Garden Visitor

Ever since we put in our pergola in the backyard we have had intermittent visits from hawks. I think they like to perch on the pergola and watch for varmints in our meadow. Usually I am not fast enough with the camera to catch the hawk, but tonight I got a shot of him or [...]

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Bloom Tuesday, No. 18: Election Daisies

I spent a good chunk of Tuesday working as an election judge for the primary election so there was not much time for gardening or blogging, but I wanted to post this photo of the Clara Curtis daisies that are starting to bloom in my garden. These fall bloomers are cheerful, low-maintenance, and blend well [...]

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New Northern Gardener Available

The September/October issue of Northern Gardener is on the newsstands now. The cover story, by St. Paul garden writer Susan Davis Price, talks about the history of community gardening in Minnesota. There are hundreds of community gardens around the state, ranging from an urban oasis such as the gardens near Mears Park in St. Paul, [...]

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Bloom Tuesday, No. 17

New blooms this week include the majestic Hosta plantaginea. I bought mine at the Dakota County Master Gardeners’ plant sale in May, so I am not sure of which variety it is. These are sometimes called August lilies because they bloom later in the summer. The pretty carpet roses in my front garden are also [...]

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A Tough Year for Tomatoes

During my visit to the Minnesota State Fair, I had a chance to chat with the Minnesota Master Gardeners staffing the extension booth in the Horticulture Building. I asked what was the most frequent question they were getting at the fair. The answer: Why do my tomatoes look so bad? Many gardeners (including yours truly) [...]

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