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I've written many times that the dormant season gives us a chance to write about a variety of topics. Native-plant enthusiast Lynn Steiner is the author of the book, Landscaping with Native Plants of Minnesota. She wrote an interesting article on the Eastern hemlock. Parts of this writing are taken from Lynn's article in the January/February 2006 edition of Northern Gardener Magazine. Eastern hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis) is a graceful, narrowly pyramidal tree. The Tsuga (pronounced Soo-gah) is derived from a Japanese word meaning tree mother. Unlike the unrelated herb that killed Socrates, hemlock trees are not poisonous.

Eastern hemlock is also called Canada hemlock or hemlock spruce. They are a slow-growing, long-lived conifer that was once an important part of the northern mixed hardwood forest that covered much of northeastern North America. Hemlock bark was once the source of tannin for the leather industry, and consequently large trees were heavily harvested.

The mature hemlock is beautiful with its cone shape and long branches that droop gracefully. The flat, blunt needles are borne in many rows and are dark-yellow green above, lighter colored below, and hold their color well all year. The long cones hang down from the ends of twigs and turn light brown in fall. The cinnamon-red bark changes from smooth to flaky and scaly and finally to wide flat ridges with age.

Although the boughs are attractive, it is not recommended that you use them as holiday decorations. The reason is the needles drop off quickly once the branches are cut.

Although Eastern hemlock requires rather specific growing conditions, it has much to offer in the right setting. On a large property, it can be grown alone, or in odd-numbered groupings. It is one of the few evergreen trees that tolerates heavy pruning in late spring, so it makes an excellent large hedge or screen. It tolerates shade well and can be used where other evergreens fail, such as on the north side of buildings. Also, as an under-story evergreen in large shade gardens or in forest restorations.

It is very tolerant of winter cold, but is sensitive to other environmental extremes. Eastern hemlock does not do well in severe heat, drought, wind, road salt, air pollution, and poor drainage. Come to think about it, not many trees we like do well under those conditions. Foliage scorch can occur when temperatures reach 95 F., killing the ends of branches, and prolonged drought can be fatal. For these reasons it does not make a good street tree.

Its native habitat is cool, acidic, moist, organic soils typically on northern and eastern slopes. It reaches the north-western edge of its range in northeastern Minnesota, extending across northern Wisconsin and east to New Found land and south into the Appalachians to northern Georgia. It can get from 40 to 60 feet tall and 30 to 50 feet wide in most landscape situations.

You will have the best success planting northern-grown nursery plants that have been properly root pruned. Before planting, amend the soil with a good amount of organic matter such as compost, peat moss, or well-rotted manure. Keep plants surrounded with a 2-4 inch layer of organic mulch, such as woodchips, shredded bark, or pine needles. Never cover the roots of these forest trees with plastic r rock.

The biggest pest problem Eastern hemlock faces is probably deer. They like to browse seedlings and sub off the bark with their antlers. On young plants, keep an eye out for aphids feeding. If you do see aphids, spray foliage daily with a strong blast of the hose to dislodge them.

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Some of you have already been asking if we will be doing a Garden Bonanza this year. The answer is YES! We are busy planning the 8th annual Spring Gardening Bonanza. This year's event theme is "Get the Dirt", and will be held Saturday, March 4, at the Abundant Life Church, 4359 392nd Street, North Branch, from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

We will again be selling bare root blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, grape and asparagus plants that are hardy to zone 3. We have added two newer, hard to find raspberry varieties--Autumn Britten and Polana. The plant order forms will be mailed along with the Bonanza brochure around the end of January.

We will not be doing classes at Bonanza on growing fruit plants but these classes will be offered as part of a separate weekly series this spring, which will also include some vegetable gardening topics. The schedule for the 'Spring Gardening Series--Growing Edibles' will be available at Bonanza.

The voicemail is available all year long at 651-674-4417. Maybe you have a houseplant problem or a question about something you saw in a gardening catalog. During office hours ask for the Master Gardener voicemail, after hours, select ext. 18.

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