Talk Dirt To Me

Gardening in Alaska presents big challenges, whether it's the extra effort in finding plants tough enough to survive our Zone 2-4 climate, communicating with like-minded Alaska gardeners, or keeping up with the latest trends, issues and solutions. We'll try to help with that. We'll also tour gardens from Homer to Anchorage to Wasilla to Willow whenever we get the chance, and post the best garden photos around. Presenting a forum about cold-weather gardening and for cold-weather gardeners is what we are all about. We hope you'll join us on the Talk Dirt garden blog.

Photographer and gardener Fran Durner (fdurner@adn.com) writes the blog.


2009 Garden galleries

Images from a full year of gardening in Alaska.

Jeff Lowenfels

A member of the Garden Writers Hall of Fame, Jeff writes a weekly column on gardening in Alaska.

Review: The NEW Low-Maintenance Garden - 11/22/2009 5:20 pm

Reflections of the past summer - 11/18/2009 4:46 pm

Holiday flower show warms the day with blooms - 11/17/2009 4:04 pm

Stock up for Thanksgiving - 11/17/2009 10:05 am

Colorado based grocer operates own farm - 11/15/2009 3:48 pm

Review: Hardy Succulents - 11/12/2009 3:58 pm

Timelapse of a garden season - 11/11/2009 5:29 pm

Two forums of interest to gardeners this week - 11/10/2009 5:14 pm

First snow was a surprise - 11/9/2009 3:42 pm

Lesson learned - 11/8/2009 12:13 pm

Moose-free garden? - 11/5/2009 8:23 am

Book review: Black Plants - 10/29/2009 3:46 pm

November Garden Calendar - 10/28/2009 2:49 pm

Fall means apples and winter veggies - 10/26/2009 6:12 pm

Botany of Desire airs on Wednesday - 10/25/2009 5:39 pm

Some changes proposed for muni Horticulture Section - 10/22/2009 11:47 am

Verna and Frank Pratt recognized - 10/20/2009 10:35 am

Birds are gardeners' companions - 10/18/2009 6:58 pm

Anchorage is one of the best cities for community gardens - 10/14/2009 3:18 pm

Fall colors Outside - 10/14/2009 11:26 am

Take advantage of the sun to mow your leaves. - 10/12/2009 4:09 pm

A gardener's conundrum - 10/11/2009 5:00 pm

Are you visiting Outside gardens this summer?

View June Garden Calendar
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Submit Your Garden Photos!

A pictorial visit to the Missouri Botanical Garden
The Victorian District at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Mo. AP Photo/Missouri Botanical Garden, Josh MonkenThe Victorian District at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Mo. AP Photo/Missouri Botanical Garden, Josh MonkenLast year, the thought of traveling outside Alaska during the summer was a no-brainer. This year, it's a different story.

The Japanese Garden with the ZigZag Bridge, at rear, at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Mo. AP Photo/Missouri Botanical Garden, Heather Marie OsbornThe Japanese Garden with the ZigZag Bridge, at rear, at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Mo. AP Photo/Missouri Botanical Garden, Heather Marie OsbornYet, for many of us, family visits and long-scheduled trips can't be avoided during the time gardeners would rather be spending any free moments in their own plots of green.

The Chinese Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Mo. AP Photo/Missouri Botanical Garden, Kevin WolfThe Chinese Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Mo. AP Photo/Missouri Botanical Garden, Kevin WolfOne good thing about traveling now: You can stroll public and private gardens in their summer glory in the area you are visiting.

Dale Chihuly's Walla Wallas float in the reflecting pools outside the Climatron at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Mo. AP Photo/Missouri Botanical Garden, Ian AdamsDale Chihuly's Walla Wallas float in the reflecting pools outside the Climatron at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Mo. AP Photo/Missouri Botanical Garden, Ian AdamsFrom time to time, I'll try to post photos of various gardens around the country as they become available. Those of us not traveling can visit vicariously!

And if you are visiting any wonderful gardens, please share your photos in the Garden Gallery.