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

My Northern Garden

January 6, 2012 · 10 Comments

Winter Weirdness

Climate

Salvia in January

I’m not sure which is more disconcerting–that I spent 15 minutes outside today wearing only a cardigan and was comfortable doing it, or that I found an unusual number of signs of life in the garden. Just a reminder: It’s Minnesota and it’s January.

Yet, today when I pulled aside some leaves I found this Salvia sending up several new shoots. In the backyard, the Clara Curtis daisies I ripped out in October had sent up new leaves — green ones. And, in the vegetable bed, a few sprigs of parsley were growing. Now all of these plants are decidedly in the hardy category. I have found parsley under snow in spring before, but still, there are far more green things in my yard than is usual for January (when things are usually covered in snow).

We’ll see what the rest of winter holds. But, so far, it’s just weird.

Related posts:

  1. What Makes A “Perfect” Winter in Minnesota? I was talking with a gentleman whose garden Northern Gardener...
  2. Hurry Up, Make Pesto With fall hard upon us, it’s time to make as...
  3. Red-Twig Dogwood: Winter Wonder-Shrub In summer, gardeners rely on flowers and foliage for color....
« Book Review: Deer Resistant Landscaping
Book Review: You Grow, Girl »

Comments

  1. commonweeder says

    January 9, 2012 at 11:03 am

    the weirdness is operating in Massachusetts, too.

  2. Sandi says

    January 9, 2012 at 12:28 pm

    I’m afraid that my spring fever will be unbearable this year. . . I think it’s starting already! Could be a long March at this point! 🙂

  3. laura says

    January 10, 2012 at 7:56 pm

    Went out in a t-shirt today and wasn’t uncomfortable! I’m in northern michigan and can see most of the grass in my yard. I don’t dare look under the leaves i cover my plants with for fear of seeing new growth! What will this warm winter do the our flower gardens?

  4. Mary Schier says

    January 10, 2012 at 8:15 pm

    Laura — I’m a bit worried about the gardens. A Master Gardener told me today that she has iris popping up in some of her beds (well covered by mulch, but still). Also seeing bulging buds on the shrubs. We go back into the deep freeze tomorrow, but it was 53 today.

  5. laura says

    January 10, 2012 at 9:20 pm

    Yikes! So fresh buds appear and then get zapped by freeze and then in spring no new buds?! Good thing my “flower obsession” has led me to buy 20 azaleas, 3 kousa dogwood trees – 3 ft seedlings, 4 english ivy vines, 3 john clayton honeysuckle vines, and 4 sweet autumn clematis all THIS WEEK from ebay! LOL! These will all be safely indoors until it’s safe in the spring. 🙂

  6. Donna Becker says

    January 11, 2012 at 7:59 pm

    Yep, here in Ohio, too. Daffodils, daylilies, bearded iris and other assorted flowers are all sending up their leaf shoots. We’re due to have warm weather (for us) for the next few days, then another freezing spell.
    Am I wrong to dread the possibility of being caught in a blizzard here in February?

  7. Amy (Get Busy Gardening) says

    January 16, 2012 at 10:03 pm

    Yes, it has been a weird one. I heard birds happily chirping away this morning when I walked into work. It felt like spring! Love it… but hopefully it doesn’t mean summer will be cold.

    Amy

  8. Mary Schier says

    January 17, 2012 at 9:34 am

    We’re supposed to go below zero tonight, which is more normal for MN in January, but we have barely any snow cover. I’m concerned about the plants!

  9. laura says

    January 24, 2012 at 2:22 pm

    I’m winter sowing over 100 milk jugs this year so if i do lose existing buds i’ll have more than enough blooms anyway. This winter sowing thing is AWESOME!! LOL

Trackbacks

  1. Another Plant that Refuses to Stop Growing | My Northern Garden says:
    January 9, 2012 at 7:57 pm

    […] My Northern Garden Sharing experiences and ideas about cold-climate gardening Skip to content HomeAboutAbout MaryAbout this BlogBook ReviewsDeer-Resistant LandscapingHome Outside: Creating the Landscape You LoveMade from Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Hand-Made LifeThis Organic Life: Confessions of a Suburban HomesteaderTwo Gardeners: A Friendship in LettersCooking from the GardenBruschetta a la Julie and JuliaCherry CrispGrandma Lahr’s Bread & Butter PicklesRaspberry CobblerRaspberry FoolRed Pepper RelishSqaush WafflesSquash CustardGardens to VisitChicago Botanic GardenComo Park ConservatoryNaples Botanical GardenOlbrich Botanical GardenHow-ToHow to Build a Raised BedHow To Design a Holiday PotHow to Start Seeds Indoors ← Winter Weirdness […]

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
  • Will the Redbuds Bloom?
  • What to Do with Not-Quite-Ripe Winter Squash? Recipes Included
  • Deck Raised Garden Bed, Year 2
  • 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