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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)

This wildflower guide is one of several 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.

 

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Author, editor, blogger. Plants, how-tos, books, recipes, and Lola, the dog. #coldclimategarden
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Instagram post 2190808837592766596_1447832097 This book from the amazing @homesteadbrooklyn and two others reviewed on the blog today. Link in bio. All address our divorce from nature and how/why to reconnect. Good reading for winter. .
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I’m ready for tomorrow’s @mnhort Holiday Open House. If you are near Rosedale Center, the office is just west at 1935 County Rd B2. Vendors, a chance to make a fun door swag and  a once a year deal on gift memberships in MSHS. I’d love to see you there.
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Instagram post 2177844428016899255_1447832097 Counting up my books in advance of the Holiday Open House at @mnhort  next weekend (Nov. 23). If you are a #mnmaker with garden or nature themed decor, cards, jewelry etc looking for an intimate event to sell your wares, DM me and I’ll connect you. We have room for one or two more folks. The open house includes a wreath class, super discounts on gift memberships in the Hort society, the popular T shirts and tools from the @mnstatefair etc. Plus, of course, moi there to sell and sign copies of the Northern Gardener book. ..
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