THE AUTHORITY ON NORTHERN GARDENING FOR
150
YEARS
Gardener Northern
A MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY PUBLICATION
WINTER 2022
HERBAL HAPPY HOUR
GARDENERS’ WINTER TO-DO LIST BY MONTH
Strange gifts every gardener would love
U.S. $5.99 Can. $6.99 Display until January 31, 2023
A pretty set-it-and-forget-it groundcover
®
MSHS Board of Directors Mary Hockenberry Meyer, Chair Mary Marrow, Vice Chair Paul Markwardt, Treasurer Renay Leone, Secretary Nan Eserkaln Judy MacManus Steve Poppe Laura Wagner Rhys Williams
Winterberry
A NOTE FROM
MSHS Board Chair what do northern gardeners do in the winter? Some say that we garden so intensively in summer that we need a break in the winter. I wonder if that is true... most gardeners I know are thinking of plants no matter what the season! This issue of Northern Gardener is full of ideas to keep you busy thinking of gardening all winter long. Give the gift of a hort society membership this holiday season, and dig into our online Resource Hub this winter for garden planning tools, winter sowing ideas and more. And don’t miss the article on shrubs for containers — yellow twig dogwood has survived in my front porch containers for three straight winters! It looks great in the winter with yellow bark and then flowers in the spring. Who knew this plant would survive Minnesota winters in a container? Looking for ways to get your garden ready for 2023 or practical items that can be repurposed for clever
gardening uses? How about growing an herb garden for mocktails and cocktails for your winter entertaining? Just look inside for your winter reading and planning. Yes, this is our first official winter issue. Members and subscribers, look for a digital supplemental issue in your inboxes in January (don’t miss an issue – share your email if you haven’t already). The next print issue will hit mailboxes March 1, 2023. This new spring edition will be longer and packed full of seasonal tips to kick off the growing season. Despite winter and gardeners relaxing from the summer work, we are always thinking of next year and planning ahead for the best garden ever! Wishing you a restful and fulfilling winter and holiday season. — Mary Hockenberry Meyer MSHS Board Chair
MSHS Staff Lara Lau-Schommer, Interim Executive Director Becky Swee, Communications and Marketing Director Diane Duvall, Development Director Courtney Tchida, Community Programs Director Ann Londrigan, Membership Associate Betsy Pierre, Advertising Sales Manager Elsa Hoover, Quaker Voluntary Service Fellow Emma Krasky Education and Outreach Coordinator
Northern Gardener Cynthya Porter, Editor Debbie Lonnee, Horticultural Editor Sarah Squires, Copy Editor Barbara Pederson, Designer Joe Luca, Newsstand Consultant
Copyright 2022 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.
MSHS community outreach programs generously supported by: 651-643-3601 l info@northerngardener.org
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Minnesota State Horticultural Society
@mnhort
(ISSN) 1529-8515. Northern Gardener is published quarterly (March, May, August, November) by the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, Minn., and additional post offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Northern Gardener, 1935 County Rd. B2 W., Suite 125, Roseville, MN 55113
WINTER 2022 l VOLUME 150 l NUMBER 6
Table of Contents 27
28
Herbal Happy Hour
Winter Garden Calendar
Savory herbs take on delicious dimensions when they are infused into these winter cocktails.
No need to sit and twiddle your green thumbs all winter long. BY MICHELLE BRUHN
BY CYNTHYA PORTER
IN EVERY ISSUE 2 MSHS Board Chair Note 4 MSHS News: Classes, calendar and more. 14 Garden Vibes: The Journey. By Cynthya Porter 14 By Design: More to Do. By Diane McGann 12 Northern Natives: Thicket creeper, grape-woodbine, woodbine, False Virginia creeper. By Beth Stetenfeld 20 Plant to Pick: Little Hottie® Panicle Hydrangea. By Debbie Lonnee
32 Foamflower Fan Forever!
21 Pollinators: Thanks to the Volunteers. By Cynthya Porter
BY GAIL HUDSON
22 DIY: Making Sunprints. By Eric Johnson
A must-have, truly low-maintenance groundcover for the shade.
36 12 Little Shrubs for Containers & Small Gardens Add fuss-free sparkle with pint-sized perfection! BY GAIL HUDSON
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24 Kitchen Garden: 2022 Garden Recap. By Samantha Johnson 26 Garden Solutions: Never Perfect. By Laura Schwarz 44 Northern View: Fairies & Freakouts. By Cynthya Porter
Nine Gifts No One Will Give Me
Weird stuff that will make you a better gardener. BY KATHY PURDY
ABOUT THE COVER:
Cover image by Cynthya Porter Northern Gardener l Winter 2022
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