I was really hoping this would happen when I brought in a French lavender (Lanvendula dentata) plant from outside in November. Because of the extended Indian summer we had — which now seems decades ago due to the relentless snow of the past week — this plant survived longer than expected. But, as happens with lavender, which is more suited…
Read More
Last night, I attended Lynn Steiner’s talk at Bachman’s about her new book, Prairie-Style Gardens: Capturing the Essence of the American Prairie Wherever You Live. One aspect of Lynn’s book that I think will make it extremely popular among home gardeners is her understanding that while many people might like to plant a prairie in theory, actually accomplishing it is…
Read More
Garden books are one of my favorite ways to pass the long, long Minnesota winters. While I enjoy learning about new plants and techniques, sometimes it’s enjoyable just to read what others have to say about gardening. There are no more literate or knowledgeable gardeners to eavesdrop on than Katharine S. White (1892-1977) and Elizabeth Lawrence (1904-1985). Two Gardeners: A…
Read More
I’ve waxed poetic in the past about how pretty some plants look wearing little snow caps and the magical quality of plants covered in hoar frost. Yes, winter in the northern garden can be beautiful. But, not with the kind of snow we got last night and are expected to get through Sunday morning. I stepped out about 7 this…
Read More
Food and environmental gurus tell us that the question isn’t always whether a food is organic, but whether it is local. There is comfort in knowing where your food comes from, and maybe even the people who grew it. As anyone who frequents farmers’ markets knows, local food tastes fantastic, too. But growing all of your own food seems a…
Read More