Creeping Bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides), a European import from colonial times (before they knew better) very easily escapes cultivation. According to minnesotawildflowers.com its status is Invasive – ERADICATE! No punches pulled there!
Spring

The Garden Scoop - Creeping Bellflower: Good or Evil

Tuesday Toolkit: Prepping for New Perennials

The Garden Scoop - 2025 Year of the Dogwood
This year’s shrub choice is Dogwood aka Cornus. It’s been a part of human history for centuries and, since the 1800’s, it’s become a favorite of American gardeners. I’m one of them!

Tuesday Toolkit: Maintaining Baskets & Planters

The Garden Scoop - The Struggle is Real - Spring 2025
The ‘Scoop has heard from so many of you about how your perennials have not come back or are late to the party. I feel ya. My Joe Pye Weed that I planted a few years ago are just sticks poking out of the ground. Fellow longtime gardeners are bereft at the loss of so many long-established Coneflowers.

The Garden Scoop - No Mow May: Yay or Nay?
It’s a nay for the ‘Scoop’s lawn. There’s no doubt it was a noble endeavor to help the bees, but anything related to the world of nature takes time to consider all the ramifications.

Gertens Guide to Spring Shopping
Your 2025 Spring Guide to Shopping at Gertens! Everything you need to know to be #ROOTEDINSUCCESS this spring.

The Garden Scoop - 2025 AAS Annuals winners
Oh boy, All America Selections has chosen their winners in an array of categories but today, we're celebrating a few of their chosen Annuals. And, WOW, they are amazing. The 'Scoop gives some background on AAS and shares photos of these annuals along with a little story about a wild "pet" rabbit...

The Garden Scoop - Epiphany & what to do with your Christmas tree
January 6th is the official last day of the 12 Days of Christmas, the Epiphany. The word itself has several meanings but for Christians it signals the coming of the Magi, or 3 Wise Men. Celebrations abound around the world, some involving plunging into icy water. For many of us it means packing away the Christmas decorations and taking out our fresh Christmas tree. Before you kick it to the curb, The Garden Scoop has some fun ideas to put that tree to good use!!

The Garden Scoop - Ode to the Partridge Pea
Many years ago, I went on a local garden tour and saw these AMAZING yellow flowers. I found these flowers were NATIVE annuals to Minnesota! Super easy to start from seed and a pollinator magnet.

THE GARDEN SCOOP: Rain, Rain, Go Away!
Come again some other day. Who knew we’d be saying that? The last couple of years we’ve been in a drought. This year our soils are saturated, and our rivers, lakes & ponds are overflowing.

THE GARDEN SCOOP: We’re in the Zone – Zone 5a
Did you know that last year the USDA updated our country’s Plant Hardiness Zone (PHZ) Map and portions of Minnesota have been changed from zone 4b to zone 5a?! Learn more about what this means for your garden!

VIDEO: Top Garden Trends for 2024 | Garden Guy Dale
Garden Guy Dale shares some of the top garden trends for 2024.

VIDEO: Starting Summer Vegetable Gardens Indoors| Garden Guy Dale
Garden Guy Dale shares tips for starting your summer vegetable garden indoors in March in Minnesota.

VIDEO: Tips for Gardening This Spring | Garden Guy Dale
Garden Guy Dale shares tips for gardening during this unusually warm spring-like weather.