Pine County Master Gardeners

09/05/2026

09/02/2026

Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities.

09/02/2026

TODAY'S FAVORITE is a shrub!

BLACK CHOKEBERRY - GROUND HUG (This is a cultivar of ARONIA MELANOCARPA, which is a deciduous shrub native to MN)
While standard black chokeberry grows upright as a medium-sized shrub (3 to 6 feet tall), Ground Hug Aronia was bred to grow low and flat to the ground, 8-14" tall, and can spread to 3 feet.
Both have a high tolerance for difficult soils, drought, and wet conditions, and even tolerate salt and compaction. They are best suited to full sun or part shade.
They share the same spring white flowers and glossy bright green leaves that turn bright shades of red and orange in the fall. In late fall into winter there are blue-black berries that are attractive to birds.
What more could you want??
You can see "Ground Hug" growing at the Pine City Discovery Garden.

Ann Pederson
Pine County Master Gardener

09/01/2026

SEPTEMBER THEME -
HIGHLIGHTING SOME FAVORITE PERENNIALS AND SHRUBS FOR MINNESOTA GARDENS
It is still gardening season in Minnesota!! Along with reaping and savoring seasonal garden produce, this is an excellent time to add MORE Perennials & Shrubs to your landscape.
This month we will feature some of my favorites, some of which I have, and others I am looking to add!!
Today's highlight is BLUE ICE AMSONIA
USDA Zones: 4–9 (thriving here in Pine City Discovery Garden)
It prefers full sun for the best flower production and upright shape, but tolerates partial shade
Attributes:
- It has lovely periwinkle-blue star-shaped flowers in late spring
- Sports brilliant golden-yellow foliage in the fall
- Compact mounded habit
- Grows about 12–18 inches tall and 18–24 inches wide
- Low maintenance and resistant to deer, rabbits, and most pests
- Foliage longevity ( it is not a spring Ephemeral, therefore it maintains its green foliage throughout the summer)
Ann Pederson
Pine County Master Gardener

09/01/2026

SEPTEMBER THEME -
HIGHLIGHTING SOME FAVORITE PERENNIALS AND SHRUBS FOR MINNESOTA GARDENS

It is still gardening season in Minnesota!! Along with reaping and savoring seasonal garden produce, this is an excellent time to add MORE Perennials & Shrubs to your landscape.
This month we will feature some of my favorites, some of which I have, and others I am looking to add!!
Today's highlight is BLUE ICE AMSONIA

USDA Zones: 4–9 (thriving here in Pine City Discovery Garden)
It prefers full sun for the best flower production and upright shape, but tolerates partial shade

Attributes:
- It has lovely periwinkle-blue star-shaped flowers in late spring
- Sports brilliant golden-yellow foliage in the fall
- Compact mounded habit
- Grows about 12–18 inches tall and 18–24 inches wide
- Low maintenance and resistant to deer, rabbits, and most pests
- Foliage longevity ( it is not a spring Ephemeral, therefore it maintains its green foliage throughout the summer)

Ann Pederson
Pine County Master Gardener

08/31/2026

Pine County Master Gardeners recently planted 3 shrub-style MN Hardy Chrysanthemums at the Pine City Discovery Garden. The University of Minnesota developed these chrysanthemums to withstand our cold winters and bloom every fall. Come see the mums at the Discovery Garden on the west side of Old Hwy 61 just south of the Snake River Bridge. Then, come every fall and see how they are growing.

Perennial chrysanthemums add color to your garden through the fall until the snow flies.