Northern Gardeners magazine
Growing Peanuts in the North? Yep, You Can.
One of the joys of growing your own food is the perennial opportunity to push the growing season and try new things, even those that aren’t typically grown here. Peanuts fit this category perfectly and, as you’ll soon learn, demonstrate that more is possible in northern gardens than conventional wisdom has taught us. If I…
Read MoreCelebrating 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…
Read MoreHome Garden Winner: Laura Stone
This article about Laura Stone, the home garden winner in the MSHS Great Gardening Contest 2021 originally appeared in the November/December 2021 issue of Northern Gardener. Laura Stone moved to a ½-acre of land on Lake Superior in 1986. Two small buildings and an orchard quickly became her life’s project—she’s spent the last 35 years…
Read MoreContainer Garden Winner: Simone Schneegans
This article about the container garden winner in the MSHS Great Gardening Contest 2021 originally appeared in the November/December 2021 issue of Northern Gardener. Our routine Instagram scrolling ground to a halt when we laid eyes on Simone Schneegans’ giant stump planter. Packed with cascading Dorotheanthus, heaping piles of Tradescantia and Lysimachia and a splash…
Read MorePublic Garden Contest Winner: Gethsemane Garden
This article about the public garden winner in the MSHS Great Gardening Contest 2021 originally appeared in the November/December 2021 issue of Northern Gardener. The “gateway” entrance to downtown Minneapolis was once a littered eyesore. But a team of local gardeners had a different vision, transforming this highly visible corner into 22 private garden plots…
Read MoreNew Northern Gardener on Newsstands Soon
The November/December 2021 issue of Northern Gardener has been delivered to most subscribers and will be on newsstands soon. This issue is filled with practical information and inspiration for gardeners from absolute beginners to veterans. I’ll admit it: This may be my favorite issue of the year. Let’s start with the cover. The beautiful photo…
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 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 MoreMaster Gardener Spotlight: Monarch Waystation
This article about the work of Minnesota master gardeners originally appeared in the July/August 2021 issue of Northern Gardener. In September 2020, University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners in Crow Wing County spearheaded an effort to create a Monarch Waystation on the Central Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge campus in Brainerd, a facility for people…
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