Monthly Archives: November 2008

Black Friday, Green Saturday

Posted on November 29, 2008 by Mary Schier

Now that Black Friday is over, can I suggest another totally made-up holiday? Let’s call it Green Saturday, and we can all go out and either buy or find greenery to decorate our homes for the holidays. I stopped at … Continue reading →

Posted in Seasons | 1 Comment

Someone Gave Me a Poinsettia—Now What?

Posted on November 28, 2008 by Mary Schier

I suspect my sister, Suzy, is among the many holiday hostesses looking at a leafy, lovely poinsettia this morning and wondering, how do I take care of this? I bought several of the gorgeous poinsettias being sold by the Northfield … Continue reading →

Posted in Houseplants, Seasons | Leave a comment

Dried Bean Philosophy

Posted on November 19, 2008 by Mary Schier

What follows: A rambling discourse written over several days about dried beans, home gardens, and the creative impulse. The Cherokee Trail of Tears beans I planted this summer tasted great green, but also can be used as a dried bean. … Continue reading →

Posted in Musings | 2 Comments

I'm Feeling Rushed, But My Pots Are Clean

Posted on November 17, 2008 by Mary Schier

While no one in Minnesota has a right to complain about it being cold in November, I can’t help but feel we are being rushed into winter this year. Just two Mondays ago, the temperatures were near 70 and I … Continue reading →

Posted in Container Gardening, Seasons | Leave a comment

Critter Control, Part 2: My Bad

Posted on November 12, 2008 by Mary Schier

Today I completed a really unpleasant, but totally necessary job. I disassembled and moved my compost pile in an attempt to get rid of habitat that I suspect has been attracting undesirables to our yard. For several months, bunnies have … Continue reading →

Posted in Critters, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Critter Control, Part 1: The Beaver

Posted on November 11, 2008 by Mary Schier

As has been blogged about elsewhere, a beaver family has taken up residence in my neighborhood. At first, I found the beavers fascinating, watching them swim in the pond and seeing their dam get built, and then rebuilt after the … Continue reading →

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Hot Spots for Holiday Pots

Posted on November 9, 2008 by Mary Schier

November is a slow month in the garden, with not much to do but rake the last leaves and clean up. But many people like to give their homes a sprucing up for the holidays, and if you are new … Continue reading →

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First Snow on the Garden

Posted on November 7, 2008 by Mary Schier

This one caught me by surprise. But,  the first snow is always wonderful. It covers the garden (not the sidewalks or roads!) and gives even the dying foliage and berries a new look.

Posted in Seasons | 3 Comments

New Northern Gardener Available

Posted on November 3, 2008 by Mary Schier

Lovers of birds, butterflies, and bees should check out the November-December issue of Northern Gardener, which is now on newsstands. The issue has a gorgeous cover shot by Minnesotan Stan Tekiela. If you like nature at all, odds are you … Continue reading →

Posted in See it in Northern Gardener | 2 Comments

Persistent Bloom

Posted on November 2, 2008 by Mary Schier

Yesterday I raked up as many leaves as I could, piled them in front of the vegetable beds and ran a mower over them to create a little leaf mulch for winter cover. While hanging out in the yard, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Perennials | Leave a comment