Fall is approaching, and with it plenty of cool weather – but that’s no excuse to have a dull, boring, sparse garden. Plenty of flowering plants thrive in this shifting weather, and none are more remarkable (and easy to care for) than the aster, one of New England’s most notable wildflowers.

These plants manage to brighten up roadsides and fields on their own – so why not harness that power for your garden? Wild asters are bright, colorful, easy to care for and come with other unseen benefits that help more than just your garden, making them the perfect option, whether it be a full flowerbed in your front yard or just some well-arranged pots on an apartment balcony.

A Dash of Color

Asters naturally come in a huge variety of colors, sizes, and shapes, making them the perfect option for those looking to maintain a vibrant and varied garden. Some of the options you might find while searching for the perfect aster plant for creating the perfect ambiance for your patio include:
• Whitewood aster
• Large-leaved wood-aster
• Blue wood-aster
• Tall white aster
• New England aster

Of all these, the New England aster – otherwise known as “purple dome” aster – is one of the most common and most beautiful options – perfect for sprucing up your designated coffee-sipping space. This iteration of the wildflower species features bright purple petals around vivid yellow centers and low yet broad growth that offers a great deal of natural greenery to any space.

Better yet, this version of the aster tends to be smaller than other subspecies, which makes it ideal for even the most cramped balcony space on the block. They enjoy the bright sun, they’re colorful, and they smell nice. There’s nothing not to love about wild asters.

Save the Bees (And Other Insects, Too)

Unless you’ve been living under a rock in some far-off forest, then you know that bees have been having a rough time of things over the past several years. In fact, one well-known species – the bumblebee – was placed on the endangered species list as recently as 2017.

While you may not be able to write laws or perform miracles to help the species, there are things you can do to support your local bees. Planting a wild aster flower in your designated garden space is one of those things.

Asters are hugely popular among pollinator insects like bees that take full advantage of the changing season to stock up on food for the long winter ahead.

They serve as an excellent source for pollinators of all space and sizes, giving bees, butterflies, and more a great place to kick their feet up and rest their wings while grabbing up some of the sweet nectar and pollen that these plants produce. They draw in a wide range of different species, including:
• Bumblebees
• Honeybees
• Miner bees
• Monarch butterflies (and others)
• Larval stages of Pearl Crescent and Checkerspot butterflies

If you’re concerned about the bees, do your part in supporting your local pollinators. Asters provide these fuzzy friends and other important insects with a place to rest, to snack, and to stock up on important pollen that they then spread around to help the environment flourish. They’re the perfect addition to any eco-conscious garden.

Get Your Seeds ASAP

The typical blooming period for the “purple dome” or New England aster is from August to October. Ensure you don’t miss a single opportunity to stop and smell the wildflowers or offer a snack to your favorite bees by ordering your seeds as soon as possible.

Learn more about planting seasons, light requirements, nurturing these wonderful plants, and more by contacting Sunnyside Gardens. Not only will this unique and experienced garden center get you the perfect aster seeds, but the professional staff can also inform you of how to care for your flowers every step of the way.

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House plants make beautiful roommates and improve the air quality of your living space, but they can also have health benefits beyond providing fresh oxygen to your environment. Plants have long been used for medicinal purposes when ingested or applied topically, but just having them in your presence daily can provide health benefits. This is especially important due to the modern lifestyles of renters without frequent access to green spaces. If you are looking for an excuse to buy a house plant in Minneapolis, try some of these known health-supporting options.

Get a Better Night’s Sleep

Whether you are constantly on the go or having trouble winding down at night, a lack of quality nights of sleep can be a real problem for many individuals. Some ways to improve sleep quality include temperature regulation of your space and improved air quality. Snake plants are known to help keep the temperature lower and steadier in an indoor environment, while gardenias are beautiful and fragrant but also contain crocetin, which can improve sleep quality.

Take a Mental Break

Besides being aesthetically pleasing and relaxing to view when you need a mental break, the scent of some houseplants can help reduce the symptoms of anxiety or depression and improve your mood. Many people use lavender essential oils or other scented items for relaxation and reduction of stress, so it’s no surprise that keeping a lavender plant indoors can have a similar effect on your mood. Jasmine also works well as a mood stabilizer since it can stimulate the emotion-regulating part of your brain.

Reduce Air Toxins

The presence of any indoor plant will increase air purity and reduce toxins, but several specific ones are particularly gifted at reducing air pollution in your home. Luckily, these same plants are easy to maintain. Air pollution in your home can come from a variety of sources, including household products and materials used in flooring and furniture. If toxins are a concern, consider a combination of air-purifying plants for your collection.

• Boston fern. A popular plant that can be grown both in and outdoors, the Boston fern specializes in formaldehyde removal.
• Peace lily. People like to give peace lilies as presents, and they are the gifts that keep giving as they can remove ammonia, acetone, and other toxins from the air.
• Snake plants. These plants are able to clean the air throughout the night and are easy to maintain even in low light.

Say Goodbye to Headaches and Pain

Some dual-purpose plants like the feverfew can be both relaxing to view and can be used as a supplement in tea to treat headaches or other pain. Croton is a large plant that beautifies your space, and the purifying and relaxation benefits are bonuses. One of the most common and easy to maintain house plants, the philodendron, is both pleasing to the eye and has purifying effects that can lead to a perceived reduction in pain.

Relief from Cold and Sinus Issues

The most well-known plant for helping clear up congestion is the eucalyptus. If you have chronic sinus issues or just need to clear your system when you have a cold, a eucalyptus plant is a must-have in your indoor space. Another option for better breathing is the areca palm. This plant helps keep moisture in the air, making breathing easier.

Pick Out Your House Plant Today

If you want to check out your options for house plants in Minneapolis, stop by or contact Sunnyside Gardens to check out their selection of health-boosting and beautiful indoor plans. Ask us any questions you have about the specific health concerns you have, and our team can direct you to the types of plants that can help you on the path to healing.

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How do you choose plants for your garden? For new gardeners, two traits set plants apart from other options. Pollinators attract bees, butterflies, insects, and even hummingbirds. Perennial plants are known for growing back in the spring, so you can count on having them in your garden for years to come. Check out these gardening tips in Minneapolis for some ways to plant a garden that will last years and support local wildlife.

Keeper of the Bees

There are many types of plants that will attract bees to your garden. Whether you have an expansive backyard or potted plants on an apartment balcony, they’ll help you get in touch with nature. Bee-friendy plants not treated with pesticides allow local bee colonies to thrive. Just keeping these plants can help the declining honey bee populations stay stable. It’s a simple, easy way to give back to the environment while benefiting from a great view and floral scents. Other pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to bright, pollen-filled flowers too. Pick out native plants for extra helpfulness and less maintenance. They tend to grow easily because they’re exactly where they are supposed to be. This means you don’t have to fret overcareful watering routines or pruning since they are predisposed to thrive in your environment.

Some plants known for their ability to attract pollinators are:

• Perennial asters attract honey bees
• Monarda, also known as bee balm, brings in long-tongued honeybees, hawk moths, and hummingbirds
  Milkweed is great for butterflies
• Purple coneflowers attract bumblebees, long-horned bees, leafcutter bees, and more

Long-Term Investment Plants

Perennial plants are defined by their ability to live for more than two years. They become dormant in the winter when it gets too cold for them to grow and thrive, but they come back in the spring. Their long lives make them a good option for those who want more bang for their buck. They’re also low-maintenance because they flower each year after only being planted once. That makes them a good option for gardeners who are just starting out.

These choices are some of the options that are easy to tend to:

• Yarrow
• Nepeta-Cat Mint
• Shasta daisy
• Monarda

Putting Together a Garden of Pollinator and Perennial Plants

Now that you know the basics of pollinators and perennials, how do you assemble a garden out of them? Native plants are generally easier to grow because they are adapted to the kind of climate your region has. Look for plants that are from the Great Lakes region to better cater to the local bee, butterfly, and hummingbird population.

Gardens benefit from variety, and so will your insect friends. Having a range of flower types will let different bee species find plants to collect nectar from. Pollinators can be generalists or specialists. Generalists can take nectar from a variety of plants, but specialists will only be able to take from certain plant types.

Consider buying plants in a few colors, and placing them together. The effect will give your garden some visual structure. Seeing a larger mass of color will also attract more pollinators since a large mass is easier for them to spot.

Sunnyside Gardens is the go-to garden center for everything from shrubs to houseplants in Minneapolis. We also offer custom containers, landscaping services, and garden maintenance. Contact us for more information about our services or the plants we have for sale.