The Northern Gardener: From Apples to Zinnias

The Northern Gardener: From Apples to Zinnias

Gardening in a northern clime has its own unique set of challenges. Yet, despite the shorter growing season, gardening remains a popular passion for millions of green thumbs in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. Northern gardeners can successfully grow a wide range of beautiful ornamentals and tasty food crops. In The Northern Gardener , Mary Lahr Schier brings together a rich and varied collection of wisdom for cold-climate gardeners. The tips, tricks, and lore, presented with period illustrations and glorious photos, are gleaned in part from the pages of the journals and magazines of the 150-year-old Minnesota State Horticultural Society, including Minnesota Horticulturist magazine and its current incarnation, Northern Gardener . The increasing popularity of heirloom vegetables and plants demonstrates that the next generation of gardeners seeks the sense of accomplishment and authenticity that comes from growing plants at home. This book provides insight into gardening traditions, time-tested how-to advice for gardening in the North, and a peek into Minnesota's horticultural history. “Mary Lahr Schier has written a delightful book that combines solid, practical gardening advice for northern gardeners with some of the history of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, one of the country’s oldest. There is no other gardening book like this one for the upper Midwest.” Michael Heger, Ambergate Horticultural Consulting and co-author of Growing Perennials in Cold Climates “The Northern Gardener is a welcome addition to the libraries of Minnesota gardeners. Each chapter stands on its own, allowing readers to dip in wherever they want. This book may be written with Minnesotans in mind, but other northern-climate and midwestern gardeners should also be able to adapt it and find it useful.” Edward Lyon, author of Growing the Midwest Garden and director of Reiman Gardens, Iowa State University Mary Lahr Schier is the editor for Northern Gardener , the bimonthly magazine of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. She won the 2009 Botanical Award for "Best Garden Blog in Minnesota." Schier has also written articles and books on technology, business, and politics.