During my visit to the Minnesota State Fair, I had a chance to chat with the Minnesota Master Gardeners staffing the extension booth in the Horticulture Building. I asked what was the most frequent question they were getting at the fair. The answer: Why do my tomatoes look so bad? Many gardeners (including yours truly) are experiencing blossom-end rot on…
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If you go to the Minnesota State Fair this weekend, be sure to stop by the Horticulture Building to admire the gardens that have been planted there. The Minnesota State Horticultural Society is responsible for several gardens on the southwest corner of the building, and they are gorgeous, providing a place to rest from the noise and excitement of the…
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Back in February, my husband and I won a weekend at a cabin on Lake Pepin at the St. Dominic School Silent Auction. This past weekend, we spent a delightful couple of days on the bluffs above the lake, visiting Frontenac State Park, watching the sailboats come into the harbor at Lake City, and picking currants at Rush River Produce…
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Well, it’s pretty clear which raspberry is bigger, but which is better? I did an unintentional taste test yesterday, comparing some of my home-grown raspberries (the little guy) with raspberries from the supermarket. I bought the big guys for a baking project my daughter was doing, but we did not need them. After a few days in the refrigerator, they…
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As I noted a while back, critters have taken up residence in my bee condo. But they do not seem to be orchard mason bees. When an orchard mason bee moves into a condo like this, the signs are a rough mud plug in one of the holes. The bees use the holes to protect their offspring and fill the…
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