Northern Gardeners magazine
Plant Profile: Anise Hyssop
This article by Beth Stetenfield first appeared in the September/October 2020 issue of Northern Gardener. 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,…
Read MoreOrnamental Onion Cultivars
This article by Debbie Lonnee first appeared January/February 2020 issue of the Northern Gardener. 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.…
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…
Read MoreMember Spotlight: Gardening Tradition
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2021 issue of Northern Gardener. “I know that my mom had a hand in all of this,” says new MSHS member Amy Trossen. “Some of my earliest memories are in the garden.” Amy grew up on a 3-acre property in Brooklyn Park, along with her nine brothers and…
Read MoreNew Places to Find Northern Gardener
While it’s easiest to get each issue of Northern Gardener by subscribing or joining the hort society, you can pick up the magazine at many newsstands. In the past few months, we’ve vastly expanded the number of newsstands that carry the magazine. In addition to many local nurseries and garden centers, Barnes and Noble stores…
Read MoreMaster Gardener Project at Amborella House
The Amborella House, which opened its doors to victims of sex trafficking in October, underwent a landscaping makeover with support from the Chisago County Master Gardeners. With the help of two others, Master Gardener Leslie Scharafanow designed and landscaped about 4,550 square feet of the property, adding two perennial gardens, a mulched seating area, firepit…
Read MorePlant Profile: The Humble Radish
This article by Samantha Johnson first appeared in the May/June 2020 edition of the Northern Gardener It’s springtime and that means it’s time to talk about one of the best (and sometimes overlooked) vegetables: the radish. As gardeners, we praise the merits of peas and pole beans and carrots and lettuce yet fail to truly…
Read MoreGarden Solution: Spider Mites
This article by Laura Schwarz first appeared in the January/February 2019 edition of the Northern Gardener Populations of spider mites go up and down from year to year. In 2018, for example, an abnormally dry summer led to large numbers of the pests. In both my home garden and in the many gardens I tended…
Read MorePlant Profile: Monarda Punctata
This article by Beth Stetenfield first appeared in the May/June 2020 edition of the Northern Gardener. Spotted beebalm is a guaranteed pollinator magnet. Add it to your garden or property and you will see pollinators—butterflies, bumblebees, honeybees, hummingbird moths, hummingbirds and others. While it’s a biennial or short-lived perennial, it readily self-seeds and naturalizes when…
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