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Cactus in Minnesota, Ya sure, You Bet!
This is the first of the prickly pear cactus blooms, probably another 50 or so to come.

Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus

Latin Name:
Opuntia humifusa
Dakota/Lakota Name:
unkcela (big buffalo burr), unkcela blaska, unkcela tanka

Cactus in Minnesota, Ya sure, You Bet!

This is the first of the prickly pear cactus blooms, probably another 50 or so to come.

Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus

Latin Name:

Opuntia humifusa

Dakota/Lakota Name:

unkcela (big buffalo burr), unkcela blaska, unkcela tanka

Tassling, already?
Eventhough it’s only about 18 inches tall, the early white corn is tassling. We cover the corn plants with pollination tents to keep good pollen in, and other pollen out, thus keeping the species clean.

Tassling, already?

Eventhough it’s only about 18 inches tall, the early white corn is tassling. We cover the corn plants with pollination tents to keep good pollen in, and other pollen out, thus keeping the species clean.

The garden is in bloom!

Posted by niilaaci aacimwaapiikonki on Thursday, June 18

It’s mid-June and the Turtle Garden is nearly in full bloom. Seveal of the plants are blooming. Here’s a sampling of some of them:

Common Name: Yarrow

Latin Name: Alchillea millefolium

Dakota/Lakota Name: hante canhlogan (woodchuck tail), taopi pejuta

Ojibwe Name: ajidamoowaanow, waabigwan

Common Name: Valerian

Latin Name: Valeriana officinalis

Common Name: Mandan Striped Squash

Common Name: Garlic (Meadow Garlic)

Latin Name: Allium canadense

Dakota/Lakota Name: psin

Common Name: Prairie (Tall) Cinquefoil

Latin Name: Potentilla arguta

Ojibwe Name: gichi-ode’iminijiibik

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PLANT PROFILE: Prairie Smoke
Common Name:      Prairie Smoke
Latin Name:            Geum triflorum
Ojibwe Name:          nebaneyanekweag



Where It Grows:  Central Plains area of the United States in open, dry areas.
Part of Plant Used: seeds, flowers
Cultural Uses: general tonic, cough medicine, cold remedy, reduces fever, helps stomachache, salve for sores, teas work as a mouthwash for cankers, reduces inflamed ovaries.
PLANT PROFILE: Prairie Smoke

Common Name:      Prairie Smoke

Latin Name:            Geum triflorum

Ojibwe Name:          nebaneyanekweag

Where It Grows:  Central Plains area of the United States in open, dry areas.

Part of Plant Used: seeds, flowers

Cultural Uses: general tonic, cough medicine, cold remedy, reduces fever, helps stomachache, salve for sores, teas work as a mouthwash for cankers, reduces inflamed ovaries.

Gardens are going strong!
The Changing Gardens Through Time exhibit is filling in nicely. This photo shows the 900 year old beans and Early White Corn. The weather reports say we’re in the worst drought since 1934—dustbowl era—and our watering schedule confirms those statistics!

Gardens are going strong!

The Changing Gardens Through Time exhibit is filling in nicely. This photo shows the 900 year old beans and Early White Corn. The weather reports say we’re in the worst drought since 1934—dustbowl era—and our watering schedule confirms those statistics!

The plants are here, the plants are here!

Posted by Tilly Laskey on Wednesday, May 20

2009 seedlingsWe planted our 2009 Ethnobotany gardens yesterday in 97 degree heat. Luckily, all of our plants are doing fine. What a healthy bunch they are, too. Many thanks to Francis Bettelyoun and Barbara Bettelyoun for their participation and help in this project—especially for the space and care in the greenhouse!

Scott Shoemaker carefully setting Kickapoo golden flour corn and Mandan striped beans into the Three Sisters configuration.

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Lots of help planting this year in our Changing Gardens through Time exhibit. Scott Shoemaker and ethnobotany intern Jennifer Weber are aided by curators Ed Fleming and Tilly Laskey. We’re planting Early White corn, 900 year old beans, Teosinte, and Hopi sunflowers.
Lots of help planting this year in our Changing Gardens through Time exhibit. Scott Shoemaker and ethnobotany intern Jennifer Weber are aided by curators Ed Fleming and Tilly Laskey. We’re planting Early White corn, 900 year old beans, Teosinte, and Hopi sunflowers.
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