Celebrating 150 Years of Publishing Garden Information
The January/February 2022 issue of Northern Gardener is on newsstands now, and it’s a special one for several reasons. First, we are marking 150 years of publishing garden information for the North!
Sharing Plant Knowledge
It was in 1873 that the young Minnesota State Horticultural Society published the transactions from its meetings-sharing information with a far-flung network of home gardeners, nursery owners and interested plant people. If you are thinking, wait a minute, that’s 149 years-we get it. In publishing, the volume number starts with “1” so 1873 was the first volume and our 2022 issues make up the 150th volume.
We’ve been scouring through current and long-ago issues to find tips that are relevant to northern gardeners today. The early publications are filled with information on growing fruit, since that was one of the things settlers to the area missed about their home countries and states. The native fruits are frequently mentioned and lauded, though some were considered too tart. Publishing garden information could be controversial then (and now!) as there were many disputes about varieties, gardening techniques and more.
Watch this space over the course of the year as we highlight 150 tips from decades of publishing garden information.
Another All-American Garden
The January/February issue also includes some wonderful articles, including a profile of Marge Hols’ St. Paul garden, which is the latest Minnesota entrant in the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Gardens. Marge is an expert gardener and a generous person, sharing her beautiful garden with our readers and with many visitors over the years.
Elsewhere in the issue, Michelle Mero Riedel updated her guidance on winter sowing. Back in 2009, Michelle wrote about this method for starting seeds outdoors, in winter using mini greenhouses. It was one of our most popular articles ever. Her latest article gives clear instructions to help you succeed with this budget-conscious seed starting method.
In the bad but important news department, Gail Brown Hudson provides the latest information on jumping worms, which are a huge threat to Minnesota gardens and forests. Gail talked with experts from the University of Minnesota as well as gardeners who have been dealing with this new invasive. It’s an important article and we hope you’ll check out her information and advice.
Elsewhere in the issue, you’ll find a what-to-when article from editor Mary Lahr Schier, Laura Schwarz’s advice for dog-proofing your garden and U of M horticulturist Nate Dalman’s research on growing disease-resistant peppers. Of course, all our columnists are there with ideas, inspiration and tips for having the best garden you can.
We hope you enjoy the issue and the tips we’ll be providing all year long!
For gardening tips and to receive Northern Gardener magazine in your mailbox, join the hort!