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Minnesota back in a drought
The weather here in Minneapolis has been extreme recently, and drought is something we’ve experienced every year. Although the 2024 drought was not as severe as previous years, rainfall … more
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Extension programs to keep you busy this winter
If you’ve been following this column the past few years, you will know that I’m a Master Gardener Volunteer through the University of Minnesota Extension. It’s a wonderful program … more
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Woodworker Bill Dossett (left) and Joe Hayes look over a set of windows being restored. According to Dossett, the dust collection system in the new building is an upgrade that has made a big difference for staff. Plus there's a room just for planing.
Hayes Window expands into new location, offers storm windows
Lost your storm windows over the years? Have windows you can’t open anymore because they were painted shut? Does the glass rattle in the wind? These problems don’t mean that you need to … more
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Many trees in the community went down in storms over the summer on both private and public land. The very dry conditions of the previous drought damaged tree roots.
What’s up with our trees this year?
Trees are an important part of the landscape in South Minneapolis. They shade our streets and yards, provide habitat for wildlife, improve the air, and reduce the urban heat island effect. If … more
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How to garden in a small space
Many of us in south Minneapolis have small outdoor spaces, so we need to do more with less. It can be a challenge to make space for a garden alongside everything else we use our yards for – … more
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Ericsson resident Jessica Wyn Miller (right), an entomologist, leads a Bug Club adventure into the world of bugs near her Minnehaha Creek-side home. She has found that her work as an artist intersects with insects.“I got excited for aquatic insects when I found out they reflect the health of a water," she recalled.
She hated bugs – so she decided to become an entomologist
Jessica Miller still shrieks sometimes when a spider jumps on her, but the south Minneapolis environmental entomologist has found that makes her more approachable when she’s teaching classes on … more
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Lauren Bethke
Unusual fruits for your Minnesota garden
You probably know that many different fruits are commonly grown in Minnesota, like apples, raspberries, and grapes. But did you know we can also grow kiwis? Read on to learn about some unusual fruits … more
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Lauren Bethke
Slow mow summer
You’ve probably heard of “No Mow May” – a slogan designed to encourage everyone to avoid mowing their lawns until June and letting spring flowers bloom to support pollinators. … more
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Jon Trappe
Talking lawn care with U of M
People are getting back into our yards and gardens, with pent-up demand following a long winter. University of Minnesota Extension Educator Jon Trappe has tips for yards that accomplish multiple … more
A rain barrel collects roof runoff so you can save the rainwater for later use. Reroute downspouts away from pavement and onto grass, a rain barrel or a rain garden. (Photo courtesy of the University of Minnesota Extension)
A watershed moment
What is a watershed? What is our local watershed called? Where does it begin and end?  What is the largest watershed in the U.S.? According to board chair of the League of … more
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Jill Carmody is a senior manager at the Habitat for Humanity’s Minneapolis ReStore. They are both a drop-off site for leftover paint products, and a retailer for the Amazon brand of recycled paint. Carmody said, “PaintCare has made it easy for people to recycle their left-over paint, which is the right thing to do for the environment.”
Recycle your left-over paint with PaintCare
Did you know there’s an option for recycling leftover paint in Minnesota? That’s right, recycling, not just disposing of leftover paint. Since 2014, the non-profit PaintCare has been … more
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Andrea Tritschler
Improve your home, improve the community
The Greater Longfellow Neighborhood is known for its charming bungalows and craftsman-style homes. These old homes are embedded into the character of our neighborhood, but as any property owner … more
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There are a number of options for hydroponic systems – ways to a grow plants directly in water, without soil. (Photo submitted)
Consider hydroponic gardening
Although it’s been a mild fall so far, winter is rapidly approaching. Something that has always helped me maintain a good attitude despite Minnesota’s cold, snow, and short days, is … more
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Plants with berries (such as winterberry, shown here) and those with unique bark and stem colors (such as dogwood) add color during winter months. Add winter interest by leaving stems and flowers intact rather than cutting them down in the fall. (Photo submitted)
Planting for winter interest
The days are getting shorter and it’s almost time to wrap up the gardening season. When planning garden spaces, we often think about staggering bloom times so we can enjoy beautiful flowers … more
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Patricia Neal works with children to tend their neighborhood sponsored garden.
Local model for an urban CSA
“Four years ago, I realized we needed a model for an urban CSA,” says Craig Neal, founder and chief gardener of the Neighborhood Sponsored Garden (NSG) located in a backyard on Beard Ave. … more
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These small lightboxes made by Longfellow artist Chris Miller can brighten tables and shelves. Other larger ones function as furniture. (Photo submitted)
How to add art to your home
Longfellow mosaic artist Chris Miller believes that art is like jewelry for your home. “I made this piece in glass a few years ago and I display it each September during LoLa Art Crawl. It says … more
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Bulbs come in different sizes. Above (left to right) are daffodil, tulip, and crocus bulbs. At right is a hardy allium, a decorative onion that features a large, puffy flower on a tall stalk. (Photo submitted)
Tips for planting fall bulbs
Now that the days are becoming noticeably shorter and nights are getting colder, you may think the planting season is over. However, fall is the perfect time to put some hardy bulbs in the ground for … more
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Essentially, a rain garden is a low-lying garden bed with plants that can tolerate standing water. Some excellent rain garden plants include Purple Coneflower, Joe-Pye Weed, Prairie Blazing Star, Cardinal Flower, and Little Bluestem. There are also some shrubs and small trees that can thrive in a rain garden, such as Serviceberry and Chokecherry. Rain gardens are generally low maintenance because they use deep-rooted native plants that naturally thrive in our climate.(Photo submitted)
Rain gardens help during times of drought
Each summer – and especially in recent years – Minnesota experiences some degree of drought. When it does rain, it’s best to keep rainwater on your property and allow it to soak … more
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Plants such as Buckthorn may look pretty, but they can take over a garden and are very hard to eradicate. At a minimum, try to remove the flowering stalks from the Creeping Bellflower before they go to seed. Each plant can produce up to 15,000 seeds which disperse by wind, creating a host of new plants each year.
Creeping Bellflower and other invasive plants
If you’ve taken a walk outside recently, you’ve probably noticed purple flower stalks popping up all around the neighborhood. Although they are beautiful, what you may not realize is that … more
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Does your lawn have big, dead spots in it? It might be the work of grubs. They eat grass roots. In areas of severe damage, you may be able to roll back the sod like a carpet.
What’s wrong with my lawn?
Summer has arrived in South Minneapolis and you may have started to notice dead patches in your lawn. There are many potential culprits for lawn damage and, unfortunately, they can be difficult to … more
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