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

My Northern Garden

December 9, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Book Review: Wildflowers of Minnesota

Books/Writing

A Gardener’s Reading, 10 of 30

By Stan Tekiela (Adventure Publications, 1999)

Wildflowers of Minnesota is one of several guides by Minnesota-based naturalist and photographer Stan Tekiela. (The bird and mammal guides are great for nature watchers.) In this guide, Tekiela identifies about 200 Minnesota wildflowers, giving information on how and where they grow, what their leaves and flowers look like, and how they might (or might not) be useful to home gardeners.

wildflowers of mn coverThe book is organized by flower color, which is helpful since color is one of the easiest things to notice in a plant. But beyond that, Tekiela shows how the leaves are arranged and describes where you are most likely to find the plant in the wild. If it showed what the plant looks like when it first emerges in the spring, it would be the perfect wildflower guide.

For gardeners, it has some special uses. For instance, it was with this guide that I first identified wild parsnip growing in the meadow area behind my yard. An invasive, wild parsnip is pretty in its way—with yellow up-facing broad flowers—so knowing this one will take over was helpful, and sent me on a wild spree of pulling the stuff from the meadow. (Be sure to wear gloves; it can sting the skin.) It’s also useful for determining which natives might have a place in your garden. From spring ephemerals, such as pasque flower, to big prairie plants, like common sunflower. From a more intellectual perspective, I enjoyed looking through the book to see how the characteristics of plants from the wild have been transformed by breeding into the garden plants we know.

If you live near or like to visit wild places or just have a love of native plants, Wildflowers of Minnesota is well worth having in your library.

Related posts:

  1. Book Review: Growing Perennials in Cold Climates A Gardener’s Reading, seventh of 30 By Mike Heger, John...
  2. Book Review: Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education A Gardener’s Reading: First of 30 By Michael Pollan (Grove...
  3. Book Review: Put ’em Up! A Gardener’s Reading, sixth of 30 By Sheri Brooks Vinton...
« Book Review: In the Garden with Jane Austen
Book Review: 10,000 Garden Questions and Ask the Garden Doctor »

Leave a 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Your email address will not be published.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

Follow on Instagram

mynortherngarden_mary

New plants. Gear. New zones (yikes!) The trends th New plants. Gear. New zones (yikes!) The trends that are driving what you’ll see at nurseries in 2024 is my topic next Tuesday, Dec. 5, in a webinar hosted by my friends at @mnhort.

It’s free for hort members, and only $5 for nonmembers. Sign up at northerngardener.org! 
.
.
#gardentrends #newplants #mnhort #mngarden #cutflowergarden #homesteading #gothgardening #barbieplants #northerngardener
The desert landscape could not be more different t The desert landscape could not be more different than Minnesota’s but so interesting to visit. Here it’s all about texture, size and drama. If you are ever in the Phoenix area, the Desert Botanical Garden is a must-see. 

#gardentravel #thanksgiving #desertgardens #cacti #sonomavalley
What’s your new plant zone? Be sure to check you What’s your new plant zone? Be sure to check your zip code over at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov because there are some portions of the Twin Cities and a whole lot of Minnesota that is still in zone 4 or zone 3. I have more on my blog. Find the link in bio or stories. 
.
.
#hardinesszones #zone5a #zone4b #zone5 #zone5 #mngardening
Lots of zone 5 in MN in this new USDA map. #hard Lots of zone 5 in MN in this new USDA map. 

#hardinesszones #needsmoreresearch #mngardening
RIP, Lola. First photo, 2013, when I was taking he RIP, Lola. First photo, 2013, when I was taking headshots of @resawithoutherspoon and Lola decided to pose, too. Second photo, August 2023, snoozing in the sunroom as an old dog should. She was 15 and spent 13.5 years of her life with us. We will miss you, old girl.
Northern gardeners love their daylilies, and none Northern gardeners love their daylilies, and none more than Wayne and Bonnie Johnson. I had a chance to visit their garden in Alexandria and Wayne shared his 40+ favorite daylilies for the north. Check out the blog post and video over at @mnhort or read the article in the latest issue of Northern Gardener. 📷: Wayne Johnson & me. Link in bio and stories. 

#daylilygarden #mngarden #coldclimateplants #dayliliesofinstagram
Both Christmas and Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumberg Both Christmas and Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera) bloom in response to lengthening periods of darkness. Street lights, lights in the house and other artificial light can interfere with bloom, so move them to a spot where they will get 12 to14 hours of darkness.

As to which is which, it’s in the leaves. The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) has a rounded tip on its leaves. The Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) has a pointed tip. The Thanksgiving cactus blooms sooner though I have had mine bloom in November, December and April! 

They are not desert plants but are native to the rainforests of Brazil. Water them when the potting mix is dry to the touch. Fertilize monthly from April to October for best growth and bloom, and let them get slightly pot-bound before even thinking about re-potting.

#Christmascactus #thanksgivingcactus #Schlumbergera #holidayplants #indoorplants #mynortherngarden
Most flowering plants sold in grocery stores and f Most flowering plants sold in grocery stores and florists are like bouquets. They’re beautiful but fade. But some of them can be kept growing in the garden. 

I believe this was a daisy mum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium) which is USDA Zone 5 hardy. It probably would not come back next year in zone 4, but it sure thrived in a container. Plants are forced into bloom to be sold as gifts — and I think this one was even dyed to give the bloom that more pure purple color it has in the before image. But, I love the magenta color of the second flush of blooms.

To get this to rebloom, I removed it from its original pot, cut off the blooms and put it in a larger container on my deck with fresh soil and occasional fertilizer. (A salvia grew in the same pot.) It didn’t start setting buds until October, so I knew it was touch and go on whether it would bloom before frost. I ended up putting the pot in the sunroom so it can finish its bloom and we can enjoy those amazing magenta flowers. 

What’s next? I may take a cutting of the plant to see if it will bloom again next year!
Are you a bonsai person? They’re not easy but I Are you a bonsai person? They’re not easy but I picked up a few tips from the bonsai curator at @longwoodgardens this fall. Link to blog post in bio and stories. #bonsai #gardentips #indoorgarden #mngardener
Why grow mint in a pot? To prevent it from taking Why grow mint in a pot? To prevent it from taking over your garden! Check out the roots one plant produced in one dry season in USDA Zone 4. If this had been in the ground, it would be mint everywhere. #mint #howtogrow #herbgarden #containergardening #mngardening
Rocks over black plastic — the worst. Here I rip Rocks over black plastic — the worst. Here I rip out four hostas by cutting the plastic in order to plant hydrangeas. The roots of the hostas were both above and below the plastic because when you give a plant a tough situation, it’s going to find away. The rocks are part of my HOA’s design aesthetic so I can only work around the edges to make things healthier for the plants around my townhouse. Wish me luck! 

#rockmulch #justsaynotorockmulch #replanting #hydrangeas #provenwinnerscolorchoiceshrubs #letsdancehydrangeas
Too many blooms weighing down your hydrangea? Clip Too many blooms weighing down your hydrangea? Clip a few off for dried arrangements. I follow the method from Laura of @GardenAnswer. Cut the branches at an angle between two nodes and put them in a vase with just 2 inches of water. That’s it! Don’t add more water. Just let them dry in the vase. You can leave them there for winter decor or use them in fall and winter decorating projects. Easy! 

#gardendecor #falldecorating #hydrangeas #FirstEditionsVanillaStrawberryHydrangea #driedflowers #easyproject
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Top Posts & Pages

  • How to Pollinate a Meyer Lemon Tree
  • Can You Eat a Sweet Potato Vine Tuber?
  • What to Do with Not-Quite-Ripe Winter Squash? Recipes Included
  • Growing Lilies in Containers
  • Northern Plants Deer Don't Like
  • Big Changes in Minnesota Hardiness Zone Map
  • Jams, Jellies, Preserves: What's the Difference?
  • Mushrooms Growing in Straw Bales
  • Is Your Northern Garden Now Zone 5?
  • 'Stairway to Heaven'

Post Categories

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

Copyright © 2023 · captivating theme by Restored 316