MN Landscape Arboretum Tulips 05.16.2013

I was talking to my mom on Mother's Day & telling her that I had been working in the garden on Saturday.  She commented that I shouldn't plant anything until Icen days (pronounce ice in).  I had never heard her say anything like that before & asked her again what Icen days were.  She said that it was an old adagethat always comes around my mom & dad's anniversary, which hap
pens to be May 18.  She didn't know how to spell it, she just knew that you shouldn't plant until then.  I got off the phone & started searching the internet for this mysterious planting timeline.  I finally stumbled across "Ice Men".  My mom grew up on a farm just outside Port Washington, WI on the shores of Lake Michigan.  It was a strong Luxembourg community & I am sure there was strong accents, as I remember my grandpa & other old timer's speech.  I am thinking "Ice Men" was either shortened or because of the strong dialect, sounded like Icen.

In any case, the Ice Men are 3 saints;  St. Mamertus, St. Pancras, and St. Servatius, whose respective days occur on May 11, 12, and 13.  However, in the old astronomical calender, they fell on May 19 - 22, hence my mom's saying that it was around their anniversary.  Anyway, I thought it was an interesting little tidbit, that probably some of our older Herbie's already know, but I didn't.  For additional info, check out this link  Farmer's Almanc; The 3 Ice Men 

As for me, I will definitely not plant anything tender this year until the Ice Men pass.

Plant Swap

On May 28th, Planting Day, we will have our annual plant swap. We thought it a good idea to post some of the plants we have to divide. Members then can post if they are interested in them and we will know if we should bring them to the swap.

Carla J has artemisia and some Korean lilacs.

Dee Cee has catnip, ribbon grass, sweet annie, lilies of the valley, common milkweed, stinging nettle, and violets in white and reddish purple.

Please feel free to post the plants you are dividing and the plants you want to have.

Happy Gardening!

Attention Horseradish Fans!

Carla dug the horseradish Tuesday and will be sharing the bounty at the Planting Day Meeting. Don't forget to come to Planting Day, Tuesday May 28. 

In addition to the potluck, planting and sharing of horseradish, we will hold our annual plant swap. 

There will be another work day Tuesday May 7 at the Arboretum Herb Gardens for members interested in getting their hands dirty. We have a good start, but, as they say, we've only just begun.