Meet Minnesota's Most Mysterious Orchid. By Diana Pierce | March 18th, 2026 Photographed in a University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum lab. This is possibly one of the first studio portraits ever made of this federally endangered species. Photo: Diana Pierce Something rare happened recently inside a University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum laboratory. A Western Prairie Fringed Orchid bloomed. That may not sound like breaking news. But for David Remucal, PhD, Delores E.

When containers are empty, the possibilities are endless. By Diana Pierce | March 11, 2026 Hosta shoot or “nose.” Photo: Diana Pierce I did a double take this weekend. That tiny hosta shoot (or “nose”) next to my front door, maybe a quarter to a half inch tall, was already pushing through the rock bed and snow. I wasn’t expecting to see it. But in my recent conversation with Hennepin County Master Gardener Theresa Rooney, she says go look now — right now — and you just might

Starting Seeds the Minnesota Way By Diana Pierce | March 4th, 2026 Seed tray waiting to be planted. Photo: Laura Irish-Hanson My news feeds are full of them right now. Seed starting guides. Gorgeous photos of seedlings under grow lights . “Start these 10 vegetables today!” I scroll past and think: not yet. Not yet. Our last frost dates don’t care about the calendar on our phone or what’s working in Georgia right now. Then the next headline catches me. “You should have started

The Smell of Soil is Nature’s Medicine By Diana Pierce | February 25, 2026 Shallow Dish Terrarium, Heidi’s GrowHaus. Photo: Diana Pierce There’s something quietly rebellious about growing things in February. Outside, the ground is frozen and the forecast is stubbornly wintry. But inside Heidi’s GrowHaus, Owner Heidi Heiland is inviting you to dig in anyway — literally. Her upcoming terrarium workshop is part hands-on class, part creative experience, and part midwinter therapy

Michelle Bruhn's Companion Planting Secrets By Diana Pierce | February 18, 2026 Michelle’s Backyard Companion Planting. Photo: Michelle Bruhn Every good party needs the right guest list—and your garden is no different. Michelle Bruhn from Forks in the Dirt is speaking at the Minneapolis Home & Garden Show (Feb 27-28) about companion planting, and she’ll tell you exactly which flowers your vegetables want sitting next to them (and why it matters more than you think). I sat do

A Late-Winter Porch Container Recipe By Diana Pierce | February 11, 2026 The finished late-winter porch pot at my front door — created with horticulturist Duane Otto. Photo by Scott Bemman Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, but spring feels like a distant promise here in Minnesota. We’re entering a familiar stretch of winter that I like to call our “Muted North,” a term that captures the subdued colors of our landscape during this time. As we drive around, we see a lo

Inside the Arb's water-themed spring show that transports you Up North . By Diana Pierce | February 4, 2026 Lake Itasca Mural and Sign. Photo: Diana Pierce The Arboretum’s Spring Flower Show has always been beautiful. But this year, it’s immersive in a new way – reconnecting visitors with Minnesota’s Up North landscape and all the sensory memories that come with it. Scent, sound, sight – everything works together. The moment you walk in, you’re hit with the fragrance of daff

Val-o-ween 2026: Why This Is the Most Expensive Tulip Year in Decades By Diana Pierce, January 28, 2026 Inside the tulip growing greenhouse, Len Busch Roses. Photo: Diana Pierce Inside the floral industry, Valentine’s Day has earned a nickname: Val-o-ween. Like Halloween for candy retailers, it’s the single most critical sales window of the year—except it happens in the dead of winter, when nearly every risk in flower production can converge at once. In 2026, those risks are

Wednesday, January 21, 2026 By Diana Pierce Fuschia Phalaenopsis Orchids. Photo: Diana Pierce Winter has a way of lingering in Minnesota—gray skies, bitter cold, snowbanks that refuse to budge. If you’re craving something alive and colorful right now, orchids might be exactly what you need. Despite their reputation for being finicky, orchids are far more adaptable than most people think. Their blooms can last for months, and many return year after year if conditions are right

6 Smart Steps Northern Gardeners Need to Know Before Ordering by Diana Pierce, January 14, 2026 Seed Display Case, Bachman’s. Photo: Diana Pierce January is when the seeds displays go up and seed catalogs start arriving. I don’t know about you but I get that familiar feeling of wanting everything . If winter feels endless and this wall of seed packets suddenly looks like hope, you are not alone. Before you start circling everything in the catalogs, I talked with Master Garden

Expert Do’s and Don’ts from the University of Minnesota Extension By Diana Pierce, Jan. 7th, 2026 Kalanchoe rainbow of colors at garden center. Photo: Diana Pierce Winter is tough on indoor plants. It’s not because we’re doing everything wrong, but because light, humidity, and routines quietly change after the holidays. Drooping leaves, pale growth, or plants that seem “stuck” are common winter signals, not failures. To help make sense of these winter signals, I turned to Lau

Your most-loved stories of 2025 + plants to watch in 2026 By Diana Pierce, December 31, 2025 On this last day of 2025, I keep thinking about unexpected moments — the ones that arrive without announcement and change everything that follows. The moment a peony found its name-”Angelic Diana.” Photo: Keith Swenson Within moments of standing near this peony, with my camera in hand, Keith Swenson, owner of Swenson Peony Gardens, turned to me and said, “We should name it Angelic Dia

A quiet Christmas Eve note, and a song shared with you. By Diana Pierce, December 24, 2025 Christmas Eve doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some are gathering. Some are traveling. Some are staying close to home. Many of you know me through flowers and gardens and perhaps news reporting. But fewer know that singing has always been another way I share a story. Today, if you’d like a quiet moment, I wanted to offer this: my recording of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas ..

You'll Want to See This! By Diana Pierce, Dec. 17, 2025 Credit: Como Conservatory Webcam After the holiday meals are cleared and packages put away, you might be up for adventure—before you settle in for your long winter’s nap. In a recent poll, you told me what you wanted: Minnesota nature ideas, seasonal inspiration, and garden destinations. So here are adventures happening right now, whether you’re entertaining grandkids, meeting up with friends, or exploring solo. Shhh...

Start Growing Your Own Version Indoors Right Now By Diana Pierce, Dec. 10, 2025 Pantone Color Chip - Cloud Dancer (11-4201 TCX) from Pantone.com Pantone surprised everyone last week. The Color of the Year for 2026 isn’t bold or bright—it’s white. More specifically, Cloud Dancer, a soft, serene shade that feels like an exhale. The best part? You can start growing your own version of it today, right on your kitchen counter. White may seem like a “non-color,” but Pantone describ

When flowers sleep, evergreens take the spotlight By Diana Pierce, Dec. 3, 2025 Andrew Monson and Diana. Photo: Bachman’s staff. This time of year, my garden storytelling shifts from petals to pines. They’re wide awake and ready for their moment. Whether you’re browsing premium trees at your favorite garden center while it’s snowing or venturing into a National Forest with a $5 permit and a saw, finding the perfect Christmas tree is its own kind of bloom—one that fills your h

(You'll Want Everything!) by Diana Pierce, November 26, 2025 Diana standing in Bachman’s Greenhouse with Red Poinsettias. Photo: Bachman’s This photo of me taking pictures of the season’s #1 blooms captures what I love doing best. But my holiday gift guide was inspired by something even better: meeting the Schafer, Peterson, Adamietz and Sund friend group from Savage at this year’s Gertens Poinsettia tour. Schafer, Peterson, Adamietz and Sund friends. Photo: Michael Helmke Th

-A Pet Parent's Holiday Plant Guide- By Diana Pierce, November 19, 2025. Megan the cat looking directly at holiday greenery. Photo: John Plut. The holidays are officially here, and with Thanksgiving just a week away, our homes are about to get a whole lot more festive—and a whole lot more tempting for curious pets. From the poinsettia on your dining table to the amaryllis your neighbor brings as a host gift, this is prime time for our four-legged family members to investigate

Two Easy Recipes from Gertens By Diana Pierce, November 12, 2025 Diana in front of her garage with a festive winter greens container. Photo: Scott Bemman Brr! Winter has arrived, even if the snow hasn’t. The good news? You don’t have to say goodbye to your porch or entryway just because temperatures have dropped. Spruce tip containers bring texture, fragrance, and festive color to your outdoor spaces all season long. These arrangement instructions are from Gertens Manager Cin

Floral ideas for your Thanksgiving table By Diana Pierce, November 5th, 2025 Photo: Diana Pierce Now that November is here, I don’t know about you, but I’ve started thinking about our upcoming holiday season. Looking online, I’m seeing recipe after recipe on what to serve our friends and family on Turkey Day—green bean casserole, stuffing variations, the perfect roasted turkey. But what about the blooms we might like to have on our tables or sideboards? Just like you’d follow