Now that the heat has broken a bit and we have had some rain, it’s a great time to plant some additional vegetables or flowering plants. We’ve got lots of options at the MSHS Open House, which will be held Saturday, June 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the MSHS office in Roseville. (We are just up the road from the Roseville Lund’s and Byerly’s and next door to Cellars Wine and Spirits.)

Our annual open house is a fundraiser for MSHS and includes boatloads of “Tom’s Tomatoes,” the heirloom tomatoes selected by our own Mr. Tomato Guy, Tom McKusick. Over the years, Tom has tried hundreds of heirloom tomatoes and starts his favorites for the MSHS vegetable garden and to sell at the open house. These are well-grown, sturdy plants that are ready to go into your garden and start producing.

In addition to the heirloom tomatoes, we’ll have the MSHS Pollinator Packs for 2018. This selection of pollinator friendly plants was started to celebrate MSHS’s 150th Anniversary in 2016. The program was so popular with gardeners that we have continued it the past couple of years. These are beautiful plants that will enhance your garden and provide the nectar, larval food and nesting sites that bees, butterflies and other pollinators need.

Plant sales are just part of the open house. We’ll also have a clearance sale of books, garden tools, garden art, T-shirts and other items in our MSHS shop. And, three special vendors will be joining us for the open house. Mary Prokopiak will be selling her unique jewelry. Flower Art by Edie will be selling her garden-inspired jewelry, paper lampshades and garden-themed keepsakes. Sue Trosvig of Handcrafted Stained Glass will be selling garden art and other stained glass.

We’ll also have refreshments and a chance to learn more about the work of MSHS as it informs and inspires gardeners in Minnesota. We hope to see you there!