Notes from Northern Gardener Blog

Today (December 12) is Poinsettia Day! Who knew this favorite holiday plant even had a day of its own. But, today is the anniversary of the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States ambassador to Mexico and an amateur botanist (among many other things), who took a cutting of Euphorbia pulcherrima and eventually…

This article by Brenda Harvieux originally appeared in the November/December 2018 issue of Northern Gardener magazine. It’s one of a series of articles about community gardens assisted by the Minnesota Green program of MSHS. The Hennepin County Horticultural Society (HCHS) has tended several gardens at the Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church in Robbinsdale for four years.…

This review by Julie Jensen originally appeared in the November/December 2018 issue of Northern Gardener magazine. If you’re not interested in yet another technique for making “black gold” or killing off buckthorn but want to spend a few minutes thinking about gardening, reach for Potted and Pruned: Living a Gardening Life (Gardenvangelist Books, 2017). Carol…

If you are considering adding a shrub to your garden next year, think about elderberry — a native plant with unusual foliage, creamy blooms in spring, and berries that are incredibly healthful. What’s not to love ? Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is a native shrub or small tree, hardy to USDA Zone 4. It produces blue-black…

The MSHS Spring Garden Gala has been the must-attend spring event for gardeners for several years now. After a bit of tweaking, we’re going back to our original format and location — and you can reserve your seat starting tomorrow–Saturday, Dec. 1. The 2019 Spring Garden Gala will be held on Thursday, April 4, at…