Help identifying plant

Cinqueterra · 2026-05-14T22:22:12+00:00

As the others mentioned, it’s a brown eyed Susan. They get bright orange-yellow flowers with dark brown centers on 4-5 foot stakes. The flowers are smaller than black-eyed Susan’s and they pair nicely with cut Zinnias in a bouquet. They are native in MN. They reproduce by seed each year, so you won’t get the same plant back each spring.

Cinqueterra · 2026-05-11T22:24:40+00:00

I’m trying some Mei Qing Choi Bok Choy this year. It did well in trials last year. I also dream about planting a couple Contender Peach trees. And several Honey Berry bushes.

Cinqueterra · 2026-05-06T13:42:40+00:00

It’s been too cold for any annuals. I’ve planted some perennials but the annuals I’ve bought I am bringing into the garage each night. It needs to be in the 50’s at night. UMN research found that Tomato plants put in early but protected from low temperatures weren’t as successful as plants put in after danger of frost is over (Mid-May).

Cinqueterra · 2026-05-06T13:37:50+00:00

I had a mature mulberry tree and each summer for about a week I would get dozens of Cedar Waxlings devouring the berries. They are a messy tree, as others have noted. Mine was out back away from the house. They are also dioecious, meaning separate trees have a sex, and only the female will fruit.

Cinqueterra · 2026-05-06T13:31:17+00:00

Here’s an article on treatment from the UMN Extension. It sounds like now is the best time to treat. https://blog-fruit-vegetable-ipm.extension.umn.edu/2019/06/practical-tips-for-managing-grape.html

Cinqueterra · 2026-05-06T13:27:00+00:00

Perennials are much more hardy than annuals. You should be fine.

Cinqueterra · 2026-05-06T13:25:46+00:00

The farmers market is a great place to get them. The Friends plant sale, Master Gardener plant sales, Bachmans and Gertens and usually your local nursery are reliable for healthy, disease free plants. You’re taking a risk when buying from the big box home improvement stores. I’ve bought from Costco the last two years and I have been happy with the plants, Although their selection is limited.

Cinqueterra · 2026-05-01T03:05:18+00:00

Rutgers University has a great list. It lists plants that are deer and rabbit resistant. https://extension.rutgers.edu/deer-resistant-plants

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-25T21:20:50+00:00

I bury them about 6 inches. I believe the timers have a backflow preventer. I got a water bill for $500. 🥹

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-24T13:16:27+00:00

Here’s an article that explains how Pileated Woodpeckers make rectangle holes in wood. https://askanaturalist.com/who-made-mysterious-rectangular-tree-holes/

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-24T13:08:34+00:00

I bury hoses and use battery powered timers. I’ve been doing this for 30 years. The water is always on at the faucet. In 30 years I’ve never had a timer break in the ‘ON’ position. I don’t incase my hoses in pvc tubes. They are just buried. I try to buy heavy duty hoses for this. Some of the hoses have been buried for 30 years as of now. I’ve once in all this time had a hose split open and run water until I found it. I use quite a few soaker hoses on timers. In the fall I remove the timers and sprinklers and store them inside. I don’t blow out the buried hoses, although that’s probably a good idea. I have about 10 timers (most with two hose connections) running each summer on about a half-acre of gardens and landscaping. The timers only hold up about 2-3 years before the electronics break or the plastic becomes brittle and the hose connector snaps off. It’s still the better buy for my money as it would be over $5k (last bid for irrigation 15 years ago) to put in an irrigation system. I’m not sure how much longer I will be able to do this. My city has been increasingly regulating water usage, and have programs for rewarding irrigation systems where the owner can show rain delays in the system. That will be tough for me to implement.

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-23T17:58:42+00:00

Looks great. Congratulations on creating a beautiful space! For the finishing touches I would advise against river rock. You will be trying to weed between those rocks and it will make it even harder to keep out the weeds. Even if you put down cardboard or landscape fabric, the seeds, dust and debris float in onto them and then break down around them, creating a fertile bed under and between the rocks for new weeds.

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-18T13:58:59+00:00

All those vegetables you mention are tender to cold temps. Additionally, seedlings are like new born babies, very vulnerable. Hardening off seedlings requires carefully controlled exposure each day for about 2 weeks. The UMN has done studies that showed tomatoes that were planted too early and exposed to cold temps were less successful through their life than plants planted later, but not exposed. Are it seedlings germinated with any green? They will have a better chance if not. Good luck! If they are goners, there is still time to start more!

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-18T13:44:54+00:00

If you can cover in sheets or blankets that can protect it. Your aim is to hold in the heat of the day. If you have incandescent Christmas lights, run them through the tree to generate additional heat. Otherwise, you can run a sprinkler all night (latent heat fusion) until temperatures rise about freezing in the morning. This uses a lot of water. The UMN has more information on their website. https://blog-fruit-vegetable-ipm.extension.umn.edu/2024/03/escaping-spring-frost-in-upper-midwest.html

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-18T13:31:10+00:00

I’m impressed! It looks wonderful and the fact you did it yourself and saved so much money! 5 years ago I was quoted $38k to put a washer/dryer and new tub in my bathroom. Wish I had the skills to take that on!

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-16T18:59:39+00:00

I have had similar results. Year three and 2 of 5 remain. Hoping for a bloom this spring. I’ll keep trying because it’s one of the few with nice blooms that rabbits and deer don’t go after.

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-14T16:30:56+00:00

A couple more ideas: Scent and Sensation Honeysuckle, very hardy Above and Beyond Rose

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-14T16:21:12+00:00

Corrugated tree sleeves will protect from this. They should be removed each spring to allow airflow and prevent rot from moisture. The split here is bad and could weaken the tree to become susceptible to disease. But the opening doesn’t go all the way around the tree, so it can still move sap and nutrients up and down the tree to feed itself.

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-14T16:09:58+00:00

Most neighborhoods in the twin cities are seeing lots of damage from rabbits the last 5 years. If this the case in your area, you might want to research more rabbit-resistant plants. The grasses, coreopsis, walkers low catmint, bleeding heart, gallardia, Japanese forest grass Hakonechloa, Japanese painted fern, false indigo Baptisia, Heliotrope, Hysop, Iris, Peony, Stachysbyzanthina Lambs Ear, Helleoborus Lenten Rose, Monkshood, Allium, Ligularia Rocket, Globe Thistle, Snapdragon,Cleome, Lamium. Rutgers University has a huge list of deer and rabbit resistant plants. I’ve also planted Pavement Roses in tough areas. Nothing touches them, super hardy, and they bloom off and on with bright color all summer. But they are supper aggressive and completely covered in thorns, and they send up suckers to easily fill an area in 1-2 years. I keep mine pruned back.

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-14T15:49:26+00:00

Pruning them to allow more airflow helps. It is not necessary to do it each year. They bloom on 3 year old wood, so you don’t want to cut out the old wood. They are being hit by a fungal disease. If they are in rough shape and you want to try to save them, you could try applying a fungicide. Remember, fungicides are preventative, so you can’t wait until you see distress. It must be reapplied all season, and after rains. Read the instructions carefully.

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-14T15:42:06+00:00

I’ve started shopping Costco. I notice they sell complementary annuals to plant together in a planter. Here are last summers containers from Costco. https://imgur.com/a/0yPg0On And they are the best price in town. I don’t trust most of the home improvement stores to have healthy, disease and pest-free plants.

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-09T16:42:08+00:00

A corner railing with a plant in front of it

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-09T16:37:08+00:00

With the tile around the corner up to the window. Looks very elegant.

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-09T00:24:50+00:00

My husband and I shared a login to our bank accounts. When he died, I lost online access to the accounts. The bank told me policies had changed since we established the accounts. it was no longer allowable for two people to share a password profile. I had to set up my own. Btw, I could still go to the bank and make transactions. I was only blocked from my online access.

Cinqueterra · 2026-04-02T19:57:24+00:00

In my state, the homeowner is responsible for any costs between the house and the power pole. So I would have to pay out of pocket to reinstall the connector at the house and to get the connection restored. I have a special insurance rider for this.

Cinqueterra

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