEED DELIVERY + PICK-UP + AWESOMENESS

www.HolasekFlowerPower.com

kernlandscaping.com Saint Paul, MN 651.646.1553

GARDEN MAINTENANCE

HEIRLOOM SEEDS

Personalized professional gardening service

SEED TREASURES

Restorative care for the garden and soul™ Garden Maintenance • Re-Design Restoration • Container Gardening

651-434-7349 www.HomeSownGardens.com

OPEN POLLINATED and HEIRLOOM GARDEN SEEDS

We are a small seed business, raising most of our own historical, open pollinated, non-GMO seeds here in Northern Minnesota. Our seeds are from beautiful, often very rare, varieties we love for their production, shining colors and taste.

Free catalog www.seedtreasures.com jackieclay2007@yahoo.com

NURSERIES & GARDEN CENTERS

Gardens of Rice Creek

8533 Hwy 25, Angora, MN 55703

NATIVE PLANTS

trough garden

Supplying proven hardy:

• Rock Garden Alpines • Dwarf Conifers • Wildflowers • RhododEndrons for over 40 YEARS & still growing!

Lakeshore, Rain Gardens, Pollinator Gardens, and more!

Gardens and Nursery Open Saturdays 9-4 april 28 through Labor day – call for hours in fall –

1315 66th Ave ne • Fridley, mn 55432 (763) 242-5009 We design & build Beautiful Landscapes!

gardensofricecreek.com

58

www.northerngardener.org

PERENNIALS

NURSERIES/GREENHOUSES

NURSERIES/GREENHOUSES

Winter Greenhouse

growing with you...

14 labeled display gardens Perennials you’ve only seen in catalogs 250+ varieties of hostas Over 1,300 perennial cultivars (20,000+plants) ...and the people who know how to grow them.

Make your garden dreams come true...

Large selection of SUSTAINABLY GROWN Specialty Annuals, Heirloom Vegetables and Herbs!

NURSERIES/GREENHOUSES

36 Years Inspiring Plant Lovers W7041 Olmstead Rd, Winter WI - 715-266-4963 Open April 25th - October 15th

952-447-4144 7052 Casey Parkway Prior Lake, MN 55372 www.greenearthgrowers.net

www.wintergreenhouse.com

Vast selection of trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals.

Friendly, knowledgeable staff.

Kelley & Kelley offers unusual annuals, perennials, herbs, topiaries and clay pots, all in a delightful country setting.

PEONIES

Countryside Gardens Peony Farm

MNLA Certified Professionals Landscape Design & Installation

www.knechts.net

Discover Knecht’s, You’ll Be Amazed!

800-924-5015 1601 Hwy 19 West in Northfield

Maxwell’s Woodland Nursery

Well-tended plants in a [ beautiful northwoods setting. ]

trees l shrubs l annuals l perennials l vines l ground covers pottery l baskets l stone planters l trellises l herbs l seeds l bulbs OPEN DAILY: MAY 1 - OCTOBER 1 Phone: 218-353-7726 6185 Lax Lake Rd., Finland, MN

Kelley & Kelley Nursery and Greenhouse 2325 S. Watertown Rd. Long Lake, MN 952-473-7337

Schulte’s

kelleyandkelleynursery.com

Greenhouse & Nursery

midway between Duluth & Grand Marais

Celebrating 34 years!

The Place To Go For Things That Grow 1 mile South of St. Michael, MN on Cty. Rd. 19 Phone 763-497-3747

www.schultesgreenhouse.com

“We Know Our Peonies” Delano, MN 952-955-2283 www.growpeonies.com TREE SERVICES

h

~Tree Removal ~Tree Pruning ~Stump Grinding ~Ash-Elm-Oak Tree Treatments

h Brian Mickelson ISA Certified Arborist MN-4166A 612-216-1767 • 651-343-0389 March/April 2019 mntreesurgeons.com

51

northern view

Meleah Maynard

Turkey Rations

I

t will be spring by the time you read this. But as I write, the snow is falling (endlessly) and I’m worried about wild turkeys. A few months back, while writing about how in the world creatures survive Minnesota winters, I learned that wild turkeys are as tough as they look.

But they can starve to death in winter in a matter of weeks if the ground is covered with deep powdery snow that makes it impossible to forage for food. Though they will eat just about anything, there’s little to come by in winters like this one where, right now, close to 3 feet of snow sits on the ground.

I know that, for a lot of reasons, people aren’t supposed to go around feeding animals in winter. But we already feed and provide heated water dishes to our backyard birds, squirrels, chipmunks and whatever else comes over looking for snacks, a drink or a bath. (Did you know that birds bathe all year long to keep their feathers clean, which helps them hold in warmth?) So I looked up why we shouldn’t feed turkeys and one of the most frequent arguments is that it won’t make that big of a difference because a 15-pound turkey generally eats about 5 pounds of food a week. You’d have to put out thousands of pounds of food regularly to save more than a few turkeys from starvation. Still, those few turkeys probably feel like that’s a BIG, HUGE difference.

Why am I so hung up on turkeys? In case you weren’t aware, in 1782 the turkey nearly became our national bird but lost to the bald eagle by one vote. Honestly, though, I worry about all living things all the time. But when it’s so freezing cold and snowy that I can barely stand to be outside, it’s heartbreaking to think about what creatures must be going through. I mean, imagine what it’s like to be the type of frog that freezes mostly solid during the winter, and then thaws out and hops away in spring? What if something steps on you? Or accidentally breaks one of your legs off?

OK, I do have a little bit of a thing for turkeys. My husband, Mike, and I see them all the time when we visit his mom’s grave at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. That place is crawling with turkeys and they almost always seem to be little families, everyone stalking around together on pokey, prehistoric-looking legs, necks bobbing as they search the ground for acorns, seeds, berries, worms, spiders, snails, beetles, slugs—even frogs and snakes. The cemetery’s grounds are gorgeous, all those perfectly manicured lawns and gardens just brimming with plants, shrubs and trees offering up tasty turkey food. But I bet some visitors really don’t enjoy combining a visit to grandma’s final resting place with having to make way for roving turkeys.

60

www.northerngardener.org

Driving home from a friend’s house the other day, I saw a lone turkey standing by the side of the road. It was rush hour and people were slowing down to stare at it. I wanted to stop, open the car door and have it hop in, so I could drive it someplace safe. Mike and I have many times taken cat-mauled mice, injured birds and other hurt animals to Roseville’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. If they make it, you get a postcard saying something like “Your Eastern Gray squirrel was very dehydrated but recovered well and has been released into the most beautiful meadow ever.”

If nothing comes in the mail, you should assume the worst.

I’m still thinking about that turkey out on the road. I hope it’s OK and nobody thought, “Hey, free turkey!” or worse. I did read that we shouldn’t feed wild turkeys because it can increase their risk for diseases and parasites. It also might make them too tame, so they wind up getting maimed or killed by some yahoo. But I also read, on New Hampshire Fish and Game’s website, that exceptions can be made if “there is 15 or more inches of soft powder snow on the ground for a period of 10 or more days.” In that case, you can feed wild turkeys “cracked or whole kernel corn, sunflower seeds, oats, wheat, or non-medicated commercial poultry or turkey rations.”

This year’s tough winter is over. But if you know where some turkeys are roosting and want to help next winter, they advise spreading the food around, about ½ cup per turkey daily, so everyone gets something to eat. Be sure to do this away from busy roads and buildings. Stop when the snow has melted enough for them to forage again. Smile. ng Meleah Maynard is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer and editor who blogs at livinthing.com.

GROWING MORE THAN YOU CAN EAT? HealthPartners and PowerUp are proud to be a sponsor of Garden-In-A-Box, providing families in need to experience the benefits of gardening.

healthpartners.com/powerupfamily

Garden-in-a-Box

Strengthening Communities by Helping Gardeners Grow

Growing Gardeners for Over 150 Years

The Garden-in-a-Box Program donates raised beds, soil, vegetable and flower plant starts and seeds along with educational support to organizations serving low-income, at-risk children, adults and families. Through the program, participants learn how to grow their own food and foster a sustainable connection to the earth.

Special thanks to our sponsors and donors:

Cargill Foundation, CreekSide Soil, Garden Circles, HealthPartners PowerUp, North Oaks Garden Club, Ramsey County SHIP, Seed Savers Exchange, St. Paul Garden Club, Sustane Natural Fertilizer, Wagners Greenhouses and Garden Center and MSHS members and garden clubs

Learn more about the program at northerngardener.org/garden-in-a-box Questions? Email Maria: MBrosofske@northerngardener.org

Plants don’t get to choose, but you do.

Osmocote® Smart-Release® Plant Food Flower & Vegetable feeds continuously and consistently for up to 4 full months.

If you grow your own, grow with Osmocote®. © 2019, The Scotts Company, LLC. All rights reserved