Posts by Becky Swee
Plant to Pick: ‘Blackhawks’ Big Bluestem
Ornamental grasses add height and texture to our gardens. ‘Blackhawks’ big bluestem also adds exceptional fall (and summer) colors to the perennial garden. Many northern gardeners have cultivars of little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) in their gardens. Much breeding work over the past decade or more on this plant has resulted in its smaller size and…
Read MoreGoldenrod and Asters
Salt and pepper. Batman and Robin. Spaghetti and meatballs. Rhythm and blues. Goldenrod and asters. What? Allow me some alliteration when I say goldenrod and asters are a perfect pairing of powerhouse plants for pollinators. Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass (Milkweed Editions, 2013), writes of applying to be a botany major. Hoping to…
Read MorePlant Profile: Lovely Lemon Balm
As your eyes drift across the garden, you might not immediately notice the bushy herb with the jagged-edged leaves. It’s easy to overlook amongst the sunflowers and the summer squash and the snapdragons. But let’s take a closer look at this unobtrusive and unassuming herb. It’s sometimes called common balm, garden balm, balm mint, dropsy…
Read MorePlant Profile: Anise Hyssop
Anise hyssop is a tactile plant; soft to the touch when in full bloom and as it develops seeds. It also appeals to the other senses—the scent of the foliage is reminiscent of licorice and is used in teas, jams, salads and potpourri. Cylindrical flower spikes, several inches long, work well as cut flowers and…
Read MorePlant Profile: Cardinal Flower
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) gets its name from the brilliant red flowers that grow in an elongated cluster atop the stems, midsummer through early fall. The tubular flowers are two-lipped, with the three lobes of the lower lip appearing more prominent than the two lobes of the upper lip. White- and rose-colored forms can…
Read MoreOrnamental Onion Cultivars
The genus Allium (commonly known as onion) consists of several species that many northern gardeners know well, most commonly chives which have been used for eons in cooking. But, in recent years, there has been an explosion of ornamental onion cultivars. If you are looking for perennials that truly are easy to grow, this plant…
Read MoreTips for Growing Garlic (and a Recipe)
This article first appeared in the September/October 2020 issue of Northern Gardener. Plant garlic this fall and thank yourself later as you enjoy fresh pesto, quiches and other garlic-filled dishes next summer. Growing garlic is easy and fun. Plant the garlic cloves outside in October so roots can develop before the ground freezes, and then…
Read MoreHardscaping and Garden Tours After Quarantine
By Hannah Dove Koi Fish, Little Villages, and An Art Deco Sewer Pipe As the earth transitions from virtual garden tours back to physical ones, a lush planet comes out of quarantine. With the St. Anthony Park Garden Tour, 10 houses were spotlighted for their floriculture. However, what truly caught my eye on the garden…
Read MoreNorthern Natives: Whorled Milkweed
Most gardeners are aware that monarch butterflies benefit when we plant milkweed in our gardens. All species in the Asclepias genus are host plants for monarchs—they lay their eggs on the plants and the hatched caterpillars then feed on the milkweed. Many are familiar with common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), butterflyweed (A. tuberosa) and swamp milkweed…
Read MoreIceberg Alley Sageleaf Willow
Many recent shrub introductions have offered northern gardeners colorful foliage to accent their gardens. Whether it is the reds or purples of ninebark, the chartreuse of spirea or sumac, or a great variegated dogwood, foliage can brighten up our gardens all season long. Until recently, we’ve not had shrubs with silver foliage. We have some…
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