Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID St Cloud, MN Permit #1446

Volume XV | No 3 Fall 2014 PO Box 7594 St. Cloud, MN 56302 www.munsingerclemens.com The Seasons of the Mississippi by William M Cook In the spring, the water is high and fast- moving due to melting snow and the Presumably everyone who reads this first rains of the season. Large logs are newsletter has at some time walked washed down river, sometimes along the gravel paths at the lower temporarily sticking out of the water end of Munsinger Gardens, and taken at odd angles; one a few years back we a leisurely swing on one of the several called the “Loch Ness monster.” When that are down there. There is much to my son was smaller we would walk enjoy in that area; while the formal sunny down to the observation deck on the beds up along the street are spectacular, east side (near the greenhouses) and my favorite parts of the Gardens are if water was gushing over the dam, he down the hill, where I appreciate the tall would shout “The dam is ON!” There is trees and the hostas and other perennia l a brief rush of migratory birds heading gardens. Still, I bet many people don’t north up the river in April and early May,

give much conscious thought to the

and in cold springs loons can be found

. y t e i c o S l a c i n a t o B s n e m e l C r e g n i s n u M m o c . s n e m e l C r e g n i s n u M . w w

w nearby Mississippi River, which is one of

using the area right next to the gardens

t a e g a p k o o b e c a F r u o t u o k c e h C m o c . n g i s e d s a c u l j @ l l i j the defining and unique features of the

as an overnight rest stop. If you catch it 1 7 4 4 - 3 4 7 • n g i s e D s a c u L l l i

J Gardens. This is the first in what will

m o c . s n e m e l c r e g n i s n u m : e t i s b e w r u o t i s i V Personally I try to appreciate this; living n g i s e D & t u o y a L just right, you can see flocks of hawks,

probably become an intermittent series

on the east side near the Gardens and u d e . e t a t s d u o l c t s @ l l e r r o g

d vultures, or pelicans circling while riding

of articles on the Mississippi, its ecology,

4 3 8 8 - 2 5 2 • l l e r r o G a n n o

D working at Saint Cloud State, I walk back thermals on the way north.

history, and relationship to the Clemens

r o t i d E & r o t a n i d r o o C and forth across the University Drive

and particularly the Munsinger Gardens. Soon, the migrants are past and flotillas

. d e m o c l e w e r a s n o i t c e r r o c s s e r d d

a bridge on nearly a daily basis. The river . s n e d r a G s n e m e l C n i p o h S t f i G s n e d r a G e h t t a e l b a l i a v a o s l a e r a s m r o f y r t n

E of baby mallard ducks appear. As the r o , s n o i t s e g g u s , s t n e m m o c , s e l c i t r

A It is easy to forget that we live very close itself is a barometer of the seasons, and . s m r o f y r t n e d n a s e l u r r o f , m o c . s n e m e l C r e g n i s n u M . w w w , e t i s b e w r u o k c e h c e s a e l P

. r e b m e c e D n i e b l l i

w summer goes along the water level

to one of the major rivers of the world. I love watching it change through the year.

e u s s i t x e n e h T . r a e y a s e m i t r u o f

. y h p a r g o t o h p n

i usually drops, and if it’s a dry season by

d e h s i l b u p s i r e t t e l s w e n S B C M

s e s s a l c s e h c a e t d n a , t n e m t r a p e D t r A e h t f o r e b m e m a , y t i s r e v i n U e t a t S d u o l C t n i a S September I can wade across below the

k i n t o l Z t t o c S

y b d e y o l p m e s i e H . r a e y s i h t n i a g a s e i r t n e e h t e g d u j l l i w n a i t s i r h C - l e p p a H r e t e P dam and only get wet up to my thighs

a l l i b y z r P e n n A What’s Up in the Gardens?

(take into account that I am unusually

l e t s e N a n r o L

. r a e y e n o r o f s e t i s c i l b u p s u o i r a

v tall, and the current is still strong in n e d n i M m m a P A Guided Tour of Clemens Garden

t a d e y a l p s i d s o t o h p r i e h t g n i v a h f o r o n o h e h t d n a s e z i r p h s a c e v i e c e r l l i w s r e n n i W

y l l e K k c a

J by Joan Andersen places). More and more of the rocks . o S t e e r t S h t 7 1 0 1 1 , x e l p m o C l a p i c i n u M e g r o e G e k a L e h t t a , m p 0 0 : 3 , 6 1 r e b m e v o N

l l e r r o G a n n o

D and sand bars become visible, and the

, y n o m e r e C s d r a w A t s e t n o C o t o h P e h t t a d e c n u o n n a e b l l i w s o t o h p g n i n n i w l l A h c s l e F s i r h

C I have visited the Gardens quite a few As you pass from one area of Clemens

k o o C m a i l l i

W times this summer and I love to observe Gardens to the next, watch how the continued on page 5 . s e i r t n e e h t m o r f n e s o h c e b l l i w ” w o h S f o t s e B “ : r a e y s i h t d e c u d o r t n i e b

r e t r a C e n i a l

E the changes over the season. My most colors change but still flow from one l l i w d r a w a w e n A . s t l u d a d n a , 8 1 - h t u o y : e l b i g i l e e n o y r e v e e k a m s p u o r g e g a o w t r u O t r e v l a C m a S

n u l k r o j B t e r a g r a M y r a

M recent visit was a quick tour with Gardens garden to the next. In this Issue

. d e t a i c e r p p a o s l a e r a s d i p a R k u a S d n a , k r a P e t i a W , l l e t r a S , d u o l C t n i a S n i g n i v i l

g i l l i B a s s i l e

M Supervisor Nia Primus on July 21—the The Seasons of the Mississippi ...... 1&5

The Rest Area Garden features a

e l p o e p m o r f s o t o h p , e s r u o c f O . s e i r t n e d e t t i m b u s y e l o F d n a , r a m l l i W , a c a l i M , o l a ff u B

k e r o l F l l i

J hottest and most humid day of the What’s Up in the Gardens? ...... 1&2

prominent row of verbena bonariensis .

, t n u o m e s o R , o t a k o C , e k a L e l p a M m o r f s r o t i s i v n w o t - f o - t u o r a e y t s a L . t s e t n o c o t o h p e h t

n e s r e d n A n a o

J season so far. I wanted to see the

The purple flowers resemble lollypops Reflections on “Art Fair in the Gardens” ...... 2

s r i a h C - o C r o f s o t o h p t i m b u s o t d e t i v n i s i s n e d r a G s n e m e l C r e g n i s n u M s t i s i v o h w e n o y r e v e , s e

Y highlights of each of the garden areas Japanese Beetles Are Coming? ...... 3

? e n o y r e v E on sticks and stand up high above the

s r o t c e r i D f o d r a o B in Clemens Gardens. These Gardens

pink "Magellan” zinnias planted next to White Mold

contain a lot of annuals, and the design, The Problem and a Solution ...... 4 o t n e p O t s e t n o C o t o h P S B C M e h t s I S B C M them. These plants, along with many color schemes, and plant choices are Gardens Known and completely redesigned each year. continued on page 2 Loved by Beatrix Potter ...... 6 Page 2 Page 7 What’s Up in the Gardens? Reflections on “Art Continued from page 1 pennisetum “Regal Princess,” a purple Potter’s Legacy grass that grows to about 36" tall. Nia Fair in the Gardens” In time, she expanded. After she married her solicitor William other annuals, fit into the inviting color mentioned that there are “volunteer” Heelis in 1913, William helped her to purchase more property. palate of pink, purple, and magenta. by Joan Andersen milkweed plants in this garden and that She bought Castle Farm across the road from Hill Top Farm There are several giant plants featured Photography the staff leaves them for the Monarch Everyone planning an outdoor event and Courier Farm, which had fruit trees. She became a preserver in this garden to give it vertical interest. in the Gardens butterflies. The staff is sure to deadhead worries about the weather! In 2013, our of fruit, with jams and jellies and marmalades. She moved “Teddy Bear” sunflower is a shorter the milkweed flowers so they don’t self artists, organizers, visitors, and Gardens permanently to the country and set aside obligations of January 1— November 7th, 2014 cultivar (for a sunflower) with very large seed all over the Gardens! staff soldiered on through a very hot London society in exchange for life in the country. Her ward- leaves; it is just setting buds that will and humid day. In 2014, we all rejoiced The Treillage Gardens on the top of the robe became a straw hat, a woolen jacket and skirt, and clogs Prizes bloom in late summer. The Cardoon in the beautiful summer weather—just > hill feature four color-themed gardens. or boots for walking in mud. In 1923 Potter, now Mrs. Heelis, $50 1st place Adult winner in each category plant has huge greenish gray serrated enough heat and not too much humidit y The yellow garden has a lovely planting bought Troutbeck Park Farm, which was over two thousand $20 2nd place Adult winner in each category leaves and is just grown for its dramatic for Art Fair in the Gardens. The conditions of ageranthemum “Butterfly.” The Gardens acres. She paid farm managers and a sheep expert to rebuild $10 3rd place Adult winners in each category foliage. Also, look for the lime-green were perfect for shopping and visiting staff really likes the “Moonstruck” the herd. She was so successful that in 1930 she was elected $50 1st place Youth-18 winner in each category leaves of “Jack’s Giant” elephant ear. with the artists while listening to music marigolds because they are always president of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders’ Association. In the $20 2nd place Youth-18 winner in each category Agastache “Pink Pop” is planted because and having something to eat and drink. flowering and the plant as a whole is same year she acquired another huge estate, Monk Coniston. $10 3rd place Youth-18 winners in each category it attracts sphinx moths. very attractive. A visitor favorite is the The most asked question about the All winners will receive Award Certificates. Throughout the years Beatrix had remained involved with The Formal Garden has a great color “Cassia” or popcorn plant. This plant has flowers was "What is that tall purple the Reverend Rawnsley’s efforts to preserve the Lake District, Categories scheme featuring burgundy, lime green, shiny black buds opening to spikes of flower growing near the gift shop?" It is > historical sites, and natural beauty around England. Beatrix Landscapes (garden scenery) and coral. Plants grown only for foliage yellow flowers. It is in the legume family verbena bonariensis, also known as and William arranged to bequeath all of their real estate to the Hardscapes (decorative features in the Gardens) look great all season and never take and the foliage resembles clover. The Brazilian vervain. This plant blooms all National Trust that the Reverend had founded. Public access to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be chosen from both “time off” from blooming. Look for sun red garden has a large planting of salvia summer and is attractive to butterflies age groups and each category. coleus in shades of green and coral “Hot Lips.” This plant is a red and white and other insects. The leaves are small the views, the lakes, and hills are due in great part to the legacy including “Fishnet Stockings,” “Dark Star,” bicolor and is a hummingbird favorite. and the stems are sturdy, so its airy of Beatrix’s writing. Beatrix and William remained happily Any visitor to the Gardens is eligible to enter. Castor bean plants provide a large together in the Lake District until her death in 1943. Her “Mariposa,” and “Mainstreet River Walk.” form gives height in the garden, Submission Fee dramatic back-drop to the red garden. garden remains open to visitors, a living link to Beatrix Potter > Another attractive plant is Acalypha blending well with other flowers $10 for adults per photo and her lifelong interest in plants and gardening. “Bronze Pink” which has large shiny The blue garden features “Carpet Blue” without blocking the view behind it. $5 for youth-18 per photo petunias interplanted with a darker bronze red leaves. A wonderful coral It grows as a perennial in warmer If you are interested in knowing more about her gardening Maximum of 3 entries per photographer. blue double petunia for a nice contrast. dahlia, “Alamos XXL,” is featured in this climates. In Minnesota the plant will be life, I recommend Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life: the Plants Another plant I liked was salvia farinacea garden. Alternanthera “Red Threads” is killed by frost in the fall but will reseed and Places That Inspired the Classic Children’s Tales , by Marta >Rules “Sallyfun Blue Emotion,” which was tall planted as an edge plant and the fine itself during the growing season and McDowell; and Beatrix Potter: a Life in Nature , by Linda Lear. • Tripods may be used. and had more blue color than similar leaves of this plant are getting bushy the seeds will sprout in the spring. If You may want to read her girlhood diary, The Journal of Beatrix • Photos will be returned to photographer. salvia s. The purple/pink garden contains • Photographer retains copyright of photo. in the summer heat. “Sophistica Lime this happens, excess seedlings can be Potter 1881-1897 , which has been transcribed from her code “Pink Sunsation,” an impatiens that takes • Use of the photo is granted to MCBS and credit Green” and “Crazytunia Bitter Lemon” removed or moved to another place. writings by Leslie Linder. You may also wish to see the video sun and is resistant to downy mildew. will be given to photographer. have ruffled flowers that contrast well Seeds for this plant can be bought and that was released in 2006 starring Renee Zellweger. Miss Potter with darker foliage plants. This year, Nia When walking through the Gardens, be started indoors, and sometimes plants tells the story about Potter and her struggles to become a > Entries Due is testing five kinds of black petunias, sure to check out the urns and other can be found at garden centers. published author in Victorian England. November 7, 2014 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and several of these are planted here. containers. Nia pointed out pennisetum November 8, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Many of us thought that the Gardens This garden proves that you can have villosum grass, which is also planted in at the Lake George Municipal Complex were the most beautiful we had ever lots of bright color with foliage as well several gardens. If you pass by the urns 1101 7th Street South, St. Cloud, MN seen them. I think that "Art Fair in the as flowers. in the Perennial Gardens on the way to To give additional support to Music, ArtFair, or the Gardens, Winners will be notified November 12-14, 2014. the Treillage, check for the morning Gardens" must have the best location The Perennial Garden contains an complete the form below and mail to: glories planted in the urns—they are of any art fair anywhere. Artist booths Awards impressive collection of perennial MCBS, PO Box 7594, St Cloud MN 56302 > just starting to bloom. are set in the gardens—we don't mind November 16, 2014 3:00 p.m. a Public Reception will plants, and on this day the lilies and day - if you walk on the grass. Many people Name ______be held at Lake George Municipal Complex to lilies were the stars. Another perennial Nia and the Gardens staff have done a found a peaceful place at the gazebo present awards. in full bloom was leucanthemum “Sunny wonderful job of designing the Gardens Address ______or a bench near the river to sit and Winning photos will be on display for the following year Side Up”—a sturdy pure-white daisy and choosing interesting plants. We had enjoy a meal and a beverage and listen ______and then returned. Other photos may be picked up at the with a yellow center. Annual plants are a cold and rainy spring for planting to music. I can't think of another art fair awards ceremony or at Lake George Municipal Complex Email ______added to ensure that the garden is followed by summery weather. where you can shop for high quality art November 17-21, 2014. always colorful and to make it interesting Favorable growing conditions plus the for your home and garden while being Event supported ______Amount $ ______for visitors by changing the look each skill of the gardening staff means that the surrounded by beautiful gardens and Download the entry form from our website Or visit our website to give at www.munsingerclemens.com www.munsingerclemens.com year. A nice annual grass found here is Gardens are looking fantastic this year. serenaded by talented musicians. Page 6 Page 3 Gardens Known and Loved by Beatrix Potter Japanese Beetles Are Coming? Are Here? by Idella Moberg Herfordshire by Carl Hoffman London Beatrix’s paternal grandparents lived at Camfield Place in A few weeks ago, my neighbor and I, Beetle Traps,” to control the Japanese Herfordshire. They purchased the three-hundred-acre estate Beatrix Potter was born July 28, 1866. Her parents’ first family both wearing white shirts, were out- beetles in your yard and garden. north of London the year she was born. Her grandfather home was at No. 2 Bolton Gardens, London, a newly built four- doors talking about our shrub plantings Although they can capture what appears employed fifteen gardeners to tend the park, the walled story terrace house in a South Kensington neighborhood. Her when we were suddenly “attacked” by to be an impressive number of beetles, garden, flower beds and green houses. It was the place Beatrix grandparents were newly rich, having made their fortunes in dark-colored insects. She immediately research has proven that these traps loved best. At Camfield she could climb trees and look for birds’ Manchester’s cotton industry. As a child Beatrix played in the asked me what kind of bees was nests in a landscape designed by the famous landscape artist attract more Japanese beetles bombarding us. I told her that they back garden. It was walled for privacy and gated for access. Capability Brown. into the area than they actually A gravel path surrounded a rectangular lawn. Along the wall, were not bees but were false Japanese capture. You are likely to see more Lake District shrubs grew in a bed that was edged with brick set in a beetles, and we soon found them Japanese beetles on your plants as a sawtooth pattern. A rose and other climbing vines were One summer, after spending eleven summers in Dalguise, the feeding on nearly every largely light- result. Pheromone traps are a useful trained on the wall. Potter family found that the house was not available. Instead colored flower in the neighborhood. monitoring tool to determine if they rented a place in the English Lake District, at Wray Castle. I can assume that many of you can Japanese beetles are in the area but Across the street from No. 2 was a garden square. This was The Castle was built in the 1840s, designed in neo-Gothic style. relate because this is another year they are not meant to control them. exclusive to residents who paid a garden tax covering their It had towers and a picturesque garden. The Reverend Mr. share of the upkeep. Residents received a key to its iron gate. when this pest ravaged flowers for a Rawnsley, the Potters’ neighbor at Wray, had a passion for If you are seeing only a small or Young Beatrix and her little brother Bertram went there with couple of weeks. preserving the landscape of Lakes. Sixteen-year-old Beatrix moderate number of Japanese beetles, their governess, Nurse MacKenzie. Nurse MacKenzie also took Beth Berlin, Extension Horticulture immediately fell in love with the beautiful countryside. Later just handpick them. Pick them off or the children to the Royal Horticultural Society’s Horticultural in life she, like the good Reverend, also championed the cause Educator in Stearns and Benton counties , knock them into a pail of soapy water. Gardens, where the large glass conservatory was warm and of preserving the landscape. said she had many calls about the false This is more effectively done in the tropical in winter, and musicians played from cast-iron band- Japanese beetles, and specimens were The Potters vacationed in other landscapes: Salisbury at foliage of rose, grape, linden, birch, evening because Japanese beetles are stands on concert days. Across from the Horticultural Gardens brought to the office for her to identify. Cathedral Close, on the Cornish coast, and in Devonshire. crab apple, cherry, birch, Norway active feeders during the night, but Nurse MacKenzie took the Potter children to Kensington What is unusual, and frightening, is Beatrix photographed and drew and painted the landscapes maple, mountain ash, and willow. They anytime you can do it will help. Gardens. This Royal Park was laid out in the 17th and 18th and outdoor spaces. She described the gardens she visited and that a specimen brought in by an area skeletonize the foliage, eating the leaf Remember to check your plants centuries in symmetrical Dutch style. Avenues of trees radiated viewed them with a critical eye. Her travels brought her to a gardener is that the insect was really tissue between the veins. They particularly regularly. Japanese beetles can be out from the Round Pond. A natural-looking lake, Serpentine, serious study of plants as compared in different sites. In her a Japanese beetle. Although they provided a touch of English landscape into the garden. It was like to feed on plants in sunny areas and active through September (even into twenties, Beatrix studied botany, collected insects, dug for have been active in the twin cities and in these gardens that Beatrix and her brother walked and typically will start eating leaves at the October if we are enjoying a mild fall). fossils, and studied animals. She studied and painted fungi. surrounding area for several years, this played as young children. top of plants and work their way down. Books and Gardens is the first time they have been found The adults also commonly eat flower For more information on the Beatrix’s love of nature was fostered by spending time The vacation homes that the Potter family rented in this far north. blossoms, like rose. Japanese beetle Japanese beetle and both low- throughout her life in gardens. Her parents indulged her love impact and insecticide control, go summertime provided settings for the many books Beatrix These beetles are broadly oval and grubs are also pests feeding on the of animals by allowing her to keep a menagerie consisting to www.extension.umn.edu , click on Potter wrote and illustrated. Her first book, The Tale of Peter about 3/8th -inch long with a bright roots of turf grass. variously of mice, frogs, lizards, birds, a dog, a hedgehog, a bat, Rabbit , began in a letter she wrote to the little son of a friend. emerald-green head and prothorax “garden,” and write “Japanese beetle” and rabbits. Later, they encouraged Beatrix’s artistic efforts as Her friend loved the story and suggested she publish it. Her I am sure that the question many of (the area directly behind the head) and in the search box. You will find much she drew and painted subjects in the garden. Her father took illustrations in her many books demonstrate that even though you have is “What now?” First of all, it is shiny bronze-colored wing covers. An excellent up-to-date information from her to art galleries and introduced her to painters. He passed she had no garden of her own, Miss Potter had absorbed possible that the one or two specimens important distinguishing feature is Jeff Hahn, University of Minnesota on his love of photography to his daughter, which was useful lessons from gardeners she’d met over the years. found in this gardener’s yard were the five small white tufts of hair along Extension Entomologist and other to her as a painter. As a child she drew plants from books in incidentals that were brought in on a Hill Top Farm, Near Sawrey, Lake District each side of the abdomen and two authorities. the Potter library and later she took art lessons. plant or in the soil of a plant in the Beatrix became a gardener when she was almost 40 years old, larger white tufts on the tip of the grub stage and have not yet become The best thing we can do now is to Scotland when she’d bought her first property, when her fiance died abdomen. The false Japanese beetle’s established. It is very important that diligently monitor our yards and suddenly leaving her grief struck, and when she had received head and thorax are a dull metallic Each summer while Beatrix was growing up, her family packed gardens for this unwelcome invader income from her books and an annuity from an aunt. She green with brown wings and no white we all monitor our yards and gardens up the dog, the servants, the carriage horses, the children and so that we can eliminate them before purchased Hill Top Farm for a summer residence. It was tufts on the abdomen. Whereas false and positively identify any suspicious their current menagerie, and boarded a train to Scotland. Her they become established area wide. As therapeutic for her to plant a garden. Friends visited with gifts Japanese beetles are usually gone from insects. This can be done by bringing father rented a large house for the summer, where they could William Shakespeare wrote, “Unbidden from their own gardens, and she was happy to reciprocate. the gardens by the end of July, Japanese the specimens under question to the exchange the stress and grimy heat of London summers for guests are often welcomest when they Beatrix redid her garden and added onto the house. She did beetles may be found in gardens and Stearns County Extension Office for freedom to romp and explore the countryside. For about eleven not choose an estate house with a grand landscape. Rather, are gone.” lawns until the end of August or later. identification. summers in a row they visited the house called Dalguise, on the she chose a working farm with a cottage garden. She used river Tay in Perthshire. It was at Dalguise that Beatrix learned to stone from a quarry on her own land and hired local craftsmen Japanese beetle adults feed on over 300 Don’t be tempted to use pheromone observe plants and insects with an artist’s eye for detail. to fashion her garden in the Arts & Crafts style. different plants, commonly eating the traps, commonly sold as “Japanese Page 4 Page 5 White Mold—The Problem and a Solution by Carl Hoffman the disease survives winter. It is, therefore, water. In other words, I provided the resistance project that she was very important to destroy all infected ideal environment for the development conducting. I certainly had an adequate The Seasons of the Mississippi As had been the pattern for a number of Continued from page 1 plants by burning or burying them, of white mold. Because I planted source of sclerotia inoculum in my soil! years, spring 2010 found me planting my being careful not to shake the pulled susceptible plants in the same spot each I readily agreed to offer her my garden Beaver Islands are almost accessible by dry foot. In hot weather sometimes algae annual flower border, which contained plants in the garden. year and did not correct my cultural for a test site in 2011. about 500 annual plants. The annual grows on the upriver side of the temporary dock put out by SCSU crew teams. In the technique, the disease continually fall it is pleasant to look across the river and watch the deciduous trees change color flower of 2010 was ‘Twinny Peach’ There is no chemical that will rid the Conclusion increased until it culminated in the mess snapdragon and, to satisfy my penchant garden of the disease, so the control and drop the spent leaves into the river, thereby providing for a large guild of of 2010. I had fallen into the old “maybe There are a few highly resistant plants, for growing new plants, I decided to use strategy must involve a change in detritus-feeding insects for the rest of the year. it will be better this year” regimen. but with proper cultural practices, some this snapdragon with ‘Merlin Blue Morn’ cultural practices. Because the sclerotia of the plants with moderate or even low My favorite season for watching the Mississippi is winter, defined for me by the petunias, ‘Evolution’ blue salvia, and need moisture to start an infection, The only strategy left, other than to resistance to white mold will perform interval when ice appears on the surface, between roughly late November and ‘Rocket’ snapdragon with blue ageratum abandon the site, was to select plants practices that reduce humidity and satisfactorily. For example, in the border March. On the first calm nights down in the teens a thin film of ice appears and then for edging. Although the peach snap- allow plants to dry rapidly will deter that are resistant to the disease. That is of 2011 (which was planted for me), the comes and goes depending on daytime temperatures and wind patterns. Eventually dragons were actually more of a school- development. Avoid overhead watering , no easy task! After many phone calls master gardeners used both Profusion the ice becomes stable and creeps southward toward the dam, with the last open room buff than the peachy yellows and and space plants so that air can move to Michelle Grabowski, University of Cherry Zinnia and Tidal Wave Hot Pink water just above the lock. Groups of waterfowl gather just beyond the leading edge orange I was expecting, the border around the plants. In an attempt to Minnesota Extension Plant Pathologist, petunias that were spaced correctly and of the ice, and crows walk along just on solid footing. In the mornings you can see looked presentable until late July and achieve a mass of color, I had planted seeking a solution to my problem and they performed quite well. The mainstays rings of ice which have been added during the night. Sooner or later it snows and early August, but then the plants began my plants close together in nutrient asking for a list of resistant plants, she in the border were both green and a perfectly flat blanket of snow is in place from bank to bank; this is a special to decline rapidly. rich soil, and because of the location asked if I would consider using my burgundy sweet potato vines and Minnesota view, rarely seen in many parts of the country. and size of the border I had to overhead garden as a test site for a white mold By mid-August there were a few straggly Tea Cup elephant ears. The greatest During the coldest part of winter the Mississippi along Munsinger Gardens is quiet; surviving plants, and many of my friends problem was some aggressive sweet ducks, geese, and swans huddle below the dam. Occasionally a lone bald eagle lands asked me if my garden had been sprayed potato vines that were unwilling to The Test on the ice. On the coldest mornings of the year, fog called “river smoke” forms as with a chemical. These plants had been share the space! The Tea Cup elephant water from the 32-degree water evaporates into air sixty degrees colder. Rime ice damaged by white mold, Sclerotinia I sent Michelle a diagram of my garden bed giving the shape and dimensions, and with the ears were beautiful. from fog coats nearby trees, creating a winter wonderland look. Footprints appear sclerotiorum , a fungus disease that affects help of Julie Wesienhorn, University of Minnesota Extension Educator, she made a planting over 360 species of plants, including plan. Following is a list of plants that were included in the test and the results: across the river, tracing the tracks of foraging animals and foolhardy students. On annual flowers, vegetables, perennials, Common name and variety Botanical name Resistance Level sunny days in late winter, snow on the surface of the river partly melts, creating small lakes on top of the ice which then freeze again, creating a marbled look. and farm crops, particularly bean crops. Canna — Tropical White Canna high Accessibility in the Gardens For me, this all started in my border Elephant Ear — Ruffles Colocasia high Finally, as days regularly go above freezing in early spring, the big thaw happens and Clemens Gardens is completely about ten years ago when my beautiful Sedge — Toffee Twist Carex high large cracks appear in the now mostly snowless ice. A large channel opens north to Zinnia — Profusion white Zinnia susceptible accessible, with handicapped Coral Magellan zinnias began to wilt and south; in most years recently, that forms off the east bank near Munsinger Gardens, die. I brought some color back into the New Guinea Impatiens Sonic red Impatiens high to moderate parking and access located by the Scaevola — Whirlwind White Scaevola susceptible though in 2014 it formed on the west side. Large sheets of thin ice, sometimes as 2010 border by pulling and destroying all Virginia Clemens Rose Garden. There Sweet flag — Ogon Acorus high are steps located from the White large as a football field, break off and try to head south. For a couple of days icebergs the infected plants and planting some Pentas — Graffiti mixed Pentas moderate Garden to the Perennial Garden and flow down the river and over the dam, and then the waterway is clear except for bargain chrysanthemums I’d found at a Moss Roses — Sundial (4 colors) Portulaca susceptible lingering ice along the east bank. It is spring again, and Garden workers are already swap meet. the Perennial Garden to the Treillage Because there were not enough plants to fill the space and I could not tolerate all the bare Garden. To access these gardens, planning the flowers of June. Symptoms of this disease include tan to soil, I added the following plants to the test site: visitors in wheelchairs may use the So, have you noticed any of this happening within feet of Munsinger Gardens? off-white colored stems in a section close Dianthus — Red Dianthus high path that runs along the outside of If not, the next time you are visiting, you should walk and look. And don’t forget to the base of the plant. The stem above Canna — Tropical Rose Canna high the Gardens. most of the year that is outside Memorial Day to Labor Day, either! A few years ago, the discolored area can be a normal green Cosmos — Sonata Pink Cosmos susceptible Zinnia — Profusion Cherry Zinnia susceptible after a sleet storm in early spring, ice covered all the surfaces along the lower river color and the roots can be healthy To access Munsinger Gardens from Geranium — Caliente Hot Coral Geranium moderate to high walk. A jungle of icicles dripped off every tree branch overhanging the river, many colored. Fluffy white cotton-like fungal Clemens Gardens or vice versa, use Alternanthera — Joseph’s coat Alternanthera high connecting directly to the mostly frozen river below. Every one of those icicles growth can be seen in the area of the Petunia — Carpet white Petunia susceptible the sidewalk at 13th Street SE. discolored stem. Eventually the fungus Constructed in the 1930s, Munsinger eventually fell into the Mississippi, and started on its way over 2000 miles to the From personal experience, I would add the following to the list: will rot through the entire stem and the Gardens have limited handicapped Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River is not just near Clemens and Munsinger Alyssum — Snow Crystals Lobularia susceptible plant suddenly wilts and dies. Upon accessibility, but visitors can park in Gardens, it is part of the Gardens. Be sure to visit them both together. Snapdragon — Twinny Peach Antirrinum susceptible close examination, hard black fungal (The old favorite, Rocket, has good resistance) our public parking lot and access resting structures called sclerotia can be Ageratum — Blue Danube Ageratum moderate to low Munsinger on the path that runs Visit our website: munsingerclemens.com seen clinging to the outside of infected Blue Salvia — Evolution, Victoria Salvia moderate to low along the Mississippi River. —Nia stems or embedded inside dead stems. Sweet potato vine Ipomoea high Primus, Gardens Supervisor. Check out our Facebook page at Sclerotia are the resistant form in which Munsinger Clemens Botanical Society.