May/June Northern Gardener Available

Subscribers should already have in hand the May/June 2020 issue of Northern Gardener, and it will be stores (Lund’s & Byerly’s and Kowalski’s in the Twin Cities) on May 1. This issue with is dramatic cover is filled with garden inspiration and information.

The cover is a photo of a toad lily (Tricyrtis hirta) taken by Gail Brown Hudson in the garden of Minneapolis landscape designer Fred Rozumalski. His garden is largely in shade and Rozumalski has created an easy-to-maintain space that is sustainable and stunning. He takes a tough love approach to plants—if it requires too much water, it’s out. Instead he focuses on beautiful plants that thrive in his conditions—sandy soil, shade and an urban environment.

The issue also includes an article from noted rose breeder David Zlesak and University of Minnesota Extension’s Randy Nelson about the rose trials that were held in Dilworth, MN, the past few years. The trials identified 14 roses that do well with no spraying or winter cover. The roses received the Local Artist Award from the American Rose Trials for Sustainability, a national trialing system to identify outstanding, sustainable roses.

Vegetable gardeners will want to check out Theresa Mieseler’s article on unusual basil varieties, and if you want to grow a hardy, perennial vegetable Jennifer Rensenbrink suggests how to grow and process horseradish. Elsewhere in Northern Gardener, Michelle Mero Riedel offers recipes and suggestions for creating stylish container gardens and Diane McGann reveals easy strategies for creating privacy in your garden through hardscapes and plants.

As always our columnists have information on everything from dealing with creeping Charlie to making your own concrete pot. We have two garden essays in this issue. Local writer Janet Favorite talks about the joys of being in a garden club and essayist Carol Michel meditates on how Hollywood has reshaped the image of garden-destroying chipmunks into something cute.

We hope you’ll enjoy reading this issue of Northern Gardener as much as we enjoyed putting it together.