Monthly Archives: June 2010

Are Organic Farms the New Golf Course?

Posted on June 29, 2010 by Mary Schier

During Friday’s Garden Writers Association conference in the Quad Cities, Iowa, author and urban planner Darrin Nordahl repeated a quote that has been floating around the blogosphere since it was first uttered in late 2008. “Agriculture,” according to architect and … Continue reading →

Posted in Garden Trends | 2 Comments

Northfield Garden Tour Ideas

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Mary Schier

Despite heat and humidity Saturday and intermittent storms Sunday, attendance at the Northfield Garden Tour was high this past weekend. I managed to visit four of the six gardens on the tour and came away with several ideas for my … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Gardening Know-How, Northfield | 4 Comments

Where Heirloom Seeds Got Started

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Mary Schier

It’s hard to imagine 35 years back when saving seeds was something only misers and old folks did, and heirlooms were special dishes and diamond jewelry not tomatoes and peppers. But it was in 1975 that Diane Ott Whealy and … Continue reading →

Posted in Classes for Gardeners, Fruits and Vegetables, Garden Travel | 4 Comments

Volunteers vs. Weeds

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Mary Schier

When does a plant go from being a welcome  volunteer in the garden to a dreaded weed? I remember the moment — early in my gardening life — when I discovered that if you left tomato fruits in the garden … Continue reading →

Posted in Perennials | 3 Comments

Hungry Bee

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Mary Schier

Are bees hungry when they prowl from flower to flower grabbing nectar? Thirsty? Or some other instinct? I don’t know, but love having bees in the garden for all the good things they do, pollinating beans, tomatoes, and raspberries along … Continue reading →

Posted in Bees | 1 Comment

First Tomatoes

Posted on June 22, 2010 by Mary Schier

Not ripe ones, of course…not in Minnesota in June, but I have definite green action on one of my tomato bushes and lots of flowers on several others, which points toward a great season for tomatoes this year. We have … Continue reading →

Posted in Fruits and Vegetables | Leave a comment

Another Martagon

Posted on June 21, 2010 by Mary Schier

My second martagon lily is in bloom now! The big wind storm we had last Thursday—a storm that caused terrific destruction elsewhere in Minnesota—seems to have blown off a few of this plant’s blooms. But the remaining blooms are gorgeous. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bulbs | Leave a comment

Cherry Protection Plan in Place

Posted on June 21, 2010 by Mary Schier

The ‘Bali’ cherry tree in our front yard is weighed down with hundreds of big, sour cherries. Birds love these cherries even more than people do, so some kind of protection is necessary if I want any cherry pie this … Continue reading →

Posted in Fruits and Vegetables, Gardening Know-How, Small-space Gardening | Leave a comment

Blown into the Garden

Posted on June 9, 2010 by Mary Schier

This little guy — I think it is a brown thrasher baby — was jumping around my garden this afternoon, clearly having unintentionally fallen from the nest. It’s been very windy today and I think this nest is in one … Continue reading →

Posted in Wildlife | 1 Comment

Martagon Season Begins

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Mary Schier

Despite the rain outside, today is a day for celebrating, because my Martagon lilies are blooming! Martagons are a hardy lily that enjoys a shady location, the perfect complement to hostas and other shade-loving plants. I was introduced to these … Continue reading →

Posted in Bulbs | 2 Comments