One of Minnesota’s great traditions is our beloved State Fair, which wrapped up on Monday. While the rides are fun and the food is to-die-for (did you taste a bacon donut slider?), we at Great Goats are wowed each year by the beautiful blooms on display in the ag-hort-bee pavilion. Here are a few takeaways for homeowners from the 2016 State Fair Flower Show:

Do Try This at Home!

Many home gardeners stick to tried-and-true favorites just because they’re worried about trying a more “difficult” flower. If you marveled at the delicate blue-ribbon violets but thought, “I could never grow those in my yard,” give us a call! We can help you achieve the colorful garden of your dreams with blooms that work for your lifestyle. At Great Goats, we work with our clients to understand how much time, energy, and expertise you can commit to your garden and design our plantings accordingly. We can also install custom irrigation systems that make watering as easy as setting your a/c.

Best Blooms for Color

We always appreciate the bright—almost neon—colors on display in the dahlia and gladiolus exhibits, which highlight the incredibly wide-ranging palette of these varieties. Dahlias in particular are a great flower for the Minnesota climate, but they do have drawbacks: they lack fragrance, and they can be water guzzlers during the summer. If you’d like to bring the colors of dahlias into your yard, we recommend marigolds as a low-maintenance alternative.

Marigolds are natural mosquito deterrents. Plus they add a bright pop of color to your yard.

Everyone Loves Evergreens

We also love how the State Fair thinks outside the (flower) box by showcasing the Minnesota Bonsai Society’s unique trees. Bonsais give your space a sculptural element and come in a wide variety of species and sizes. If you’re interested in a similar look, consider a stand of small evergreen trees that can be tightly pruned and even dressed up for the holidays.

Blue spruce is admired for its color and comes in a dwarf variety perfect for small spaces.

If you were inspired by the trends you saw at this year’s fair, call us at Great Goats to talk about how we can start turning your garden dreams into reality.