Monthly Archives: May 2008

The Finished Product

Posted on May 30, 2008 by Mary Schier

Here’s what my new front-yard garden looks like. Kind of skimpy? Well, that’s OK. Plants grow and next year, and especially the year after that, this garden will look full and lush. Starting from the left, here’s what is planted … Continue reading →

Posted in Landscaping, Perennials | 4 Comments

Installing a Front-Yard Garden

Posted on May 29, 2008 by Mary Schier

Last fall, I marked off the area for a front-yard garden, something I’ve been wanting to do for a couple of years. Our front yard faces east and south and while we have planted some big trees, the corner in … Continue reading →

Posted in Landscaping | 1 Comment

Bloom Tuesday No. 3

Posted on May 27, 2008 by Mary Schier

Whoa…it must be late May because the blooms are popping–and my hands were freezing when I took these photos. Despite the colder than normal weather and a lack of rain in my area, the lilacs are in full flower (left, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bloom Tuesday | 3 Comments

A Bouquet of New Books

Posted on May 26, 2008 by Mary Schier

I’ve been so busy in the garden and with work that I haven’t had much time for garden-related reading, but four new books worth mentioning recently came my way. Two of them are part of a series of regional gardening … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | 4 Comments

Fancy Plants

Posted on May 23, 2008 by Mary Schier

My fancy plants have arrived! I’ve had such hit-and-miss luck with plant starts sent through the mail that I pretty much swore off them this year. I’ve either grown things from seed (another hit-and-miss effort, but that’s a different story) … Continue reading →

Posted in Annual Flowers, See it in Northern Gardener | 1 Comment

Butterfly Bush, R.I.P.

Posted on May 21, 2008 by Mary Schier

I could have titled this post “I pushed the zone and the zone pushed back.” Last spring, filled with thoughts of permanently warm and wimpy winters, I planted a butterfly bush (Buddleia ‘Nanho Purple’). It was supposed to grow up … Continue reading →

Posted in Plant Research, Shrubs | 2 Comments

Bloom Tuesday

Posted on May 20, 2008 by Mary Schier

The prettiest plants in my garden today are the azaleas. These are ‘Pink Lights’ azaleas, part of the University of Minnesota’s Northern Lights series. The flower structure on these is so striking, like a series of horns playing off the … Continue reading →

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Purple Sensation

Posted on May 18, 2008 by Mary Schier

The Purple Sensation allium (Allium aflatuence ‘Purple Sensation’) bulbs I planted last fall are starting to bloom. They are a bit shorter than the package promised–maybe 24 to 30 inches high compared to 44 or more. It’s likely they will … Continue reading →

Posted in Bulbs | 2 Comments

Cherry Blossom Time

Posted on May 16, 2008 by Mary Schier

The cherry blossoms–along with crabapple blossoms–are opening up all over Minnesota. My ‘Bali’ cherry tree began blossoming two days ago. It will look fluffy and white for a week or so before the cherries that ripen in late July or … Continue reading →

Posted in Fruits and Vegetables, Shrubs and Trees | 7 Comments

Containing My Enthusiasm

Posted on May 14, 2008 by Mary Schier

“Uh, Mom, why is there a garden in our garage?” I heard that question the other day, as my college daughter surveyed the landscape of plants in flats and nursery pots that consumed half of our garage. The truth is … Continue reading →

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