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

My Northern Garden

July 17, 2017 · 6 Comments

Quilts and Gardens Go Together

Why We Garden

For the past three years, my cousin has been among the organizers of an unusual garden tour in Tracy, MN. The tour—officially the Tracy Area Garden Party—combines two art forms that often go together—quilting and gardening. Though I’ve made a few simple quilts, I’m decidedly no quilter, but many gardeners are also expert quilters and many quilters are also darn good gardeners.

Grandmother’s Garden quilt in a garden on the Tracy Garden Tour.

This year, I was able to visit Tracy for the tour and Jolynn (my cousin) took me around to see not only the six tour gardens, but to visit several other garden sites in the area as well as a terrific nursery that serves Tracy, Marshall and the rest of southwestern Minnesota. This year, the tour focused on gardens in Balaton, MN, about 20 miles west of Tracy. Balaton has a beautiful lake and two of the gardens were right on the water.

A comfy front porch with a sweet hydrangea and a pretty floral quilt on display.

On the tour, each of the gardens is decorated with quilts, which are positioned to show off the colors of both the quilt and the gardens. Sometimes the gardener is also the one displaying the quilts, but all of the quilters are from the area.

Susan Mitzner displayed the quilt at the top of this post, called Grandmother’s Flower Garden, over a fence near one of the flower borders at her rural Balaton farm. Susan pieced it with some help from her grandchildren and quilted it as well. Another quilt of hers  hung on a garden shed right behind a bed filled with peonies, lilies and other sun-loving flowers.

A few things I noticed about these southwestern Minnesota gardens:

  • A very, very small part of one of the gardens we visited in Balaton, MN.

    They are BIG! Many of the gardens we toured looked to be an acre or more in size, even those in town. Many were edged with garden beds with turf grass in the middle. Gardens of that size give the gardener the ability to use really big plants, which is a blessing. Mowing as much turf as some of the yards we saw have would require a riding mower or an army of teenagers looking to make money.

    With all the sun these gardens have, lilies thrived.

  • They are SUNNY! We visited one gorgeous garden (not on the tour this year, but in previous years) that I would call a shade garden. But all the others had lots and lots of sun. One had many, many oak trees, but still large swaths of sunny spaces. As a result, we saw some great-looking vegetable gardens—large and thriving. There also were lots of lilies and bee-balm in the gardens—both sun-loving plants.
  • I loved the way these quilts swayed in the breeze. Behind them, you can see one of the impressive vegetable gardens on the tour.

  • This teapot on a plate complemented the greenery around it.

    They were filled with CHARMING DETAILS. From large signs advertising “Balaton Specialties” to washboards to teacups filled with succulents to interestingly colored or shaped pots, the gardens included fun details that reflected the personalities of the gardeners.

My apologies to the quilter. I forgot to take a picture of the tag so I would know who made this gorgeous quilt, which was one of my favorites from the tour.

At the end of the tour, pie and ice cream was provided, courtesy of St. Mary’s Church in Tracy, which is known for its great pies. After an afternoon of touring gardens and admiring quilts, a slice of strawberry-rhubarb pie and ice cream was a real treat. The tour has been held three years in a row, and I’m hoping they do it again next year. I want to bring my sister, who is a quilter, along!

Related posts:

  1. Photo Gallery: Artful Gardens in Hudson, Wis. The garden tour season has officially started, and today I...
  2. Summer Visit to Squire House Gardens Yesterday, I took a side trip on my way home...
  3. Hidden Gardens of Washington, D.C. A week ago, I visited my oldest daughter who is...
« Brenton Arboretum: A Legacy in Trees
Growing Vegetables in Raised Beds (and What’s Going on With This Soil?) »

Comments

  1. Chris Cloutier says

    July 17, 2017 at 7:07 am

    Quilting and gardening are my passions. I would have loved to have seen these displays. The photos are lovely!

  2. Joanna says

    July 17, 2017 at 8:34 am

    So beautiful! I live in the Twin Cities and would love to attend the Tracy garden/quilt tours next year. Where can I find more information about it?

  3. bittenbyknittin says

    July 17, 2017 at 2:09 pm

    What a beautiful combination! I have a big yard and would love to see big gardens, for inspiration.

  4. Beth Tostenson says

    September 5, 2022 at 2:08 pm

    What a wonderful display.we have an annual Art and Garden Tour each year. This would be something fun to incorporate. My concern is displaying them. Could you give me some information regarding this?
    Beth Tostenson
    Artistic Director
    Albert Lea Art Center

  5. Mary Schier says

    September 5, 2022 at 4:47 pm

    That sounds like a great tour — be sure to let me know when it is in 2023 so that I can attend. To display the quilts on garage doors, they used something called a cow magnet, which is very strong and could anchor the quilt in several places. Others were hung on clothes lines. It’s pretty windy down by Tracy, but they seemed to make it work. You can find the Tracy Quilt and Garden tour on facebook, if you want to contact the organizers for more information.

Trackbacks

  1. More Garden Tour Ideas - Minnesota State Horticultural Society says:
    July 21, 2017 at 11:34 am

    […] isn’t a practical garden idea, but these antique aprons were part of the Tracy Area Garden Party a couple of weeks ago. They are from a collection of antique aprons and added a whimsical touch to […]

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

Happy Monday! June is blooming at last with Canna Happy Monday! June is blooming at last with Canna Canova Bronze Orange from @ballhort, irises, cardinal climber vine, ‘Lipstick’ Beacon impatiens, and what I think is ‘Pink Summer’ geranium. I hope your June is blooming too! #whatsblooming #panamseed #annualflowers #Minnesotagardener #townhousegarden
It’s iris season, and I’m loving these purple It’s iris season, and I’m loving these purple beauties in all their phases. I don’t know 🤷🏻‍♀️ which variety they are as they came with our townhouse when we bought last August. 

The former owners planted a plot between our unit and our neighbors with a dogwood, irises and bee balm. I added daffodils last fall and am thinking about putting in a small rose. Townhomes have limited space, but you can still garden on decks, patios, foundations and other nooks and crannies. 
.
.
.
#smallspacegardening #northerngardening #irises #bloomwhereyouareplanted #townhouseliving
Rows and rows of daffodils 🌼. I had a chance to Rows and rows of daffodils 🌼. I had a chance to take some photos of a grow field in western Wisconsin, where an amateur grower is developing new, early varieties for the north. 

Tip for home gardeners: if you want to move daffodils, dig them and move them foliage and all two weeks after they bloom. The foliage will flop and look bad, but no worries, they’ll come back next year as good as ever. As always when moving plants, water well! #daffodil #bulbgarden #northerngardening #gardentips
Quick report on my seed starting experiments with Quick report on my seed starting experiments with coco coir vs peat as the base of a soil-less mix. Not a lot of difference: coco pot germinated a day ahead of the peat. 
.
.
.
#peatfree #seedstarting #gardenexperiment #mngardener #growingherbs
A break from the usual garden content: Lola has NE A break from the usual garden content: Lola has NEVER been allowed on our bed and we were sure she could not get up on it, since she is short and the bed is not. A recent increase in her arthritis meds seems to have created an athlete. Never underestimate a 15 year old dog in pursuit of sun.
.
.
.
#olddognewtricks #sundog #hernameislola #mndogs #dachshundmix
It is definitely spring at the Galleria where the It is definitely spring at the Galleria where the annual Floral Experience by Bachman’s is underway. The scent of the hyacinth is intoxicating and the plants and whimsical art pieces make for a sweet stroll indoors during our relentless March. 

It is so much more than bulbs, too—ots of trees, topiary, shrubs and two knockout weeping larches, annuals, perennials and just tons of color and fun. Highly recommended, and it runs through April 9 (Easter Sunday).

Enjoy! 
.
.
.
#floralexperience #bachmansflowershow #galleriaedina #springflowers #twincitiesevents #minnesotaspring
Glass and gardens, you bet! We’re heading home Glass and gardens, you bet! We’re heading  home after spending a few weeks in Sarasota, Florida. A highlight of our time there was seeing the Tiffany exhibit at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. It was creative and fun and the plant-themed art glass really did shine a light on this tropical garden. So worth a visit if you’re ever in the area!
.
.
.
#sarasota #tropicalgardens #gardensofinstagram #artingardens #mngardenwriter #gardentravel #snowbird
Has your garden been transformed in the last year Has your garden been transformed in the last year or two? I'd love to see it! I'm back to editing Northern Gardener for a bit and one of the new features in the magazine highlights garden or yard transformations. We need help finding some great ones!

The spring issue "Before and After" features a vegetable garden created out of a blank backyard in Bloomington, MN. The homeowner worked with Rustic Hills Garden Co. to add raised beds, fencing, paths and trellises. It's incredibly productive and really nice looking, too! 

I'm looking for more transformations to feature in upcoming issues. They can be DIY or something you worked on with a garden pro. The goal is to give our readers ideas and inspiration. 

Send me a DM with details. Don't worry about writing the piece yourself. We've got a bunch of great writers available to help with that. But you need to have photos of both before and after. I can't wait to see your gardens! 

PC: @rustichillsgardenco 

#coldclimategardens #gardendiy #gardentransformation #beforeandafter #showmeyourgarden
Are you trying winter sowing this year? Now is a g Are you trying winter sowing this year? Now is a good time to sow perennials. Winter sowing is a way to get more plants at less cost by sowing seeds outdoors in mini-greenhouses in winter. The best greenhouse is a one-gallon milk jug. (Edit: leave the caps off! This was my first attempt at winter sowing and I did it wrong. The podcast episode explains why.) 

For advice on how to do it from an expert, check out a podcast episode from 2021 where Michelle Mero Riedel explains her process. Great info! Link in bio and in stories. #wintersowing #mnpodcast #mngardening
#gardenpodcast
#growyourownflowers
What’s new in 2023? My winter break in Florida c What’s new in 2023? My winter break in Florida coincided with the Tropical Plant International Expo so I had to attend. Research! So many cool houseplants. And pots! And roses with scent. And new ideas about everything from pest control to house plants as decor and gifts. Enjoy! 
.
.
.
#tpie #tpie2023 #houseplants #gardentrends
When you’re up to your knees in new snow, it’s When you’re up to your knees in new snow, it’s time to dig out your lists of favorite plants and start planning ✍️ this year’s garden.

My January newsletter includes lists of best annuals for pollinators (of course zinnias are on the list), best herbs for beginners and a link to a slightly older blog post about best trees for urban gardens in our current and future climate. Check it out and start making your own list of go-to plants! 

Link to the newsletter is in bio and stories. Please subscribe for occasional tips for Northern gardeners. 
.
.
.
#gardeningtips #annualflowers #pollinatorfriendly #urbantrees
2022 — uff-da — what a year! A few photos al 2022 — uff-da — what a year! 

A few photos all reeled together that mostly weren’t on instagram. Wishing you all a Happy New Year and a bloom-filled, homegrown 2023. 

Highlights include: Garden shots from Florida, England, my home garden, St. Cloud and Washington County, Minnesota, plus the Minnesota State Fair dahlia garden. Steve and I at Hadrian’s wall, then being escorted off the cruise ship after we got Covid (do NOT recommend!), harvest dinner at my brother’s farm in Wisconsin, my friend, Julie’s, indoor ripening set up for the Aleppo peppers she helped me trial, a bit of garden philosophy and @resawithoutherspoon’s amazing Christmas cookies. 
.
.
.
#gardenforlife #gardenyear #mynortherngarden #zone4gardening #happynewyear
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Top Posts & Pages

  • Growing Lilies in Containers
  • Four Peony Problems and Solutions
  • How to Pollinate a Meyer Lemon Tree
  • Mushrooms Growing in Straw Bales
  • An Easy Way to Protect Plants from Rabbits and Deer
  • How to Grow Lemons in the North (Plus a Recipe)
  • Big Changes in Minnesota Hardiness Zone Map
  • Sod Busted: 4 Ways to Remove Turf Grass
  • Taking the Straw Bales' Temperature
  • A Tree Peony in Bloom

Post Categories

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

Copyright © 2023 · captivating theme by Restored 316