February 16, 2023
Presentation in Lecture Hall - Courtney Tchida, the Community Programs Director for the Minnesota State Horticultural Society will talk about starting and choosing seeds. Programs Courtney oversees include: Garden-in-a-Box, MN Green and MN SEED Project Programs, which directly support community, school and public gardens. She'll cover everything you need to know to start seeds for this spring including: seed starting schedules, variety selection, options for containers and media, where and how to start seeds along with when and how to plant them outside. Courtney will demonstrate of making soil blocks and discuss materials, tools and tricks for starting seeds. Bring seed starting questions and go home equipped with the know how to get started. Presentation slideshow is here:
Presentation in Lecture Hall - Courtney Tchida, the Community Programs Director for the Minnesota State Horticultural Society will talk about starting and choosing seeds. Programs Courtney oversees include: Garden-in-a-Box, MN Green and MN SEED Project Programs, which directly support community, school and public gardens. She'll cover everything you need to know to start seeds for this spring including: seed starting schedules, variety selection, options for containers and media, where and how to start seeds along with when and how to plant them outside. Courtney will demonstrate of making soil blocks and discuss materials, tools and tricks for starting seeds. Bring seed starting questions and go home equipped with the know how to get started. Presentation slideshow is here:
| seed_starting_presentation_courtney_tchida_2-15-23__1_.pdf |
January 18, 2023
7:00 pm Presentation in Lecture Hall - Michelle Bruhn, founder of Forks in the Dirt, will speak on companion planting for the home gardener. Learn the secrets and science of how plants grow better together and help your vegetables flourish while adding beauty to your garden. We'll cover incorporating both annual and perennial flowers into the vegetable garden, minimizing diseases, reducing pests, supporting pollinators, and improving soil fertility.
Presentation notes are here:
| companion_planting_presentation__1_.docx |
December 7 - Holiday Party at Mancini's Char House, St. Paul
November 16, 2022
7:00 pm Presentation in Lecture Hall - Ramsey County Master Gardeners will speak on Stopping Problem Plants. Invasive plants can cause major damage to local ecosystems. Learn to identify and manage common invasive plants found in Minnesota yards and natural areas.
8:00 Business meeting and Favorite Tools Show-and-Tell followed by drawing for door prizes - some of our favorite tools!
November 16, 2022
7:00 pm Presentation in Lecture Hall - Ramsey County Master Gardeners will speak on Stopping Problem Plants. Invasive plants can cause major damage to local ecosystems. Learn to identify and manage common invasive plants found in Minnesota yards and natural areas.
8:00 Business meeting and Favorite Tools Show-and-Tell followed by drawing for door prizes - some of our favorite tools!
October 19, 2022 - South St. Paul High School Lecture Hall
7:00 pm Presentation in Lecture Hall - Julie Weisenhorn will speak on "Plant Selection: Right Plant, Right place, Right Purpose".
7:00 pm Presentation in Lecture Hall - Julie Weisenhorn will speak on "Plant Selection: Right Plant, Right place, Right Purpose".
| julie_weisenhorn_handout.pdf |
Announcing a fun photo contest for JULY and AUGUST.
Show us what’s blooming in your garden! Take a picture of something YOU grew in YOUR garden in JULY or AUGUST 2022, and post it here:
https://www.facebook.com/dakotagardeners.org
There will be one winner each month (July and August), and the prize is a $15.00 gift card at Bachman’s. The winner will be decided by a lottery. Multiple posts will increase your chance of winning. Only club members are eligible for a prize.
July 20 and August 17, 2022 - Garden Tours
June 15, 2022- peony talk and tour of Swenson Peony Gardens in Howard Lake at 6 PM.
May 10, 2022 - Annuals orders sort in parking lot of Community of Christ Church, 5990 134th St Ct, Apple Valley. Pick up orders between 4- 6 PM.
May 4, 2022 - "How to Prune" Workshop with Faith Applequist, certified arborist. 6 - 8 PM at Mary Bittner's home in Apple Valley. Bring your pruners and gloves!
April 20, 2022 6-7 PM Lily bulb sale
7 PM Michelle Reidel will speak on "Anything but Green Foliage".
March 16, 2022 Kathy Nass from Donahue's Greenhouse in Faribault will speak on clematis.
February 16, 2022 Sue Bagge from Sungro Landscape Design will speak on shade gardening.
January 12, 2022 Debbie Lonnee from Bailey Nursery will speak on new trends and plants in the nursery trade. Zoom meeting only.
December 8, 2021 Holiday Party at Mancini's
November 17, 2021
Holiday decorations workshop. Bring-a-friend night. Come make an outdoor winter planter or a Fall/Thanksgiving centerpiece with us. Instruction and materials will be provided by Laine Moire Floral Design. Workshop will be held at 7 PM in the Stock Exchange Room at South St. Paul High School.
October 20, 2021
6:00 PM Back yard dinner and bonfire at Bob Hansberry's home, 7321 146th Way W., Apple Valley, MN. Menu will be Bob's famous Brunswick stew, pulled pork sandwiches, salads and dessert. Question and answer session to exchange garden knowledge among members. Informal discussion topic for the evening will be what we do to put our gardens to bed for the winter. What plants should we cut down in the Fall or Spring and why? Which plants might need winter protection and how do you do that? When and what to prune and mulch? We will also vote in the new officers for the club year. Remember, membership renewals are due by the October 20 meeting to avoid a $5.00 late fee!
September 15 ,2021
Dakota Garden Club Meeting
The speaker will be Shari Mayer, Master Gardener and Herb Educator.
Shari has been teaching classes on herbs for over fifteen years. Her experience managing a semi-formal herb garden at the University of Minnesota UMORE Park in Rosemount for many years gave her a unique opportunity to explore the world of herbs and their suitability for the Minnesota climate. She has extensive knowledge in seeding herbs, growing and harvesting them. She has always grown herbs in her own gardens and continues to explore new varieties every year. She knows how to maximize growing herbs in our short Minnesota summers. She regularly speaks around the metro at Master Gardener events, Community Education classes and gardening clubs. Her love of herbs is contagious!
Prior club activities:
June 16, 2021 - garden tours begin at 6 PM on Summit Avenue in St. Paul.
1. Laura and Douglas Marty, 1515 Summit Avenue
2. Marge Hols at 1180 Summit
3. Rojean Rada and Tom Diamond at 445 Summit Avenue
March 20, 2021 - deadline to mail annual plants order form.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 from 3-6 PM - Annual Plants orders pick-up, location to be determined.
SATURDAY, May 11, 2021, Perennial Sale, CANCELLED due to risk of spreading jumping worms.
Others : TBD
October 21,2020 - 6:00 PM Bonfire social in Bob Hansberry's back yard, 7321 146th Way W., Apple Valley. Brunswick stew, bread, salad and dessert.