Winter

Every winter we huddle up all cozy in our homes while bunnies burrow into areas as close to some tasty young shrubs as they can get. Even they aren't as interested in venturing too far in 10 below zero weather! This 'Scoop offers the best method of protecting your shrubs and suggestions on rabbit "resistant" shrubs and perennials too.  

Our “average” last frost date for Spring has been May 15th in zone 4 for a long time, but according to Dr. Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota professor emeritus and meteorologist, he reported in 2021 that we can expect new normals, adding that in the last 20 years, April 20th was the average date for the last frost in zone 4!

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!!

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.

Fall is here and we are now looking at our depleted vegetable gardens, spent perennials and brown lawns; our trees in various stages of color and/or "balding"! Is there anything we can do right now to help tuck them in for winter? Yup, there sure is. And in particular, new plantings.