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Search Results for: gardens to visit

Bromeliads in a display case Marie Selby garden

March 27, 2018 · 5 Comments

A Visit to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota

Why We Garden

Like a lot of northerners, I like a winter escape—preferably to Florida. While it's not always possible to get away, the past couple of winters my husband and I have taken a break from the snow, ice and potholes in St. Paul to spend some time in Sarasota, Florida. Whenever we are here, we visit the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. These gardens celebrate all things Florida, with lots of native plants, palms and brightly colored annuals, all arrayed along the shores of Sarasota Bay. Viewing the ... Read More about A Visit to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota

July 1, 2014 · 2 Comments

Visiting Baltic Gardens

Why We Garden

My husband just completed a five month teaching assignment at Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden. While work and family obligations kept me from joining him, I did manage to visit a couple of times, and we did a lot of travel around Scandinavia and the Baltic. For me, travel often means visiting gardens. We saw several wonderful Baltic gardens and it will probably take a few posts to digest it all. You can learn a lot about a country and its history and culture by visiting public gardens. ... Read More about Visiting Baltic Gardens

black urn and fountain behind it

July 3, 2008 · 1 Comment

Summer Visit to Squire House Gardens

Why We Garden

Yesterday, I took a side trip on my way home from the Twin Cities to Afton, Minnesota, to visit Squire House Gardens, a garden center specializing in unusual plants and accessories for home and garden. I visited the store last December to talk with co-owner Martin Stern and designer Kathy Oss about creating holiday pots. The garden was lovely then, under a coating of new snow, but it's even more impressive in summer. Martin, who designs and maintains the gardens with his partner, Richard ... Read More about Summer Visit to Squire House Gardens

October 16, 2020 · 3 Comments

Visiting the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Fall

Plants

I have visited the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum many times and in all seasons of the year, but this week was the first time my husband came along with me. And, as is often the case when he is along, we discovered some new areas that I would not have seen on my own. Like a lot of people during the pandemic, we have been looking for ways to be outside more. The weather is getting colder and as I write this, the first flakes of snow of the season are falling, so now is a good time to visit the ... Read More about Visiting the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Fall

August 29, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford, IL

Why We Garden

The Anderson Japanese Gardens are 12-acres of calm, just off a busy road in Rockford, IL. The gardens grew from local businessman John Anderson's interest in Japan, its culture and aesthetics.  Located in Anderson's former backyard, the garden is operated by the Rockford Rotary Charitable Association as a non-profit. Designed by Hoichi Kurisu, former director of the Portland Japanese Garden, the garden celebrates all of the elements of traditional Japanese gardens—water, stone, sound, texture ... Read More about Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford, IL

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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. 
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#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. 
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#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.
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#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! 
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#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!
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#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! 
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#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. 
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#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. 
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#gardenforlife #gardenyear #mynortherngarden #zone4gardening #happynewyear
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