MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM - HENNEPIN COUNTY Learning Garden Tour Saturday, July 14, 2018 Come to look, to learn, to leave inspired. 2018 LEARNING GARDEN TOUR Thank you for attending our 11th annual Learning Garden Tour! You’ll enjoy a close look at eight home gardens, Welcomedesigned and maintained by Hennepin County Master Gardeners, and the historic Dowling Community Garden, which began as a World War II Victory Garden. (See page 32 for more on Victory Gardens.) Master Gardener volunteers will be on hand to explain highlights of each INSECT & DISEASE garden and to answer your questions. In addition, each garden features MANAGEMENT an Education Station, where you’ll learn about specific topics and build your skills. PRUNING Ticket price includes: – Wristband for entry to all 9 gardens. FERTILIZATION – This booklet, which includes: • The story of each garden LIGHTNING PROTECTION • Descriptions of the Education Stations • Gardening articles DIAGNOSIS • An easy-to-navigate map, highlighting the location of each garden. (This is a self-guided tour, and you may visit the gardens ROOT INVIGORATION in any order you choose.) Please be sure to visit The Garden Shed, located at Garden A, offering REMOVAL a wonderful selection of fun, practical and decorative garden items, and The Book Nook, located at Garden I—a one-stop shop for a variety of gardening books for all ages, many written by Hennepin County Master Gardeners and Minnesota authors. Meet with an ISA Certified All proceeds from Learning Garden Tour tickets and items in The Garden Arborist who understands Shed and The Book Nook provide funding for the Extension Master the science of tree care. Gardener Program – Hennepin County. Cover photo: Borage (Borago officinalis), photographed by Melinda Mattox, Hennepin County Master Gardener. The University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Program – Hennepin County, homeowners and volunteers are not responsible for any damages, injuries, lost or stolen articles. University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this publication/material is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to the Extension CALL US AT 763-253-8733 OR VISIT WWW.BARTLETT.COM Store at 800-876-8636. Printed on recycled and recyclable paper with at least 10 percent postconsumer waste material. Master Gardeners’ 2018 Learning Garden Tour 3 WHat IS AN EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER? WHat TO LOOK FOR ON THE TOUR Hennepin County Master Gardener volunteers promote environmental The Garden Shed stewardship by providing research-based horticultural information and education to enhance the quality of life in our communities. This year’s Shed features rustic, reclaimed-wood birdhouses along with chicken-wire garden cloches, mini garden stakes, succulent planters and Hennepin County had 375 active Master Gardener volunteers providing “Pollinator Packs” of native plants — loved by bees, butterflies and birds. 29,000 hours of service in 2017. WHO WE ARE The Book Nook A perfect place to buy the perfect gift! You’ll find an appealing selection of Master Gardeners are gardeners just like you who have received extensive training through their county gardening and nature-themed books for adults and children alike. Extension program and then volunteer in their Included are titles written by Hennepin County Master Gardeners on community. Master Gardener volunteers are pollinator-friendly gardening, hydroponics, natural pest deterrents, science- active in all 50 states. based gardening tips and making simple preserves with your garden’s bounty. WHat WE KNOW Our training covers a wide range of subjects such Garden Plant List as soil health, plant pathology, sustainability and In each garden, 10 notable plants are highlighted with entomology. numbers. You’ll find the names of these plants on each garden’s booklet page. HOW WE KNOW IT Master Gardener core courses are taught by Education Stations University professors and Extension educators. Fun and engaging Education Stations offer demonstrations on Flowers for Ongoing education is provided throughout the Pollinators, Hydroponics, Pruning Trees and Shrubs, Vertical and Raised- year in a variety of venues. bed Gardening and more. Look for a station description on each garden’s booklet page. WHO WE WORK WITH Master Gardener volunteers work with children, Food Trucks teens and adults in schools, community gardens, Garden D libraries, farmers markets and many other places. Camp Cheesecake/Muddy Paws Cheesecake—offering six award-winning flavors by the slice, including a gluten- HOW TO BECOME A MASTER GARDENER free option. Visit www.HennepinMasterGardeners.org to learn how to get on the notification list for this year. Garden F Complete 50 hours of core course training and Alimama’s Sambusa Mediterranean Cuisine—offering continue your education and service every year! sambusas, falafel, hummus, salads, iced coffee and more. Garden G For information call 612-596-2130 or visit: O’Cheeze—offering specialty grilled cheese done www.HennepinMasterGardeners.org varying ways, including pulled chicken and bacon. @HCMGS 4 Master Gardeners’ 2018 Learning Garden Tour Master Gardeners’ 2018 Learning Garden Tour 5 Garden A 5620 Bloomington Avenue, Minneapolis CALLING ALL POllinatORS TopPlants 10 Plant List Gardening is my hobby and my passion. I’ve only been in my house since 1. Tree Peony (Koukamon) A B C 2015, but I’ve been reworking the gardens to draw pollinators and create a 2. Hydrangea (Little Quickfire) private, relaxing space in the back yard. 3. Dwarf Burning Bush 4. Peonies (Sarah Bernhardt) The dominant feature there is a massive silver maple. The roots reach every- 5. Prairie Smoke where, including into the ground around a concrete patio that had drainage 6. Swamp Milkweed D E F problems, and into an old, overgrown garden. 7. Bergenia The patio is my favorite place to relax, so I tackled that issue first. In 2016, 8. Sliver Maple Tree I edged the patio with a new garden featuring hydrangeas, junipers and a 9. Anise Hyssop 10. Ficus Tree burning bush that help absorb water and create a privacy screen. I add pots G H I of annuals for summer-long color. Last year I replaced the tired plantings in the existing garden with low-main- Directions: From Hwy 62: Exit at Portland Ave., head North on tenance perennials that should draw pollinators. That garden is anchored Portland Ave., East on E56th St., South on Bloomington Ave. S. by a tree peony with maroon flowers, surrounded by plants like bee balm, astilbe, penstemon, coneflowers and bugbane. I’ve tried to amend the soil as I go. The maple has been a challenge, but I respect the tree and value its shade and have tried to protect the roots. I love the sound of water and have fountains in the front and back yards. MASTER GARDENer – HENNEPIN COUNTY Birds and squirrels stop by for a drink, and once a Cooper’s hawk sat on the fountain in the front yard! The Garden Shed Don’t miss this year’s delightful collection of items EDUCATION Water Wisely at The Garden Shed — perfect gifts for all of the STATION gardeners in your life, including yourself! You can grow beautiful, healthy plants and turf while helping to conserve 2 Rustic, reclaimed-wood birdhouses water at the same time. Watering Wisely means incorporating best practices 2 Charming (and practical) chicken-wire garden cloches for watering your home landscape efficiently. 2 Mini garden stakes 2 Succulent planters Stop by to learn about the effect of soil texture on water movement, how 2 “Pollinator Packs” of native plants — loved by bees, to determine the type of soil you have in your landscape, and ways to butterflies and birds adopt recommended practices for watering gardens, newly planted and established trees and shrubs, and lawns. Water is one of our most precious All proceeds provide funding for the Extension Master Gardener Program – Hennepin County. resources, and you can make a difference in conserving it to benefit genera- tions to come. Located in Garden A, 5620 Bloomington Avenue 6 Master Gardeners’ 2018 Learning Garden Tour Master Gardeners’ 2018 Learning Garden Tour 7 Garden B 4825 29th Avenue S, Minneapolis PLEASING palatE AND palETTE PlantsTop 10 Plant List I’m inspired by a desire to create a beautiful urban landscape that’s attractive 1. Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) A B C to birds and insects—and by a passion for growing food. 2. Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) The challenges are growing vegetables in the shade of venerable old oaks, 3. Lungwort (Pulmonaria) and MANY squirrels. I long ago gave up acquiring many plants I’d love for 4. Bleeding Heart (Dicentra) my garden, simply because there’s not sufficient sun for them to thrive. 5. Thyme (Thymus) D E F But I continually discover new shade-loving perennials that complement my 6. Hepatica garden’s palette. 7. Foam flower, Tiarella 8. Nightshades, solanaceae; What I love most changes with the season: In spring, it’s Virginia bluebells, Tomatoes, Eggplants, and G H I crocus, Scilla, and Hepatica in bloom! Fiddleheads for dinner. Rhubarb-raisin Peppers 9. Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda) sauce. Spinach and radishes. And blooming pagoda dogwoods, cherry, 10. Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) bleeding hearts, pulmonaria, anemone and azalea. Directions: From Hwy 77N: North on Cedar Ave., East on E. Minnehaha Pkwy., South on 29th Ave. S. Summer brings a serendipitously beautiful arrangement of three large hostas From Hiawatha/Hwy. 55: West on East Minnehaha Pkwy, in the back, and the fragrance of blooming hops. I pick yarrow, peonies, South on 29th Ave. S. sage, opal basil, spirea, hydrangea and hosta for bouquets; raspberries, blueberries, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers and beans for supper. Last year I harvested my very first hazelnuts, and this year I look forward to the bloom- ing of a VERY fragrant hosta. I have tended these gardens for 17 years now, and many features I proudly point to as ‘mine.’ But there are also contributions from my predecessors, and perfectly placed volunteers—gifts from the mysterious forces of nature.