Today we’re visiting with Matthew Kunnari, who gardens in chilly Zone 4 in northern Minneapolis.
Grass flowers are wind pollinated, so they lack the showy large petals of those that need to attract insect or bird pollinators. They are still beautiful, however. These big bluestem flowers (Andropogon gerardii, Zones 4–9) clearly show the dangling anthers shedding pollen.
Allium ‘Millenium’ (Zones 4–8) is a fantastic perennial, and the bees clearly agree. Here they are busy working the flowers for pollen and nectar.
Here’s a view of the back garden from above in summer.
Sea holly (Eryngium planum, Zones 5–9) is a biennial or short-lived perennial. What a cool floral display!
The sea holly looks pretty incredible in a flower arrangement as well.
The winters in Minnesota are long and cold, but this is the reward—everything bursting into bloom and growth at once, with a beautiful crabapple (Malus hybrid, Zones 3–8) in full bloom on the left.
Pasque flower (Pulsatilla sp., Zones 4–8) bursts into bloom early in the spring, and the flowers are followed by silky seed heads that are nearly as beautiful.
Liatris (Liatris spicata, Zones 3–8)is a wonderful summer-blooming perennial native to the eastern half of North America. Here the typical magenta form is mixed with a white variant.
The liatris growing throughout the garden looks stunning.
Crabapples are typically planted for their spring floral display, but how is this for some incredible fall color?
If you want to see more of this garden, check out Matthew’s instagram: @garcongardener
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