In a normal year, we would be busy now getting ready for the Minnesota State Fair—prepping for the MSHS Potted Plant Show, sorting T-shirts and garden accessories, lining up speakers for the stage in the Dirt Wing, preparing our state fair garden and getting ready to meet you at the fair. 2020 is not normal, but we wanted to bring you some Minnesota State Fair fun anyway.

MSHS is participating in a program called It’s Not Fair MN, which has created a variety of gift boxes filled with state fair gifts and gear. The four most popular hort society T-shirts from 2019 are back and can be purchased as part of two different It’s Not Fair boxes, or you can buy just the shirts from our specialty printer. The shirts include the always popular Plant Mama shirt, plus Lettuce Turnip the Beet (great for your favorite vegetable gardeners), Totally Radish and the Honey Bee shirt. They’re all fun sayings on high-quality T-shirts — I’ve been wearing Plant Mama in regular rotation all summer and it holds up in the wash perfectly!

Don’t Forget to Renew!

Many people stop by our state fair booth to renew their membership or join for the first time. It’s easy and sometimes there is a perk for members! While we’re not at the fair, we are ready to help you renew and we have a perk for you! Joining and renewing online is really quick and easy – and you receive access to a free showing of Five Seasons, a movie about landscape designer Piet Oudolf and the transformative gardens he has created. When you purchase a membership now through Sept. 7, you’ll receive an email link in September to watch the movie. It’s an amazing film for anyone interested in gardens and garden design.

Celebrate 154 Years of MSHS

Did you know the hort society was born at the fair? It all started 154 years ago at the Minnesota State Fair in Rochester. To celebrate the hort society’s long history, we’re hosting a fundraiser called “$154 for 154.” Donate to the hort society in any amount before Sept. 7 and you’ll also receive access to the Five Seasons movie.

Bulb Fundraiser

While we cannot have a plant show this year, we are offering gardeners a chance to support the hort society through their bulb purchases. Fall is the best time to plant bulbs to bloom next spring. We’re working with Brent & Becky’s Bulbs on this project. Purchase your bulbs online between now and Nov. 15, 2020, through this link, scroll down to select Minnesota Horticultural Society, and Brent & Becky’s will donate 25 percent of your purchase back to the hort society.  Like many nonprofits, we have had to cancel events and classes during the pandemic, which has presented many challenges. Your support will help us continue to provide the information and education our members expect.

And, remember, we are looking forward to seeing you again in 2021!