The Garden Lab

The Garden Lab An urban farmstead for local food and flowers in downtown Rochester, MN. Signup for newsletters at www.thegardenlab.org/contact

Native Plants | CSA Flowers | Garden Design | Farm-to-Fork Dinners | Horticulture Education.

Had some foraging fun with Lucy today gathering material for her pots. The best part was sporting our REALLY old blue do...
11/21/2025

Had some foraging fun with Lucy today gathering material for her pots. The best part was sporting our REALLY old blue down vests, though.

Autumn is as busy as spring in the gardens. Urban spaces may off the privilege of a later frost, but it settles, nonethe...
10/30/2025

Autumn is as busy as spring in the gardens. Urban spaces may off the privilege of a later frost, but it settles, nonetheless. As I get the final weeks of work in, I’m filled with the anticipation of ending one growing season and beginning the next - all in one week!

From a feverishly fast-cut final bouquet before the hard frost, to the impressive change of lighting from the front maple as it turns a glorious golden yellow. The frost didn’t bother the sparse sweet peas, and I was able to squeak some bulbs into an unused space. I harvested a rogue turnip from the row of rat-tailed radish that will join some beets in a fall soup.

I look forward to drying the bounty of seed from a few whopper Costata Romanesco I let complete their lifecycle, and finally the excavation is complete on another boulevard bioswale to capture storm water runoff.

Whew! What a week it has been. As the last of cutbacks are completed, I pause and appreciate the bounty that comes from our little piece of the planet this time of year. I think autumn is my favorite season of all. 🍁🌾

You know I’m all about local food, one of our , and all about sustainable food system education, but did you know I lov...
10/25/2025

You know I’m all about local food, one of our , and all about sustainable food system education, but did you know I love volunteering at ? Volunteer with Tom and I at FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace next week!

All volunteers will receive free general admission AND a local foods t-shirt! Sign up here. (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0545AFA92CA5FE3-53040281-feast #/)

Friday, October 31st is set up, Saturday, November 1st at the Mayo Civic Center. Volunteers are needed to greet exhibitors, assist with programming, and help make the community event fun and fulfilling for all. 

It’s a great time celebrating the hands and the land that brings us our food!

Happy World Food Day! These Trombetta Di Albegna (Cucurbita moschata) squash produce a lot of food. Weighing in at 5-15 ...
10/16/2025

Happy World Food Day! These Trombetta Di Albegna (Cucurbita moschata) squash produce a lot of food. Weighing in at 5-15 pounds when mature, they double as both a summer and winter squash. In summer when small, use them as a much tastier version of zucchini, and when mature in the fall, use them like butternut squash or pumpkin.

A variety dating back to the 1500’s, they are hardier and less susceptible to freezing, and I’ve yet to see any SVB attack these plants. Hardly any powdery mildew, too, compared to modern varieties. The pollinators love the blossoms, and these squash also replace pumpkins in my holiday pies!

Ah, nature.
10/14/2025

Ah, nature.

I like to plant perennials and small woodies in pots with my annuals. This Black Chokeberry is edible and so nutrient de...
10/11/2025

I like to plant perennials and small woodies in pots with my annuals. This Black Chokeberry is edible and so nutrient dense! When it’s time to empty the pots for winter storage, I plant the perennials and woodies in their permanent location where they can enhance the landscape and offer shelter and food for pollinators and other critters that visit. This shrub offers 3-seasons of interest in the landscape - spring blossoms, lovely leathery foliage in the summer, and striking fall color and fruit in the fall. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8300639/

The Midnight Majesty Marans are outshining the Auracanas and the Cream Legbars in the egg-laying department.
10/05/2025

The Midnight Majesty Marans are outshining the Auracanas and the Cream Legbars in the egg-laying department.

Holding space and channeling love into this bouquet for a family who is celebrating the life of their mother, sister and...
10/02/2025

Holding space and channeling love into this bouquet for a family who is celebrating the life of their mother, sister and wife.

Finished up a fun project that emphasized biodiversity and clean water. Designed with seeds, the woody plants that make ...
10/02/2025

Finished up a fun project that emphasized biodiversity and clean water. Designed with seeds, the woody plants that make up the structure of this landscape are visible, while oats and lentils wait under the germination blanket as a cover crop for native forbs and grasses that will emerge more slowly. Thanks to R&R Landscape and Gardens for your excellent help, again! Where would I be without a good contractor to help me bring these projects to life for my clients?

Finishing up today. I can’t wait to see this site in three years. Natives fill in slowly, but bring a bounty of biodiver...
10/01/2025

Finishing up today. I can’t wait to see this site in three years. Natives fill in slowly, but bring a bounty of biodiversity and beauty.

This woman! I’m grateful for her outstanding contribution to The Lab’s Urban Farm-to-Fork Dinner series over the last tw...
09/26/2025

This woman! I’m grateful for her outstanding contribution to The Lab’s Urban Farm-to-Fork Dinner series over the last two years. Folks still talk about her Smoky Tamarind Margarita! She created cocktails and mocktails that complimented each meal beautifully, chose the local distilleries and wineries to use, and mixologyed her way through sweltering heat quenching guests thirsts. Thank you, Ellie for making these first two years such a success. What will we do without you next year?

❤️💪🏻🍸🍷🍹

Address

Rochester, MN
55904

Telephone

+15072711081

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Garden Lab posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Garden Lab:

Shortcuts

Share

Category