Monthly Archives: December 2007

Top Garden Trend of 2007

Posted on December 31, 2007 by Mary Schier

One word: Sustainability. That’s the top gardening (maybe also eating or even living) trend of 2007. But what does sustainable gardening mean, especially in light of the green industry’s rush to provide gardeners with new products? You can find a … Continue reading →

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Native Plants Talk Sold Out; Second Session Added

Posted on December 27, 2007 by Mary Schier

Given how hot native plants are, it’s no surprise that Cole Burrell’s public presentation at Bachman’s at 10 a.m. Jan. 12 has sold out. Fortunately, a second session has been added at 1 p.m. on the 12th. If you are … Continue reading →

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Garden Tool Gifts

Posted on December 26, 2007 by Mary Schier

I’m not the diamonds and jewels type, and some of my favorite gifts of all time have been garden tools. Many years ago, at my request, my husband gave me an ice scraper for Christmas. Not a small one you … Continue reading →

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A Coleus for Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2007 by Mary Schier

This is a gift I gave myself. Today I potted up a coleus stem-cutting that I took in November, just before the frosts killed all my coleus plants. Coleus are one of the easiest plants to grow from stem cuttings. … Continue reading →

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Christmas Container, Part 2: Boughs and Bilbo Baggins

Posted on December 16, 2007 by Mary Schier

Saturday, I began putting together my holiday-themed container. Since it was very cold outside, I put some newspapers on the floor in our mudroom and worked there. Before starting, I brought in all the things I thought I’d put in … Continue reading →

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Christmas Container, Part 1

Posted on December 15, 2007 by Mary Schier

I’ve been planning to put a holiday-themed container on our front porch for awhile, and decided I’d better get to the job before New Year’s arrives. The first step was to make a pot with a holiday look. I’m not … Continue reading →

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Holiday Pot Advice from a Pro

Posted on December 13, 2007 by Mary Schier

Yesterday I visited Squire House Gardens in Afton, a wonderful garden and gift shop. The shop is dressed for the holidays, with container plantings, lots of greenery, and an arbor decked with ornaments–well worth a visit on a sunny, winter … Continue reading →

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A Picture-Perfect Winter Day

Posted on December 12, 2007 by Mary Schier

Today I drove from Northfield to Afton to visit Squire House Gardens for an upcoming story in Northern Gardener. I cannot remember a time when the hoarfrost looked so beautiful on the trees. I had to stop the car to … Continue reading →

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Red-Twig Dogwood: Winter Wonder-Shrub

Posted on December 6, 2007 by Mary Schier

In summer, gardeners rely on flowers and foliage for color. But what do you do in winter? In Minnesota and other northern or snowy places, planting red-twig dogwood is one solution. This hardy shrub features bright red stems that stand … Continue reading →

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It's Garden Shopping Season

Posted on December 6, 2007 by Mary Schier

While some garden centers close late in the fall for the winter season, many stay open–or reopen–around the holidays. Special events are held at many of the large garden centers, including Bachmans, Gertens, Mickman Bros., and Linders. Several wonderful small … Continue reading →

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