Welcome to the Moon Garden

We are now into the Endless Summer Nights of August heat and increasingly shorter days. Hopefully some remaining time in the back patio with the night fountain on and an occasional firepit when it cools down (or we don't have horrible smoke in the air from the wildfires to begin with.)

Here is a post looking at the magic of gardens through the lens of nightime under the current full moon. I admit that my current space only has two of these unusual blooms. Like most of you, I spend my quality garden time in the daytime hours. But there is a small subset of plants that have a nocturnal habitat. Most of them are very fragrant and choose to open up in a cooler temps. And also, most of them have blooms that only last a single evening - adding to their mystique.

The following is an article that lists a handful of varieties, and I will highlight a few favorites.

The obvious sighting is traditional Datura/Moonflower or Devil's Trumpet. They are very large blooms with toxic, hallucinogenic bionics. Usually white, but other varieties are tinged in purple or pink. Part of the nightshade family, they are a relative of tomatoes or eggplants. Their fragrance draws the Sphinx moth if you are ever able to see them together. As the blooms crumple, they turn into very prickly pods that scatter 100s of seeds. So, once you have one in your garden, they will persistently appear year after year in places you never expect.

Another gift I got from my mother is the common Evening Primrose. A small fragile flower with 4 simple petals that resemble banana colored tissue paper with folds in them. They also are fleeting and when I am lucky enough watering in the early evening, I catch sight of a few just as they open. By morning they have shriveled without a sign. They also easily reseed. My trick is getting their small greens to the point of blooming before rabbits eat their shoots.

Another lovely plant is Angel's Trumpet which I fell in love with on a trip to Florida where they abound. The look similar to the Datura but are actually a member of the evergreen family and take over on huge vines that hang downward like a canopy. They need huge growing space and cling to entire walls. They are usually in gold tones, and I love them when they are vibrant apricot shades. They can be pruned in the tropics as a tree. I have tried them in a pot which is much less rewarding but was not able to winter it over in the basement. So, they are a guilty pleasure in the North.

A last one that caught my eye on this list is a Chocolate Daisy. How fun is that. Apparently, their blooms are a hint of cocoa & coffee. They are a member of the Aster family in the Southwest, but register as a Zone 4 which would possibly be tolerant of our MN winters. While they bloom at dusk, their scent is most noticeable in the early morning. I am going to track down one of these if I can - even ordering online.

There are several others on the list to take note of. Most of them are not stunners, but the whole offering is a different take on gardening which is worth a look for curious minds.

Night Blooming Gardens; Epic Gardening

Adopt a Tree in Minneapolis

I shared this resource last year, but it bears repeating again. Jeff and I were out on the creek just yesterday with Rosie. It is devastating to see how many tall trees are dead, brittle and marked with an X for removal. This is now the second summer in a row that we have been hit with unusually high temps as well as minimal rainfall at most. Chalk it up to climate change and it is only going to worsen. If you imagine how much water is needed to sustain a giant tree compared to those daily waterings you are giving to your lovely gardens and lawns - it does not come close. Especially during those first 3 years of planting from a sapling to something even bordering on a young tree with a root system underneath ground. Driving down Lyndale there are blocks of fancy new boulevards in the middle where the city has planted trees to encourage a canopy within the city. At least 75% of them are dead because the Park Board nor anyone else has taken the time to nurture them over these last two years. The same with trees in Painter Park a few blocks away. They are simply planted and left on their own. A waste of resources and "greenablity."

I am not sure why most of our residents are not aware of this Adopt a Tree program that is readily available. The nonprofit taking this on is called Brewing a Better Forest and is a simple game plan where a few invested urban foresters have come up with a brainchild and reached out to some local breweries who also get their passion. Somehow, they work with the city of Minneapolis on all the park and boulevard trees that are planted. And have created an interactive map where you can pull up your zip code and it shows every single tree planted in the Metro that has not been claimed. By clicking on a dot, just like you would pick a seat for a concert venue - you agree to water that tree for a period of a single season and make sure it stays healthy by watering once a week throughout this drought period. And for that simple task of helping Mother Nature, they will send you two random drinks at any of the participating brewers. How easy is that?

There are 1000s of trees to choose from. You are even given the option of naming your tree. I chose to name mine after my grandfather Basil and was lucky enough to find one planted right outside my front door. They even give you tutorial videos on how to best help your tree by keeping it watered & safe. Please give it a look. If I can get even 20 people to step up, it will make a difference to all those trees currently marked with an X that were forgotten. Do your civic duty!

Brewing a Better Forest.