My Northern Garden

Playing with Light in the Winter Garden

Winter in Minnesota may be cold, but at least it’s sunny. That’s something gardeners can take comfort in and use to create a more interesting winter garden. As I am writing this, the temperature is hovering around 0 degrees F but the sun is bright as can be, reflecting off the snow. Cathy Rees, who I interviewed for the latest…
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New Shades of Holiday Poinsettias

Plants

The annual Marjorie McNeely Conservatory holiday flower show at Como Park in St. Paul is underway and it features holiday poinsettias you are unlikely to see in the grocery store or local flower shop. This year’s show highlights plants in autumnal oranges and yellows as well as deep reds. First, some poinsettia basics. The holiday poinsettias we decorate our homes…
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Growing Peppers in Pots in the North

Plants

Growing peppers (hot or sweet) in a northern garden can be a challenge because they require a longer season and lots of heat. I have failed with peppers many times. But with some help from a hot, dry summer, this turned out to be a great year for growing peppers in pots. I learned more about what peppers need and…
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Too Many Cucumbers? Try This Drink

Recipes

This summer, I’m one of the garden writers growing the new variety, Gherking cucumbers, for the folks at Burpee. They sent me two small plants in May, and they are terrific and prolific. No disease and lots of harvest. While I wouldn’t exactly say that I have too many cucumbers—it was getting close on Saturday. That’s when I decided to…
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Jams, Jellies, Preserves: What’s the Difference?

Recipes

Being the big jam maker in my family, I was once asked: What’s the difference between jams, jellies and preserves? Here’s the rundown, and recipes or links to recipes for jams, jellies and preserves. Jelly: Clear and Sweet Jellies are made from the juice of fruit rather than the whole fruit. Clear and sweet, jellies are great to make with…
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