No other non-native perennial has as strong a connection to Minnesota and northern gardens as the peony. Heritage peonies are abundant and still available, thanks to the peony breeders and growers of long ago and today. Minnesota’s connection to peonies goes back more than 150 years, when O.F. Brand started a peony farm in Faribault, Minn., about 50 miles south…
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When people find out I write about gardens for a living, the first question they ask is: “What should I plant if I have deer?” I’ve never had a major issue with deer myself, but I’ve done a lot of research on this topic. So here are some plants that deer don’t like. Thorny or Textural Plants Deer don’t like…
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Last week, I wrote about the top five trees for climate change that a St. Paul city forester recommends. They included some longtime favorites of mine, such as serviceberry and Kentucky coffeetree (actually a Minnesota native despite its name). The forester also suggested a few other trees that may seem like more unusual choices. But several of them are on…
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In real estate, the mantra is “Location. Location. Location.” For northern gardeners facing urban conditions and a changing climate, the advice to follow is “Diversity. Diversity. Diversity.” Choosing a variety of trees that can handle salt, weird winters, difficult storm events and new insect predators is the best way to ensure your landscape remains healthy and vibrant. That is the…
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If you watch home improvement shows, you’ve probably heard the host say, “This house has good bones,” as he/she looks over a royal mess of a house. Having good bones means the house is solid—its walls are square, the original construction was done with care, it has good proportions, a bit of personality and is the kind of space that…
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