< Back Flying Squirrels in Your Backyard? Cherise Skeba If your home is near water and tree groves including trees with cavities, you may have flying squirrels in your yard and not know the squirrels are there. Flying squirrels are nocturnal animals that come out to eat for a few hours after sunset and sometimes in the early morning hours prior to sunrise. Read on to learn more about these wilderness residents and backyard visitors. Photo credit: Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota 1 There are two species of flying squirrels in Minnesota: southern (Glaucomys Volans) and northern (Glaucomys Sabrinus). Southern flying squirrels live in deciduous trees in Southern Minnesota and northern flying squirrels live in conifer or deciduous forests in Northern Minnesota but there is an overlapping zone that extends from Bemidji to Duluth. Southern flying squirrels can also be found in all states along the length of the Mississippi River and states east of the Mississippi River. Northern flying squirrels are more prevalent in Canada but can be found in Northern Minnesota and other northern areas stretching east through Maine. If you see a flying squirrel in Dakota county, the squirrel is a Southern flying squirrel. Flying squirrels are in the same mammal family (called Sciuridae) as other squirrels and chipmunks. Flying squirrels have gray, brown, reddish brown or tan fur on their backs with white or cream-colored bellies. Northern flying squirrels may have mottled color on their bellies. Both species have large eyes with open pupils that almost fill the entire eye, making the eye look nearly black and giving the squirrels good night vision. Photo credit: MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation 5 The southern flying squirrel is about the same size as a chipmunk and is slightly smaller than the northern flying squirrel. Researchers are challenged to identify the southern versus northern flying squirrels when viewed in the wild but can distinguish the species using special equipment that picks up the ultrasonic sounds of the flying squirrels. Like bats, flying squirrels make many sounds that are too high pitched to be heard by human ears. However, flying squirrels also make chirping and squeaking noises similar to bird noises. Flying squirrels do not fly but instead glide by stretching out a membrane (called the Patagium) connected to their wrists and ankles. The squirrels have cartilage coming out of their wrists that allows them to stretch open the membrane, giving them stability in air. The squirrels also flatten their tails and use their tails as rudders to steer, balance and brake while in flight. A flying squirrel lands by curling up its tail to slow down and pointing its hands and feet forward to grasp the target spot. Southern and northern flying squirrels often glide 20 to 30 feet but can glide up to 150 feet and can even turn up to 180 degrees while in flight. Photo credit: Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota 1 Southern and northern flying squirrels eat fungi, insects, berries, tree sap, lichen and nuts. The squirrels will stock food for winter since they do not migrate. However, they spend less time out foraging for food during winter and will huddle together and lower their body temperature to save energy on very cold days. Flying squirrels nest in tree cavities, squirrel leaf nests, nest boxes and sometimes on the ground. In fact, flying squirrels have been found sharing a nest with ground squirrels. Flying squirrels mate in early spring and give birth to 3 to 5 babies 40 days later. The mothers nest separately when they have babies since the females do not want others around when they have young. It is not known exactly how long mothers nurse and care for their babies but babies normally try their first flight about 5 weeks after birth. You can witness the first flight of a baby flying squirrel in the following YouTube video captured by BBC Earth. Owls are the most common predator of flying squirrels since both animals are nocturnal. Flying squirrels may also be hunted by foxes, fishers, martens, feral cats, coyotes and raptors. You can provide safe housing for flying squirrels by adding nest boxes to your yard (sample box designs 13, 14 ). However, flying squirrels will probably not use the nest boxes unless the nearby habitat is already conducive to flying squirrels. Fun fact: flying squirrels glow pink under ultraviolet light. References: “Flying Squirrels in a Changing World”, Michael Joyce, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota of Duluth and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IWhmhn9GdU “Flying squirrels”, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mammals/flyingsquirrel.html “Southern flying squirrels are climate migrants”, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota, http://nrri.umn.edu/news/flying-squirrels “Flying Squirrels, Our Hidden Neighbors”, Friends of the Wildflower Garden, http://friendsofeloisebutler.org/pages/gentian/newarticles/flyingsquirrels.html “Southern Flying Squirrel”, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, http://dnr.illinois.gov/education/wildaboutpages/wildaboutwildmammals/wildaboutmammalsrodents/wawmsouthernflyingsquirrel.html “Flying Squirrel”, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, http://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/orphan/Flying_Squirrel “Woodland Wildlife Spotlight: Southern Flying Squirrel”, University of Maryland Extension, http://extension.umd.edu/resource/woodland-wildlife-spotlight-southern-flying-squirrel/ “Southern Flying Squirrel”, University of Michigan, BioKids, http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Glaucomys_volans/ “Southern Flying Squirrel”, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife & Heritage Service, http://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/plants_wildlife/Southern_FlyingSquirrel.aspx “Protected Species in Pennsylvania: Northern Flying Squirrel” PennState Extension, http://extension.psu.edu/protected-species-in-pennsylvania-northern-flying-squirrel “Northern Flying Squirrel”, Minnesota Seasons, http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Mammals/northern_flying_squirrel.html “Flying Squirrel Frequently Asked Questions”, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, http://widnr.widen.net/s/lqdg6tbbzb/flying-squirrel-faq_final “Instructions on where and how to place nest boxes for southern flying squirrels”, http://snr.unl.edu/download/research/projects/flyingsquirrel/Installing-Flying-Squirrel-Boxes-Carroll-20230925.pdf “Southern Flying Squirrel Project - Nesting Boxes”, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, http://snr.unl.edu/research/projects/flyingsquirrel/sfs-nestingbox.aspx

Annuals & Bulbs Planting Bulbs with your Growing Sprouts As the leaves fall and the temperatures begin to tumble, don’t forget to plant your favorite bulbs with a young gardener. Tulips are a perfect choice to plant in early November as long as you can dig in the ground. Daffodils’ ideal planting season is up until mid-October, but if the temperatures are warm and the ground workable, daffodils can be tried also. Your Growing Sprout will delight in the spring display. Read More Sunflowers - Bright, Beautiful and Fun to Grow Summer is upon us and what is better to grow with your child than flowers that are big, bright and beautiful. Sunflowers come in many varieties and heights and “Yes” they can be planted in containers too. Planting sunflower seeds with children is an incredible way to see the entire life cycle of a plant. This article explains how to engage in this fun and easy learning opportunity. Read More Spring in September Plan Now to Start 2025 Blooming in Color Spring begins this month! I know, it’s September, but on a gardener’s calendar, this is the month to begin planning for an awakening of eagerly blooming sprouts and a palette of spring colors. Whether you are a “bulb-beginner” like me or a bulb enthusiast looking to expand on some gardening ideas, continue reading as we discuss the what, where, when, how, and why of spring blooming bulbs with a few design tips planted along the way. Read More BULBS 101 Snowdrops and daffodils are harbingers of spring, the first flowers to appear after the snow has melted and the days start to lengthen. For many of us, these early bulbs are a wake-up call, reminding us that the growing season is beginning. Of course, if seeing daffodils makes us want them in our own gardens, it’s too late for this year! For many Minnesota gardeners, bulbs have been in our yards for decades. However, if you’re new to bulbs or would just like a more in-depth look at them, this Bulb Primer is for you! Read More Protecting Bulbs for Winter Autumn in Minnesota is the time to prepare your bulbs for next year’s growing season, whether that is tucking in your hardy bulbs for their winter sleep (and protecting them from foraging critters!) or retrieving your tender bulbs for indoor storage to spare them from the harsh cold. Read on to learn more about what to do this season for beautiful blooms next year! Read More Overwinter Geraniums the Correct Way As the end of the growing season appears it may be sad to think of your beautiful geraniums’ endless show of color coming to an end. Fear not! While non-hardy geraniums are considered annuals, overwintering your prized plant indoors can carry them through to the following year, giving you a jump start on spring and saving you some money if you usually replace them each year. But beware – it’s not quite as simple as carrying your geranium pot inside and waiting for spring. This article talks about two ways to overwinter geraniums in a way that will maximize your chance of success. Read More What Can Alliums Do For Your Garden? As fall approaches, you might be thinking about planting bulbs that will provide you with a beautiful display in the spring. In this article, Marjory Blare explains why you should consider planting Alliums for that purpose. You may be familiar with varieties of allium used for cooking (for example, onion, garlic, scallion). But there are many ornamental alliums with many different features and colors. Read this article to learn more about the virtues of alliums. Read More The Ws (plus an H) of Bulbs The great thing about planting bulbs is that they will bloom year after year. Here's what you need to know to grow bulbs successfully in your garden and look forward to early spring color. Read More Glorious Amaryllis Amaryllis is a beautiful plant with large, stunning blooms that can be grown as a houseplant year-round. Get ready for some beautiful inside blooms and learn all about growing Amaryllis this winter. Read More Zinnias: Vibrant Accents to a Northern Garden You know that zinnias provide a beautiful flourish to the summer garden. The varieties and colors are endless and can be enjoyed from late Spring into the Fall. But did you know that growing Zinnias from seed is both easy and rewarding? Read this article to learn why you might want to grow your own zinnias from seed this year. Read More Early Spring Blooming Plants Deep in the doldrums of winter, everyone is anxious for spring weather to arrive so that, once again, they can dig in the dirt planting flowers and vegetables. To entice us even more, we’re seeing bulb plants in the stores for sale so we can enjoy them at home until spring finally arrives. In this article, I’ll talk about some of the most popular spring blooming plants for your garden. Read More Harvesting and Preserving Herbs Harvest time is such a fun time of the year. There are so many herbs to harvest and preserve for the upcoming winter months. Some share their bounty year after year, like tarragon and oregano, and others, like basil and marjoram, are planted in spring for a fall harvest. Read More 1 2 1 ... 1 2 ... 2

A Pest Above the Rest – Japanese Beetles It’s July and our gardens are in their prime! But wait, what is that insect on my beautiful roses? And why do the leaves on my raspberries look like skeletons? Read this article about the dreaded Japanese Beetle and what you can do to minimize the damage they cause. Read More Beware of Ticks! But What if There Were No Ticks? We are well into tick season and unfortunately, the Minnesota Department of Health has observed an increase in Emergency Department visits related to tick bites over the past few months. We may be tempted to yearn for the eradication of ticks from our environment. Who needs them! This article provides a refresher on how to reduce the likelihood of receiving a tick bite and also explores the impact on the environment if ticks did not exist. Beware what you wish for! Read More Bird Feeding Bird-feeding is for all of us who enjoy and love watching birds. Inside this article you’ll find information on bird-feeding tips, preventing disease in your bird feeders and an update on the AVIAN (HPAI) bird flu that disrupted this summer’s bird-feeding habits. Read More Boxelder Bugs It’s cool but sunny outside and I would like to walk into my front door but the door and wall are covered with black and orange bugs! They are boxelder bugs and they are looking for a warm home for the winter. Read how to manage these nonharmful but annoying pests. Read More Creating a Butterfly Habitat Would you like to attract a variety of butterflies to your garden? Different plants and environments attract different types of butterflies. So, if you really want to focus on particular butterflies, you can do it by planting appealing plants and creating welcoming environments. Read this informative article about what you need to do to attract butterflies to your garden. Read More Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea} Is creeping charlie an unwelcome intruder in your garden? Read this article to find out more about why this plant is so hard to eliminate and, even, how you can appreciate and even live with Creeping Charlie in your garden. Read More December - Feed The Birds That Live in Your Neighborhood Winter is upon us and as the temperatures drop and the snow begins to fall, our feathery friends need our help finding food. The first step is to understand what birds you have in your neighborhood. Different birds eat different foods. Observe with your young gardeners what birds frequent your area to determine the best way you can help. There are many different make-at-home birdfeeders but let’s get started on making mini frozen bird feeders that can be made, frozen and set out for our feathery friends this winter. Read More Don’t Let Powdery Mildew Haunt You! Powdery mildew is a very common garden fungus. This fungus was even more prevalent last year when our abundant rainfall increased our summer humidity. If you experienced powdery mildew in your garden during 2024, what can you do, if anything, to ensure the fungus does not continue to haunt your garden this year? Read this very informative article to understand what powdery mildew is, how it affects plants, what you can do to prevent it and how to control it when it happens. Read More Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis): Springtime Coquette The Eastern Red Columbine is an erect, branching perennial, up to 2 ft. tall, and is well known for its showy red and yellow flowers. Here are some reasons why they may be a great addition to your landscape. Read More Eradicating Invasive Honeysuckle in the Minnesota Landscape Minnesota has several species of native honeysuckle but beware - there is a chance the honeysuckle you have at home may be one of the four non-native species of bush honeysuckle that are invasive in a Minnesota landscape! This article tells you how to tell the difference and what to do about these invasive plants. Read More Flying Squirrels in Your Backyard? If your home is near water and tree groves including trees with cavities, you may have flying squirrels in your yard and not know the squirrels are there. Flying squirrels are nocturnal animals that come out to eat for a few hours after sunset and sometimes in the early morning hours prior to sunrise. Read on to learn more about these wilderness residents and backyard visitors. Read More Getting the Jump on Jumping Worms Many of us associate worms in the soil as an indicator of “good garden soil.” Unfortunately, that is not necessarily true in Minnesota these days. “Jumping worms” have become more common in local gardens recently and that is not a good thing. Read this article to understand why. Read More 1 2 3 1 ... 1 2 3 ... 3 Diseases, Pests & Wildlife

Books & Other Resources County Hosts Seed Collection for Dakota County Master Gardener Volunteers Read More Learning to Grow African Leafy Vegetables in Minnesota The number of African-born refugees and immigrants and their offspring living in Minnesota has grown significantly since the 1990s. With them has come vegetables native to Africa. Many of these vegetables are popular items at farmers markets. However, Minnesota’s short growing season and limited access to seeds has made it challenging to grow some of these vegetables here. This article identifies some native African vegetables and discusses an important plant breeding program started by the University of Minnesota and partnering with community members. Read More Shoot Your Plants Like a Pro July – when we can walk out into our gardens and are captivated by the beauty of our plants, vegetables or trees – nature. It’s natural to want to capture the beauty of nature in a photograph. With the advent of the iPhone, and its pal the Android phone, we have all become photographers, or so we think. Often the subjects we photograph do not come out looking as well as they did in real life. There is more to photography than pointing your camera and clicking the button. Here are some tips to help you take better photos. Read More Paper Poinsettias Here is a fun seasonal project for your Growing Sprout. Read on to find out how to make them and where poinsettias grow. It might surprise you! Read More Master Gardeners Answer Your Questions One of the most important services that the Master Gardeners in Dakota County provide to the community, is answering garden and environmental related questions. This article explains some of the ways that you can have your gardening questions answered by a certified Master Gardener in Dakota County. In particular, at Farmers Markets around the county, you can find MGs at their “Ask a Master Gardener” table, ready to answer your gardening questions. Read More Know Your Resources “Hey, Siri, what’s the best kind of mulch for my garden?” This is a question often overheard in a plant center from someone trying to make a selection for their yard. And while Siri can give some options, one has to doubt the accuracy of the reply. Questionable advice can always be found somewhere, whether that’s from artificial intelligence or your neighbor’s second cousin on Facebook, but surely there’s a better way to get the most accurate and helpful answers! This article explains how you can find answers to many of your gardening questions from experts and based on research. Read on to learn how to find reliable answers to your gardening questions. Read More Find Plants for Tough Sites Have you ever fallen in love with a plant that you know in your brain won’t grow in your garden but your heart made you buy it anyway? You bought that sun-loving plant and planted it – full of hope - in your shady garden. Didn’t work out? Unfortunately, wishing, and even tender loving care, can’t make a plant grow if it is in the wrong garden space. Fortunately, this article tells us about a resource that can help you find just the right plant for even tough garden sites. Read More A Versatile Understory Tree: Eastern Redbud Jim Lakin introduces us to another stunning, not-too-big tree native to Minnesota – the Eastern Redbud. This lovely specimen welcomes spring with rosy-pink pea like flowers and ends the growing season with large, heart shaped yellow leaves. It would make a lovely addition to your garden. Read on to learn more. Read More All About Upcycling By now, many of us have heard the phrase, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” Read on for ways to set up our youngest gardeners with good habits to “Reuse” or “Upcycle” what they already have. No purchase required! Read More The Dakota County Seed Library This month we would like to tell you about the Dakota County Seed Library, located in the Farmington Library. Read on to learn about how this important project contributes to the support of pollinators and sustainable landscaping practices and, most importantly for you, the home gardener, how you can benefit from and contribute to this project. Read More The Gardeners Guide to Prairie Plants: Written By Neil Diboll and Hilary Cox Interested in prairie plants for your garden or just to admire? Jim Lakin reviews one of the most indispensable books on the subject – “The Gardeners Guide to Prairie Plants.” The book includes photographs of each species described, along with a general description and listing of significant characteristics. But this book also contains more valuable information. Read More The Backyard Parables: Lessons on Gardening, and Life “The Backyard Parables: Lesson on Gardening, and Life,” is a gardening memoir of sorts writing by Margaret Roach. Roach, a former editor-in-chief of the ‘Martha Stewart Living’ magazine, quit her job to tend to her gardens full-time. In this delightful book, Roach dispenses both gardening and life lessons. Read this book review to learn more. Read More 1 2 3 1 ... 1 2 3 ... 3

Perennials White Wild Indigo (Baptisia alba): A Victim of Popularity? The wild indigo is a beautiful native plant that has been hybridized into an array of colors. In this article, Jim Lakin explains why you should consider bypassing the new colors and sticking with the native white wild indigo. The native plant is not only beautiful but offers benefits to the soil and to pollinators. Let’s read more about the white wild indigo. Read More Anemone Blandas (aka Grecian Windflowers) October is a great month plant your bulbs for a spring bloom. We are all familiar with tulips, daffodils and hyacinths so how about trying something a bit less common? In this article, we learn about Anemone Blanda aka Grecian Windflowers. This petite bulb (or corm) comes in blooms in several colors and disappear when their bloom time is over. This article may convince you to try Anemone Blanda this year. Read More Shoreline Planting Aaah…lake life in Minnesota is in full swing! As we motor, paddle or splash around, notice the shorelines of our lakes, rivers, streams or ponds. Some are full of natural, native plantings, while others are neatly fashioned by lawns or riprap rock. This article explores why we care about our Minnesota shoreline plantings and what are best practices for the homeowners and the plants and animals living there. Read More Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii): A Midwestern Tall Grass Icon Beginning this month, Dakota County Master Gardener Jim Lakin, begins a series on native prairie perennials. He begins with a prairie star grass – Big Bluestem. This tall, hardy grass is found throughout North America and puts on an elegant show in the garden. Learn more about how and why to grow this iconic, prairie grass. Read More Growing Dahlias in Minnesota As Minnesota settles into summer, blooms are starting to burst out everywhere in our gardens. One all-star beauty for the garden is the magnificent dahlia. Not only are dahlias beautiful in the garden or inside in a vase, but they are economical. Dahlias are a bulb plant and, although they can’t survive a Minnesota winter, the bult can be dug up in the fall, overwintered and planted again next spring. Read this article to learn more about how to choose the right dahlia for you and how to care for and overwinter the plant you have chosen. Read More Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa): A Decorative Foliage Vine Wild yam is the subject of June’s native vine profile. Not to be confused with the edible yams that we buy in the grocery store, wild yam is sometimes marketed as “natural estrogen.” The article explains why wild yam cannot be used in this way and why you might want to add it to your garden for other reasons. Read More Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans): A High Note on Any Trellis Are you looking for a beautiful, native vine for a sunny fence or pergola in your yard? Consider the glorious Trumpet Vine. This article reveals the many reasons why Trumpet Vine may be a delightful and pollinator-friendly addition to your garden. Read More Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana) Are you a clematis lover? Do you have a fenceline, large arbor or a slope to cover? If so, this article explains why you might want to consider the native clematis Virgin’s Bower. This is a vigorous grower and produces beautiful white flowers that appeal to humans and pollinators. Read More Choosing Iris in Minnesota Late spring and early summer bring Iris blooms in Minnesota! Strolling through the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, you will find many varieties of iris located in the Perennial Garden, and all around the Arb. In fact, the UMN Arboretum website arb.umn.edu lists 677 individual specimens currently on the website’s plant finder! You can plant iris in your own garden but which ones to choose? Read on for some considerations when choosing iris for your Minnesota garden. Read More Find Award-Winning Plants for Your Garden Aren’t we all interested in buying the best plants for our gardens; plants that will grow and prosper in our Minnesota growing conditions? There are many ways to research and find such plants. However, this article will discuss two sources of perennials and annuals that have won awards for their excellence in our region. Read this article to learn more about which plants the industry experts think are outstanding for our gardens. Read More Perpetual Poinsettias Christmas is over and leaves are starting to fall off your once-flourishing poinsettia plants. Most people throw away Poinsettias and buy new plants each winter. Instead, consider saving a plant’s life and the Poinsettia will reward you with beauty throughout the year. If you enjoy Poinsettia’s and are willing to care and feed this lovely plant throughout the year, read this article for some great information about saving your Poinsettia for another beautiful display during next year’s holidays. Read More Raccoon Grape: Ampelopsis cordata A Tough Customer in the Beds This month marks the beginning of a series by Master Gardener Jim Lakin on native vines. First up is the Raccoon Grapevine (Ampelopsis cordata). Raccoon Grapevine is quite a vigorous vine plant which, if managed well, will reward the grower with a spectacular display. Read this article to learn more about this hardy vine. Read More 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 ... 6

Gardening with Kids Autumn Leaves This page introduces books and fun activities that will help your child to understand why leaves change color and learn that leaves have some things in common with humans. Read More Bleach Dying Dark T-Shirts We’re always looking for activities for our children or grandchildren in the summer. A fun summer project to do with children, or adults for that matter, is bleach dying. It’s cheap, fairly easy, fun and educational. In this article you will learn how to use plants from your garden to create a fun and pretty design through bleach dying. Read More Caring for Indoor Plants with Young Children Even as the weather gets cold, we can still enjoy plants with our little ones. Click here to discover how to help your young child be successful in caring for indoor plants independently. You will learn how to set up the materials needed and show your young child how to dust, prune, identify, and water indoor plants Read More Create Frozen Luminarias Frozen luminaries are both fun and beautiful to create. This article will give you suggestions on using materials you may have around the house and in your winter garden to create a frozen luminary. Read More DIY Suet/Seed Feeders for our Feathered Friends As I write this, it’s nearly Halloween. Outside there is a flurry of activity. A multitude of birds including blue jays, cardinals, woodpeckers (both hairy & downy), house and gold finches, juncos, and my absolute favorites - chickadees, are flitting about. They voraciously attack and consume seeds and nuts in preparation for the rapidly approaching winter. Read this article to see how you and the child in your life can help our feathered friends. Read More Exploring Autumn Nature with Your Child Summer may be over but winter isn’t here yet. Now is a great time to have some outside fun with the children in your life. Take advantage of these last days of fall to show your children how to enjoy what autumn nature has to offer. Here are some ideas for how to make the most of this time of year. Read More Fall Scavenger Hunt Come join the adventure of a fall scavenger hunt as a Junior Fall Garden Detective! Teach the child in your life how to detect the arrival of autumn in Minnesota. Read along here for a guide to gathering clues and using some scientific observations in an outdoor search to confirm fall’s arrival. Read More Harvest Time with Kids! It’s time to get the kids in your life ready for harvesting all of the bounty around us. Whether you’ve been tending plants all summer or want to visit any number of “pick your own” locations in our area, harvesting is a great way to connect children to produce right where it grows. Read More How to Prepare Your Garden for Young Children Whether it’s children or grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or other little ones, it’s great to include them in the garden. Gardens are a place to grow fruits, vegetables, or flowers, and enjoy nature. Who better to enjoy gardens with than young children? But those little hands and minds can have a hard time if the garden is not designed with them in mind. This article will discuss how to design your garden considering the needs of little ones and how to prepare activities so they can be successful gardening and grow a joy for it. Read More It’s August - What Can You Find in Your Garden? The days of August bring a time for not only harvesting and additional plant and flower care, but it offers a chance to go out exploring in your garden with the kids in your life. It can be as simple as flower color or texture recognition to plant, fruit, bug and vegetable identification. Items found can be crossed off a list, collected for further exploration or even better - eaten fresh. Ready, set, explore! Read More Junior Fall Garden Detectives The blustery days of fall yield a kaleidoscope of leaves across our Minnesota yards and parks. Have your children ever wondered why these leaves transform to new colors in the fall? Help your child become a Junior Fall Garden Detective by gathering clues, using some scientific observations and then searching outside to solve this mystery of why leaves change colors in the fall. Read More Junior Spring Garden Detectives CALLING ALL JUNIOR SPRING GARDEN DETECTIVES! Do you know a child who has wondered how we know it is finally spring in Minnesota? After the long, cold days of our Minnesota’s winter, every child eagerly awaits the arrival of warm breezes, extended daylight and splashable puddles of spring. Help that child become a Junior Spring Garden Detective by gathering clues, using some scientific observations and then searching outside to solve this mystery of spring’s arrival. Read More 1 2 3 1 ... 1 2 3 ... 3

Pollinators All About Those Bee Houses Bee house? Pollinator palace? Bug hotel? Check out some ideas for building pollinator real estate with the child in your life and find out why we may want to invite pollinators into our yards and gardens! Read More Aster and Hyssop – Pollinator Magnets One of the goals for many gardeners is to have plants blooming in the garden all season. With a little planning, Minnesota native plants can help you fulfill this challenge. But having blooms in your garden all season isn’t just aesthetically pleasing, blooming native flowers are a constant food source for pollinators. This article focuses on two late summer plants loved by pollinators - Asters and Hyssops. Read More Attracting Monarch and Swallowtail Butterflies to your garden One of the sweetest events in a Minnesota June, is the appearance of butterflies in the garden. These delicate creatures are not only astonishingly beautiful but a key link in a healthy environment. In this article, you will learn about the life cycles of two butterfly species - Monarch and Swallowtail; along with what plants to grow to encourage them to take up residence in your garden. Read More Bees - Friend or Foe? Is There a Way I Can Help? As the weather warms, we are faced with the question -” Are bees my friend or foe?” What is your first reaction when you see a bee? Do you stand still and watch in amazement as a bee flies around or do you wave your arms, scream and run the other way. Little eyes are watching our reaction so before you turn and run, let’s teach our children and grandchildren to respect bees and remember how important bees are to us and how we can help them exist by making a Bee Bath. Read More Bug Hotels and Pollinator Habitats Insect populations are at risk around the globe, with 40% of all insect species in decline and roughly one third of all species endangered. Between the loss of habitat, climate change, and the extensive use of pesticides, our bees, butterflies, and beetles are dying off in unprecedented numbers. This seems an overwhelming problem, but it is one that all gardeners can begin to remedy. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, “There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” No matter the size of the garden, every gardener has steps they can take in order to make positive changes for the insects we all need to keep our planet healthy. Read More Building a Pollinator Garden “If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live.” This may or may not be a true Albert Einstein quote but the concept is valid. We need bees and all pollinators. Approximately 75% of the world’s flowering plants require a pollinator to reproduce. Pollinators help produce one-third of our food. It’s hard to imagine a diet without many fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Read More Common Milkweed (Asclepius syriaca): An Uncommon Beauty If a plant has adapted to its environment such that it is easily grown, it often suffers the fate of being called “common”. That is a disservice to Asclepius syriaca or “common milkweed”, which is anything but “common”. Indeed, its value to pollinators is uncommonly great. It attracts hordes of butterflies and other pollinators. Read this article to learn more about this important staple in pollinator gardens. Read More Do All Bees Sting? On one hand, a gardener’s tiny friend, the bee, is usually a docile doer of good, buzzing around from plant to plant, pollinating to provide a bountiful harvest in the future. On the other hand, many fear the small insect with the mighty sting. But do all bees sting? If you are curious, click on the link to learn more about our little friend, the bee. Read More Fragrant Plants If given a single flower right now, would your first reaction be to smell it? Scents can be so powerful. It can instantly unlock a memory and transport us to another time. Maybe the aroma of lilacs brings you back to playing in the backyard with your childhood best friend. Or the smell of basil, reminds you of your grandmother’s pesto. The fragrance of plants can enhance your garden and contribute to a sensory experience. It is easy to understand why we humans would want to be around good smelling plants and flowers, but have you ever wondered why plants have scents? Read More Get to Know our Minnesota State Bee Did you know that the Minnesota state bee is the rusty patched bumble bee? This designation is intended raise awareness about the role of pollinators in Minnesota’s environment and preserving their habitats. Unfortunately, while historically, our state bee appeared widely in North America, it is now on the endangered list. In this article read more about the rusty patched bumble bee and the important role that you can play in Garden Scavenger Hunt preservation efforts. Read More Here a Pollinator Garden - There a Pollinator Garden – Everywhere a Pollinator Garden - Part 2 Master Gardener Brenda Scheer understands how important pollinator gardens are for the environment and wanted to start this type of garden. But how to start? This article is the second in a series of three in which Brenda describes her experience starting a pollinator garden in her backyard. Follow Brenda’s motivation, planning, lessons and tips to build your own environmentally friendly garden. In this installment, Brenda talks about how plan for and choose plants for her native garden. Read More Here a Pollinator Garden - There a Pollinator Garden – Everywhere a Pollinator Garden - Part 1 Master Gardener Brenda Scheer understands how important pollinator gardens are for the environment and wanted to start this type of garden. But how to start? This article is the first in a series of three in which Brenda describes her experience starting a pollinator garden in her backyard. Follow Brenda’s motivation, planning, lessons and tips to build your own environmentally friendly garden. Read More 1 2 1 ... 1 2 ... 2

Garden Prep & Care Avoid Overbuying Seeds Gardening season is over for this year. Or is it? Are you already dreaming and planning for next year’s garden? Soon it will be time to buy seeds. But don’t let your enthusiasm lead you to overbuying seeds. The best way to avoid overbuying is to use a systematic process for planning, purchasing, and storing seeds. Read this article for some tips to help you plan wisely. Read More Beware Garlic Mustard in Early Spring Garlic Mustard may be edible and tasty but unless you are planning to cook with it, you will not want it growing in your yard. One of the first weeds to appear in the spring, Garlic Mustard is a noxious weed that is difficult to get rid of. Read this article to learn how to identify Garlic Mustard and how to control it. Read More Blending Annuals and Perennials for Continuous Summer Bloom Gardens built on perennials alone can shine brilliantly for a few weeks, then settle into quieter stretches. The solution isn’t to abandon perennials, but to partner them with annuals in a way that keeps the show going from late spring to frost. By layering the strengths of both—perennials for structure and rhythm, annuals for reliable, season-long color—you can create a garden that never feels finished but never feels empty either. Read More Cold Stratification for Seed Starting Starting seeds indoors can be a rewarding process for home gardeners. It provides a welcome activity as we anticipate the arrival of spring and it can be more cost-effective than purchasing plants. However, not all seeds are ready to sow directly from the packet and may require some extra preparation and time before sowing. Understanding the germination needs for specific plants is very important. By knowing these requirements, gardeners can successfully start seeds indoors and get a head start on the growing season. Read this article to understand how to provide cold stratification for the plants that need it. Read More Companion Gardens Are the Best Linda Stein confesses that she used to arrange her garden by separating annuals from perennials from vegetables. But she has learned that there are many advantages to mixing these different types of plants in the garden. Read this article to learn more about why you would want to mix these plant types and what types of plants you might consider. As you prepare for the upcoming summer, learn more about mixing and matching your edible plants with flowering perennials and annuals to enhance the beauty of your garden, attract pollinators to plants that will benefit from these critters and reduce the need for pesticides by providing plants that serve as natural repellants. Read More Composting Would you like to save $$$ on your gardening expenses? Homegrown compost can be used to solve various garden challenges while saving you money from buying other product solutions in-store. Read More Cover Crops Cover crops? What are they and why might you consider growing one? Cover crops provide a way to add nutrients into the soil while also controlling weeds. Improving soil health is one of the best ways to improve plant growth and production as regular planting depletes soil of essential nutrients. Farmers frequently use cover crops, but many people don’t realize that they can enhance home gardens, too. Dig into this article to learn more about why and how to incorporate cover crops in your garden. Read More Cover Crops for the Home Garden As you harvest the last of your vegetables and fruits late in the gardening season, open soil space becomes available in your garden. Why not try something new and fill those spaces with cover crops? Read more about cover crops in the home garden. Read More Deciphering Seed Catalogs Seed catalogs start coming in January or February - a good time to start dreaming of your next garden! But there is so much information packed into a seed catalog it can be hard to interpret the abbreviations and array of plant varieties. This article will help you to decipher your seed catalogs so that you can choose the best plants for your garden. Read More For Healthy Plants, Understand Your Soil First As you start to prepare your garden for spring planting, attending to the quality of your soil is one of the first things on the list. Testing and possibly amending your soil may not be as fun as planting, but these steps are crucial to the health of your plants. This article explains how to understand your soil and how to make it a beneficial host for your vegetables, shrubs, trees or flowers Read More From Our House to Yours: Winter Sowing Native Plants for You! Master Gardeners strive to be stewards of the environment. To that end, the Dakota County Master Gardener program seeks ways to support the efforts of community members to practice good gardening in their own yards. Planting native plants in your garden is one of those good gardening practices. To support that practice, the Master Gardeners’ Propagation Team grows native plants from local seeds that you can buy at our annual plant sale in May. In this article, learn how Master Gardeners collect, prepare and grow the native seeds. Read More Garden Mulch and Jumping Worms There are many things to consider when choosing which type of mulch to use. Aesthetics is one consideration but mulch that will help and not hurt your garden soil is another. This article will help you select the mulch that's right for your garden. Read More 1 2 3 4 1 ... 1 2 3 4 ... 4

< Back Indoor Plants: Try Something Different This Year Liz Townley, Dakota County Master Gardener Intern Once we hit October, I start thinking about cocooning, hoarding my plants that I nursed through the toughest summer days, and what new house plant can I try this year! Try first shopping around from the outside to see what you want to bring inside, or think about trying something that may be a little challenging. But to grow indoor plants successfully, keep some guidelines in mind first! Read this article for some tips for indoor plant success. When is it best to bring houseplants inside? According to Robin Trott, a University of Minnesota Extension Educator, “when fall nighttime temperatures begin to cool in late September, consider bringing in the houseplants you kept outside during the summer.” I remember going to Florida and seeing their huge outdoor plants versus our tiny miniature indoor versions. Leaves and delicate trunks can break off during moves, so be careful. Even though some houseplants can go outside for a summer vacation, you need to return them to their inside home before the temperature dips below 45-50 degrees. My mother used to tell me, if you need a jacket, so do your plants! Inspect and treat your plants for pests Bringing your plants inside a few weeks before the weather turns cold and the bugs embed into the plant, has always worked out for me. Once you have to go to the store to try to rescue a bug infested plant, it seems like it’s already too late. Aphids, mealybugs, white flies, and other pests aren’t usually a problem when potted indoor plants are outside. You can wash them in a bucket or sink with dishwasher soap to make sure bugs are not hiding out under stems or leaves. Bugs are easy to spot and it’s better to get them before they are a problem. They can quickly turn into a major infestation during the winter if they are brought inside with the plants. Aphids, most common, are small white or green, and can be found on the underside of leaves . Just as you gradually introduced your houseplants to the outside in the spring, gradually reintroduce your plants to the indoors. Your houseplants may undergo shock if abruptly brought in from outdoors. Start by watching the weather for changes and start gradually, maybe 3-4 hours, then overnight. Take it slow, and let them get acclimated to the indoors again a little at a time. Look for something new to try indoors this winter! This year I actually bought a plant from the Farmers’ Market that I think is more of an indoor plant. The “polka dot plant” has great burgundy stems and it was great pairing it with lime-green sedum in a pot on my deck. It looked a little tough during the super-hot summer heat, but it rallied back like a trooper! Once I tried putting a “peace lily” on my front porch as it is only sunny about 4 hours, but it was too much sun and most of the leaves burned. Besides sun exposure, there are many things to consider when choosing indoor plants. Photo credit: www.pexels.com , Rahl Megul According the University of Minnesota Extension Service, here are the favorite houseplants in Minnesota: African violets Amaryllis Cacti and succulents Citrus Geraniums Hibiscus Holiday cacti Monstera deliciosa aka “Swiss cheese plant” Poinsettias Tropical ferns This is a nice mix of easy to difficult houseplants. Most of them are favorites during holiday time, when that pop of color or greenery is a welcome distraction from the cold, blustery weather outside. Let’s talk a little bit how you can find success in trying to keep your plants alive and thriving without too much labor. Know your plant The first rule is to get to know the specific needs of your plant. If you have one of the favored plants listed above, click on the link and read about what that plant needs to thrive. Do the same for any other plants you are trying to grow indoors. Photo credit: www.pexels.com ; cotonbro Sun Exposure When choosing a plant, it’s important to understand your home’s orientation. Do you get most of your sun from the east or south where you will be placing your plant? Look at the plant tag to determine how much light the plant will get. Too much and it will burn and be dry constantly, and if it’s too shady, the plant will wither as if it is not getting energy. Growth When you buy that little plant from the nursery, check to see how big it is expected to grow. If you take a plant, such as a citrus tree back and forth from inside and out each year, plan ahead to have a seven-foot ceiling for it to grow safely. Take into consideration that if you keep your plant over the years, you will need to have the space and maybe even, repot it at some point. Humidity We don’t live in the south, but humidity can be a make-or-break deal when it comes to house plants. Our humidity can be just as tough! I thought my Alexa stated it was 98% humidity a few days back, it may have been 96% - but hey, that is pretty humid. It was like stepping into a shower. Some thick stem plants love it! But the fragile stem plants weep when it is too humid. On the other hand, sometimes, the air can be too dry. In that case, one strategy is to set your plant on top of some gravel rocks in a plate and add water. This feeds the plant and helps you with drainage. Water Many people wonder - can I just use tap water on my plants? That depends on the plant. Some experts advise not to use softened or chlorinated water on certain plants because of the effect of the chemicals on the plants. What about that dreaded white ring? That ring is usually from mineral salts. It is not particularly worrisome but it does need to be kept under control. Just use a damp cloth to remove it off your plants or spoon off the soil. There is not one simple answer to how to water indoor plants. Again, when you water, how much to water, whether you water from the top or the bottom, and so on, depends on each individual plant’s needs. Do your research. Feeding Whether and when indoor plants need fertilizer depends on the plant. There are different types of fertilizer which come in different forms. Most stores have a liquid fertilizer solution you can mix up and spread on the base of the plant. I love the fertilizer sticks that make fertilizing almost fool proof. Photo credit: www.pexels.com ; Oliglioncat Containers Should you keep your plants in the pot you got from the store? That depends. If there are roots coming off the bottom of the pot, then, yes, gently remove, take away any dead roots and repot. General rule: when the plant looks like it needs a bigger pot, then treat it to a bigger pot, but not too big as it won’t set up right. Plant pots come in different materials, for example – clay, plastic, terra cotta, wood, metal. Pot material can have some effect on things like the plant’s watering needs. So again, know your plant’s individual needs. Try bringing something new to your home! After evaluating the conditions and needs of certain plants, what are some other houseplants that love to grow inside while the temps fall outside? See my list below: Asparagus Fern Pothos/Philodendron vine Orchids Crotons Peace lily Snake plant Spider plant Dragon Tree Variated Ivy Ficus tree Dumb Cane Dieffenbachia Palm plants Aloe Vera Elephant Ear Kalanchoe Cyclamen Spiderworts Lucky bamboo plant Money tree Polka Dot Plant Prayer Plant Umbrella tree Air plants (easiest) China Doll (most challenging) Bonsai (advanced) Sedum, Jade and terrarium plants Wow! That’s a long list! Whatever plant you choose to use indoors, and indoors to outdoors, just remember to follow well-founded guidelines. You can surely find a lot of variety of plants to fit your fancy to set in a kitchen window or a table by a sunny window. Some plants need to be hung with hangers. It’s nice when the temps are dropping to see a little green in your home. Some are great air cleaners, as an added bonus. Remember to water well or put in the bathtub if you go on vacation! Some plants get leggy and a little tough come March, but once outside or the sun shines more regular, they will perk right back up. Remember to enjoy your greenery and if at first you don’t succeed, try something else! Reference: University of Minnesota Extension Service

Gardening by the Month Happy Feathered Friends Is it important for us to take care of our feathered friends when the weather turns cold and the snow begins to fly? Yes it is, because birds play an important role in the ecosystem of our garden from weed and pest control to pollination and fertilization, plus birds are fun for all ages to watch. Now it’s time to help the birds stay strong and healthy throughout the Winter with only a few simple supplies needed. Read More Guarding the Gardener: Cold Injury Most Minnesotans spend the month of January by a nice warm fire, or at least by a nice warm TV. Not so, the avid gardener! There are things to do, last minute trimming, tipping a floribunda rose that you missed in October, cleaning up all those dead stalks that didn’t get clipped. But working outside in Minnesota in January can lead to cold injury. An unwary gardener can easily lose bits and pieces of his anatomy out in the yard if he's not respectful of the cold. Read this article to help yourself to keep safe in the winter “garden.” Read More January, A Perfect Time to Re-Design Your Landscape When January brings us huge snowdrifts and blustery winds do you think of Spring? Yes, it’s the perfect time to be thinking about your flower and vegetable gardens and begin making plans for re-designing your landscape. If you have these thoughts, then click on the link to learn more about basic landscape design concepts and current 2024 trends in landscaping. Read More Winter is a Perfect Time to Start Seeds On a chilly February day, the thought of blossoming flowers and growing vegetables seems like a far-off dream. Despite this, February is the perfect month to begin planning your summer garden and organizing a plan for indoor seed starting. Read this article to learn the why, what. how and when for starting your own plants. Read More February - Starting Seeds Indoors If you want to grow plants from seed for your garden this spring, February is the time to start – planning and planting. There is a little more to it than dropping a seed in soil. Read More Extend the Growing Season with Greenhouses The doldrums of winter are upon us and gardeners are drooling over seed catalogs and dreaming of fresh vegetables and riots of flower colors. But spring planting is still several months away. This is an excellent time to research gardening season extenders such as greenhouses, cold frames, and low tunnels. They could help you start your growing season sooner in the spring and last longer in the fall. To determine which one(s) will best meet your growing needs, there are some key questions you will want to ask yourself and information you’ll want to consider. This article explains the basics and provides helpful resources to move your from – that’s interesting to – I’d like to try that in my yard. Read More Don’t Overlook These Early Spring Native Perennials When we think of early spring plants in Minnesota, we generally envision bulb plants, such as tulips, daffodils, crocus, hyacinths or allium. But don’t overlook the many beautiful native wildflowers that also bloom in early spring. This article will feature six of these plants. They may deserve a place in your garden or look for them as you stroll through local parks or public gardens. Read More The Three Sisters Planting As spring approaches, we begin to look for ways to not only welcome the “Little Sprouts” into our garden plan, but also create an education opportunity as well. Let’s explore how to best incorporate into our gardens more sustainable gardening practices no matter what the size through using the Three Sisters planting or “Milpa”. The Three Sisters planting creates a way that three crops - corn, beans and squash compliment and work together to create a beautiful sustainable harvest. Read More Lop & Lose While March is the ideal time to prune most trees and shrubs in your garden; note that it is NOT the time to prune those that bloom in the spring. Pruning your spring blooming trees and shrubs may kill blooms that are forming. These plants should be pruned right after they bloom in the spring. Read this article for valuable information about pruning some of your most beautiful spring blooming shrubs. Read More Choose Outdoor Furniture Wisely It may still be cold outside but March does officially usher in spring and Minnesotans can finally believe that warmer weather will arrive again. We begin to anticipate spending time out of doors - tending to the garden but also sitting, eating and entertaining outside. So now is the time to assess your outdoor furniture needs and wants. Are you buying outdoor furniture for the first time or do you need to replace your old pieces? There are many different types of outdoor furniture at different price points, so it is worth spending some time understanding how to buy smartly. This article provides an overview of furniture types and materials plus buying tips. Read More Timing For Cutting, Pruning and Dividing Plants Gardeners understand that most plants and trees in their yards need to be pruned at times. The problem is that knowing when to prune can be confusing. Not all plants and trees should be pruned at the same time of year. Master Gardener Cherise Skeba found it hard to keep track of when to prune the plants in her yard despite a diligent effort to learn about each plant. After doing her research, she developed 7 rules that help her and can help you, to know when to prune to keep your plant healthy and producing beautiful blooms. Read this article to learn the 7 helpful rules Read More Seed Bombs - An Explosion of Color The calendar has turned to March and the excitement builds in anticipation for Spring, but wait, I can’t plant seeds outside yet. Don’t worry, DIY seed bombs are a great way to get your hands dirty and also introduce your children and grandchildren to a way of transforming a barren or hard to grow area of your yard into a beautiful flower spot. Read More 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 7

Indoor Plants Indoor Plants: Try Something Different This Year Once we hit October, I start thinking about cocooning, hoarding my plants that I nursed through the toughest summer days, and what new house plant can I try this year! Try first shopping around from the outside to see what you want to bring inside, or think about trying something that may be a little challenging. But to grow indoor plants successfully, keep some guidelines in mind first! Read this article for some tips for indoor plant success. Read More Are You Contributing to the Illegal Succulent Trade? Succulents, particularly rare or unusual succulents, have become very popular. Easy online succulent sales boomed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the demand for rare and unique plants plus the ease of being able to buy and sell plants online has contributed to the illegal succulent trade business. This, in turn, has created a nightmare for plant conservationists, particularly in South Africa, where illegal plant harvesting is disrupting the ecosystem. This article is intended to bring awareness to this problem and to suggest how you can avoid being part of the problem. Read More Humidity and Indoor Plants Are you filling your winter gardening needs by growing houseplants? If so, you’ve probably noticed that the air in our homes is dryer during the winter months. That not only affects us, but it also can have a significant impact on your plants. This is especially true for tropical plants . . . and many house plants do originate in tropical settings. In this article, Master Gardener Linda Stein provides advice about how providing humidity to your plants can help them through the winter. Read More Terrariums - A Garden in a Bottle Are you looking for an easy way to enjoy a live project with your child or grandchild over the Winter? How about creating a simple Terrarium that not only will be easy to care for but will also add a living garden to your home. All you need to begin is an open or enclosed glass or plastic container and a variety of planting materials. Read More Is it Time for Houseplants? It’s December. Everything in the garden is dead or hibernating. Assuming you did your fall clean-up in the yard, cleaned and sharpened your tools for next year and planted your spring bulbs, there is nothing to do in the garden. Feeling lost? Maybe it’s time to consider houseplants. Read More The Vacation is Over Your orchids have been enjoying an invigorating respite outside, but like all good things, it must come to an end. Orchids, like any indoor plant that has summered outdoors, have the potential of picking up nefarious bugs and potential diseases that you don’t want to bring into your indoor growing area. It is better to go on the offensive while they are outside because there are more treatment options available to combat the offenders when the orchids are outside. Read this article to learn how to return your orchids (or other house plants) indoors after their summer vacation. Read More Give Your Orchid a Vacation Orchids are like school children. They have been cooped up in your house all winter. They have treated you well, stayed healthy, and maybe even treated you to blooms; for that they deserve something special: a vacation! It is easy; you don’t need a travel agent, an airline reservation or even a hotel room: just set them outside. Read this article by avid orchid grower, Paul Wood, to learn how to safely grow your orchids outside in the summer. Read More How to Select an Orchid Have you been intrigued about orchids but don’t know where to start or how to keep them alive? Or, are you already an orchid grower but want some expert tips? This article on orchids is the first of three by orchid expert, Paul Wood. The first article provides great advice about how to choose the right orchid for you. Read on to learn how you can begin to be an orchid grower – and lover! Read More Moving Houseplants Outdoors for a Summer Vacation You have been enjoying your indoor plants during our long, cold winter. But soon it will be time to think about transitioning some of those plants outdoors. March might seem a bit early to think about moving your indoor plants to the outdoors but plants do require a transition time and warm weather will be here sooner than you think. There are many reasons that you might move your houseplants outdoors for the summer. But there are several things to consider to ensure that your plants flourish as a result of this move. Read More Indoor Allergen Friendly Plants Did you know that Americans spend roughly 90% of their time, on average, indoors according to US EPA report? As a gardener, perhaps it’s time we focus on our indoor space and the benefits and types of plants we could have indoors. Click on this link to learn more about Indoor Allergen Friendly Plants. Read More Pet-Safe Plant Choices There are a lot of us in Dakota County and beyond who love both plants and our pets. Not all plants are compatible with the dogs and cats who live with us. Read on to find out about safer plant choices to make for our furry family members - and a few plants to keep away! Read More Propagating House Plants Winter blahs got you down? Bring more green into your home by propagating your houseplants. It’s easier than you think for many plant varieties, and it’s a fun way to spend part of a gray day. Read More 1 2 1 ... 1 2 ... 2

Recipes & Cookbook Let's Bake Some Bread - Go All Out Herbal! Many of us enjoy growing our own herbs. We can always use another recipe for using the herbs we have grown. Here are two seasonal breads you will enjoy making in your own thyme (along with marjoram, rosemary and oregano)! Baking bread can be a fun but long process if you make your bread from scratch. In this article, Liz Townley offers some delicious bread recipes made easy. Read More Pickling From Garden Glut to Gut Garden You know that feeling. It started in the springtime with two innocent-looking seedlings. But now it's August and your kitchen has the look of a staging ground for an Audrey's botanical invasion. You’ve given cucumbers to your neighbors, your mail carrier, and possibly a confused delivery driver. And yet, the vines keep producing. Welcome to the Gardener’s Dilemma and it’s something that humans have been facing since the dawn of civilization, just how do we preserve the fall harvest. Of course, one of the answers to that question is Pickling. Read on to learn all about the how-to’s and the benefits of pickling your harvest. Read More Peppers, Peppers, Peppers! Unfortunately, we have reached the time of year when fresh vegetables from your own garden are not available. If you were a diligent vegetable gardener, like Joy Johnson, you will be rewarded with a freezer full of fall harvested vegetables like peppers and tomatoes. In this article, Joy offers two recipes – pepper steak and stuffed peppers – that will be delicious whether the vegetables came from your garden or the supermarket. Just enjoy! Read More Cooking with Native Plants It’s just past harvest season in most of Minnesota, but depending on the weather in your area, you may still be harvesting brussels sprouts, potatoes or pumpkins. This time of year, Master Gardener Joy Johnson thought you might enjoy trying some recipes from two of Minnesota’s Native American cultures – Chippewa Blueberry Wild Rice Pudding, Ojibwa Baked Pumpkin, pumpkin seeds. Yum! Read More Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake Is there a food more identified with October than pumpkin! Of course not! So, here is Joy Johnson’s delicious recipe for Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake. Joy says she is targeting adults with this recipe but kids will love it, too! Read More Summery Chicken Salad and Easy Swedish Dessert If you grow vegetables in your garden or frequent farmers markets, you know that September can yield a bountiful crop. Yes, you might be thinking about canning, freezing, sharing or drying some of your harvest but this month’s recipes give you the opportunity to enjoy many of your fresh vegetables in a delicious, smokey chicken salad and traditional Swedish dessert. Yum! Read More Delectable Strawberry Shortcake (and a Bonus Rosemary Recipe) It’s August and our gardens are in full growth mode, what a delightful exciting growing time of year. One of the most popular fruits that are ripening now is strawberries. Joy Johnson offers a mouthwatering recipe for strawberry shortcake. And – a repeat of a former favorite rosemary recipe. What a great time of year for eating fresh food in Minnesota! Read More A Recipe for Your Early Vegetables Warm weather, warm spice, warm dinner! It’s wonderfully warm out and Joy Johnson’s garden is in all its glory. Zucchini, yellow squash, early tomatoes, spinach and sweet peppers are starting to ripen. It’s time to cook up a delicious turkey curry, with a homemade blend of spices. The fragrance will whisk you away to far off India. It’s a warm way to include all your early vegetables or farmers market purchases in one dish. To cool off, add a minty fruit salad. Read More Bright, Fresh and Easy Spring Salad There is nothing like a fresh salad made from ingredients grown in your own yard. If you were as ambitious as our author, Master Gardener Joy Johnson, and started your own lettuces earlier this year, you could enjoy this spring salad with your home-grown lettuce. Not to worry though, this salad can be enjoyed with grocery-bought, or perhaps, farmers markets ingredients also. This salad says – welcome spring! Read More Spring is the Time for Wedding Soup Spring is the season for weddings which prompts Master Gardener Joy Johnson to think about Italian Wedding Soup. Myth buster: it’s not called Italian Wedding soup because it’s served at Italian weddings; it’s called wedding soup because the flavors in it marry so well together! Read and learn how to make this soup part of your soup rotation – any time of the year. And, as a bonus, learn how to make Apple Butter to enjoy with your soup! Read More Roasted Spiced Cauliflower Cauliflower has taken the nation by storm. 40 years ago, no one had hardly heard of it, now it seems like everyone has their favorite way to eat it from crunchy and raw with dip or as pizza crust! Cauliflower is a mild flavored, versatile vegetable, so it adapts well to many recipes. It is easy to grow in your garden, but make sure you are diligent in watching and controlling for pests who love to enjoy it too. This recipe heats it up with a mind-blowing array of spices, serving it with cool and creamy Burrata cheese and a crunchy topping of browned nuts/seeds and herbs. It’s a real flavor explosion and impressive to serve as a side dish. Read More Garlic Butter Brussel Sprouts It’s March and this month green vegetables may be top of mind (thanks to Saint Patrick, I’m sure). Garden seeds are sprouting under their grow lights and we are excited for warmer days to come when they’ve grown large enough to transplant outside into our gardens. In the meantime, here is a recipe for one green vegetable – brussels sprouts. According to the author, Joy Johnson, even the pickiest of brussels sprouts eaters will love this recipe! Read More 1 2 3 4 1 ... 1 2 3 4 ... 4