My very unofficial thermometer read about 24 degrees F at 7 a.m. today, and there were definite signs of a freeze around the neighborhood. Last night, I covered up my little Bali cherry tree out front in hopes of keeping it a bit warmer against the freeze. I was surprised how big that tree has gotten! Even using two sheets…
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During a recent event, a local plant breeder went through all the new plants they would be introducing. With one plant after another, the same question from the audience came up: “Do deer like it?” With few predators, plenty of gardens to munch their way through deer are one of the biggest (both in number and size) pests that gardeners…
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Buckthorn is a restricted noxious weed in Minnesota because of its invasive nature and its impact on wildlife habitats. Once buckthorn gets established, it takes over. There are two types: common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus). Common buckthorn came to the U.S. from Europe in the 1800s and was used for a hedge in many landscapes. By…
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What an inspiring Saturday I had, hearing story after story about the work of several community gardeners who were the winners of the Minnesota State Horticulture Society’s Awards. These are folks who understand the power of gardening in community—the power to build connections, to increase understanding, to teach youngsters and to create beauty and food to be shared with others….
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Last week, encouraged by comments from a friend and our warm spring, I planted a short row of spinach, a short row of mustard greens and a slightly longer row of peas in my vegetable garden. Today, two of the three of them have tiny shoots coming up. These are all in raised beds but none of them have row…
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