New Northern Gardener Available

The July/August issue of Northern Gardener will be on news stands later this week, with the pretty purple prairie clover on the cover.

This issue has a focus on sustainability and includes an interview with James Calkins of the University of Minnesota on how to design (or redesign) your landscape using principles that focus on function, reasonable maintenance practices, environmental soundness and cost as well as beauty. There are some eye-opening tips (mow strips!) included as well as a smart over-arching approach.

Elsewhere in the issue, we have an article on gardening in more extreme weather. In the past several seasons, there have been more down-pour rainfalls, storms and other extreme weather events. While we cannot control the weather, gardeners can choose plants and consider water flow to minimize the effects of large storms. We also have an article on the benefits of ornamental grasses, one of the best garden plants available for those of us who live on what was once the prairie.

The issue also includes some wonderful red-plant suggestions from Michelle Mero Riedel, who also tells us how to use these dramatic plants to good effect in the garden; a profile of a couple who have been gardening sustainably and beautifully for 40 years; and Gail Brown Hudson’s ode to the fish in the garden.

There’s plenty to read and learn for a hot summer afternoon! We hope you enjoy the issue.