• Home
  • Meet Mary
  • Speaking
  • Writing
  • Contact
  • Northern Gardener Book

My Northern Garden

October 12, 2011 · 3 Comments

October Blooms in a Minnesota Garden

Plants

Minnesota has experienced an extended Indian summer this year, with nearly two weeks of 70-plus degree temperatures and sunny skies. Since forecasters are predicting a snowy, tough winter, enjoy these October blooms while you can!

As a result of the warm temperatures, some of perennials and annuals are still looking great. Here are October blooms I’m especially pleased to see.

blue salvia in bloom

Victoria Blue Salvia has been a star in the October garden.

‘Victoria Blue’ Salvia. I planted these after reading Terry Yockey’s profile of Donald Mitchell’s hummingbird garden in Red Wing. Mitchell is a big fan of blue and red salvias for their ability to bring in the hummers. I did not see any hummingbirds at these, though last week a large white-lined sphinx moth (sometimes called a hummingbird moth because of their resemblance to each other) fed on the plants for several minutes. Bees also seem to love them. The plants bloomed slightly late because of our cool spring, but they have continued to bloom with no sign of stopping. They also make a pretty backdrop to these white ‘Profusion’ zinnias.

October bloom: going bananas daylily

Going Bananas daylily

‘Going Bananas’ daylily. This plant will be introduced widely in 2012. I got one to try through the Proven Winners plant trial program. While many of my daylilies look sad and spent – and I’ve cut a few of them down, this creamy yellow plant is still going strong. If you see one in the nursery next year, give it a try.

Autumn Joy sedum. Yes, Autumn Joy is almost a cliché in northern gardens, but there is a reason so many people love these hardy sedum. They grow vigorously and can flop if they get too tall. I cut this one back in mid-June, per advice from Don Engebretson. For awhile, I did not think it was going to work, but voila, it did and the plant is just the right size to support its lovely pinkish flowers. I’ll leave this up all winter to provide sculptural interest in the garden.

What’s still blooming in your garden?

Related posts:

  1. Hooray for Autumn Joy As I’ve been thinking about the new flower bed I’ll...
  2. Sedum is an Autumn Joy The longer I garden in the North, the more I...
  3. Garden Surprise: Lavender Blooms in December I was really hoping this would happen when I brought...
« Hidden Gardens of Washington, D.C.
Another Fantastic Fall Bloomer »

Comments

  1. Marsha says

    October 12, 2011 at 2:03 pm

    I love victoria blue salvia – I also have black & blue salvia & Wendy’s Wish salvia currently blooming (and yes, they are hummingbird magnets), they are one of my top 3 annuals along with lisanthus and the gem marigolds (tangerine, lemon & red). In fact all 3 of those are still blooming in my west central MN garden and if it wasn’t raining today I would head out to take photos for tomorrow’s blog post. I have already chopped down and cleaned up most of the perennials except for the mums in the backyard but those annuals just keep on blooming! The front gardens still have roses blooming as well as the autumn joy and there are a few stray clematis blossoms here and there. If weather permits I will try for photos tomorrow and post my remaining color because this great weather can’t last forever.

  2. Donna says

    October 14, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    Perennials: Mums, asters-the stalwarts I will always have for autumn; a late Solidago, last bloom of Rudbeckia triloba; shrub roses and hydrangeas. Oh, and monkshood just started. Annuals: zinnias still going, most pots still looking good, and a window box of bright pink petunias. And, of course, the wonderful swaying blooms of the grasses, plus colorful leaves blown about the yard. My favorite season. P.S. Just found my autumn crocus poking up yesterday-yeah!

Trackbacks

  1. Tomato Hornworm Visits the Garden | My Northern Garden says:
    July 23, 2012 at 3:51 pm

    […] is the first time I have found a hornworm on my plants, though I have seen the moths before. The worms’ size makes them fairly easy to spot, but the coloration helps them blend […]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Connect

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed for Posts

Grow it, Minnesota Podcast

Now Available!

My Northern Garden book

mynortherngarden_mary

Lola is the only one allowed in the garden beds ar Lola is the only one allowed in the garden beds around here until about, oh, April 15, maybe later. It’s so, so, so tempting to go clomping 🥾around in the garden during these warm March weeks in Minnesota. The ground is thawing but it’s still soft and easily compacted. 

I did do one garden job today, pruning the Chestnut crabapple tree. This is a crab you grow for the fruit, which are like half/sized apples. Fortunately, the snow drifts around my tree are high enough that I could walk in without compressing the ground. 

Enjoy these beautiful days! We know there will be more snow ❄️ and cold ahead. 
.
.
.

#garden #mygarden #springiscoming #minnesotaspring #dogsofinstagram #doginthegarden #hernamewaslola #olddog #mynortherngarden #gardeninspo
#mngardening #minnesota #mnhort
#gardeninglife #coldclimategardening
#stpaulgarden #stpaulmn
#Zone4garden #zone4b #stayoffthelawn
New podcast episode and giveaway! Dill is one of t New podcast episode and giveaway! Dill is one of those plants that brings in all sorts of beneficial insects, creating a productive, healthy vegetable 🍅 garden. On this week’s Grow it, Minnesota podcast, I talked companion planting with local food advocate and gardener Michelle Bruhn from @forksinthedirt. 

We’re both fans of a new book by @jessicawalliser called Plant Partners that looks at the science behind companion planting. A lot of it boils down to creating healthy soil and a welcoming environment for bugs, bees and pollinators. My review of the book is over on the My Northern Garden blog (link in bio) and I’m giving away a copy of the book. To be eligible for the giveaway, just comment below — do you use companion planting methods? What combinations work in your garden? What flowers do you plant near your veg garden? The winner will be chosen March 10 (US and Canada only)
.
.
.

#companionplants #garden #mygarden #plantpartners #mynortherngarden #newgardenbook #gardeninspo
#mngardening #minnesota #mnhort #dill #pollinators 
#gardeninglife #coldclimategardening
#stpaulgarden #stpaulmn
#Zone4garden #zone4b #growwhatyoueat #growyourown
#growyourownfood #vegetablegarden
#foodgarden #eatwhatyougrow
Obsessed with this water drop. . . . #houseplants Obsessed with this water drop. 
.
.
.
#houseplants #boredgardener #echeveria #wateringplants #plantcare #mngardener #whenisspringcoming
In normal times, we’d be in our first week in Fl In normal times, we’d be in our first week in Florida right now, which would mean a visit to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens on our first full day there. Always great art and gardens to see. Then some beach time and plans for our first preseason game. (Twins, Pirates, Orioles, it’s all great.) We were very lucky to get the trip in last year and hope to be in Sarasota again this time next year. Meanwhile I’m indulging in some Insta-nostalgia and feeling grateful for longer days and sunshine here in Minnesota. Which vacations are you remembering fondly these days? 
.
.
.
#gardentravel #florida #sarasota #publicgardens #marieselbybotanicalgardens #tbt #mngardener #longwinter
New issue of Northern Gardener and a cup of tea— New issue of Northern Gardener and a cup of tea—great way to pass a gloomy late afternoon. This issue is full of ideas for spring from @jenniferrensenbrink @monarchgardensbenjaminvogt @gbrownhudson @seedtofork and more. Stunning cover image from @riedelphoto.  Available March 1 on newsstands or subscribe through @mnhort! 
.
.
.
#northerngardener #mngardening #coldclimategardening #calibrachoa #gardenforfrogs #perennialgarden #gardentips #nativeplants #nativeplantgardening #growyourownfood #iceberglettuce #growasalad
Winter ❄️ sowing? Have you tried it? Today’s Winter ❄️ sowing? Have you tried it? Today’s guest on the Grow it, Minnesota podcast is Michelle Mero Riedel, who introduced me and readers of Northern Gardener to the concept more than a decade ago. It’s been one of  our most popular articles ever. 

In winter sowing, you create mini-greenhouses out of milk jugs and other recyclables. Perennial flowers 💐 can be planted in February and March, while annuals, vegetables and herbs can be set out in April. Mother Nature does most of the work. It’s a budget friendly way to grow lots of plants! 

For more info, check out the podcast or a new blog post over on mynortherngarden.com. Links to all in bio. 
.
.
.
#seedstarting #seeds #wintersowing #wintersown #gardeninspiration #howtogarden #garden #mygarden #growyourown #mynortherngarden #gardeninfo #mnpodcast #gardenpodcast 
#mngardening #minnesota #mnhort
#gardeninglife #coldclimategardening
#stpaulgarden #stpaulmn
#Zone4garden #zone4b
What is this? Like day 10 or 12 with temps below z What is this? Like day 10 or 12 with temps below zero? Time to ramble back to June when the penstemon was covered in bees and the veronica looked so pretty. June is my second favorite month in the garden (believe it or not, September is number one for me). What’s your favorite month? P.S. only 14 weeks until June! 
.
.
.
#garden #mygarden #mynortherngarden #gardeninspo
#mngardening #minnesota #mnhort
#gardeninglife #coldclimategardening
#stpaulgarden #stpaulmn
#Zone4garden #zone4b
Oh boy, check out the bucket hat and shades. I was Oh boy, check out the bucket hat and shades. I was digging through some old family photos and came across this one of me circa 1990s, I’d guess, weeding at our first house. I had a lot to learn (like A LOT) about gardening, and little did I know then that I’d be writing about gardening for a living someday. Lots of good thing happen in the garden. 
.
.
.
#tbt #mygardenstory #mynortherngarden #gardenwriter #weeding #oldphoto #buckethatsareback
Somebody brought me a bouquet! Thank you, @resawit Somebody brought me a bouquet! Thank you, @resawithoutherspoon 
.
.
.
#flowers #bouquet #flowersmakemehappy #plantsmakepeoplehappy
The latest episode of Grow it, Minnesota is all ab The latest episode of Grow it, Minnesota is all about plants with medicinal uses.  I interview author and herbalist Matthew Alfs about his new book on Edible and Medicinal Wild Plants of the Midwest. We talked about a few of my favorite plants such as wild geraniums and anise hyssop and also about what we call weeds that have other uses. 

It was a fascinating discussion with a real expert. Matthew recommends consulting multiple sources before using any plant medicinally and his book would be a good one to start with. 

Listen to the podcast at growitminnesota.com or wherever you get your podcasts. 
.
.
.
#gardenpodcast #anisehyssop #geranium #geraniummaculatum #dandelion #herbalist #plantsareamazing #minnesota #mnhspress #mnplants #mnpodcast
I love ❤️ that my local grocery store has plan I love ❤️ that my local grocery store has plants in the temptation spot near the 10-items or less lane. They’re better for you than chips and just as enticing. I resisted this time but plant impulse buys happen to all of us! 
.
.
.
#houseplants #babyplants #succulents #impulsebuy #mystpaul #stpaul #mngardener #minnesota #wintergardening #indoorgardening #toocute
Leaving plants up in winter gives you something to Leaving plants up in winter gives you something to look at, but helps pollinators and birds more. As the sun gets stronger in late January, these are a few of my favorites for winter interest. 
.
.
.
#winterinterest #mnwinter #boltonia #anisehyssop #littlebluestem #birdfriendly #pollinatorgarden
#garden #mygarden #mynortherngarden #gardeninspo
#mngardening #minnesota #mnhort
#gardeninglife #coldclimategardening
#stpaulgarden #stpaulmn
#Zone4garden #zone4b
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Top Posts & Pages

  • How to Pollinate a Meyer Lemon Tree
  • Big Changes in Minnesota Hardiness Zone Map
  • How to Build a Vegetable Garden Box for Your Deck
  • Mushrooms Growing in Straw Bales
  • An Easy Way to Protect Plants from Rabbits and Deer
  • Deck Raised Garden Bed, Year 2
  • What to Do with Not-Quite-Ripe Winter Squash? Recipes Included
  • Will the Redbuds Bloom?
  • Frost Dates in the Vegetable Garden
  • Winter Sowing for Flowers and Vegetables

Post Categories

  • Books/Writing
  • Climate
  • How to
  • Plants
  • Recipes
  • Uncategorized
  • Why We Garden

Copyright © 2021 · captivating theme by Restored 316