Don Engebretson , the Renegade Gardener, puts a pillar in his container, containing fillers and spillers.

Jerry Wenzel talked to the Grand Forks Horticultural Society about butterflies and plants for attracting butterflies.  He brought a lady bug bowling ball.

Rosa glauca or rosa rubifolia 

either name works for this rose.   The rose is a tall shrub rose (7-8 feet tall) that blooms once with single pink blooms in June.  It is hardy to zone 2.  The hips stay on all winter to add a red color to the winter landscape and it is tall enough so the berries stay out of the snow.

Billbergia nutans or Queen's-Tears, a native of Brazil, is one of the most common Bromeliads grown. They are a durable plant for the home -- often withstanding periods of neglect. The flowers come from long hot pink stems.  The petals are green outlined by navy blue,  the sepals are pink outlined by navy blue.  The stamens are yellow and stick out from the flowers.

Calamagrostis

the seed heads are gone but the stems hold up to the cold weather.  The word "Calamagrostis" is derived from the Greek word kalamos (reed) and agrostis (a kind of grass).  Several calamagrostis grow in my yard.  The green one - 'Karl Forester'

The white varigated one - 'Overdam'

The yellow varigated one - 'E-----

Spiced Almonds ( I used pecans)

1 egg white - beat until foamy

Toss 3 cups pecan or almonds with the egg white.

In a small bowl - combine 1/3 cup sugar, 2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon allspice, 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt, and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg.

Mix with nuts, and pour on baking sheet in a single layer.

Bake at 250 for 1 hour.

Cool slightly and break apart.

Cool completely and store in airtight container

Gears in the snow.