Submitted Photo Eric Bergeson, author of “Let’s Grow on the Northern Prairie,” met with this group of gardeners in Garrison during a tour of North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota while gathering information for his book.

“Let’s Grow on the Northern Prairie” by Eric Bergeson is a book about beautifying the region with hardy trees and effective annual and perennial plantings.

Bergeson, of Fertile, Minn., spoke at Gardening Saturday at the North Central Experiment Station, Minot, last March, and stopped again in Minot as part of his summer tour of many cities in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

During his tour of the region Bergeson met with many gardeners in Minot, Garrison, Rugby, Stanley, Tioga, Watford City, Bottineau, Crosby, Dickinson, Beulah, Zap, Hazen and others.

“I met with about 20 people in a rainstorm in Rugby,” he said.

The book includes photos of some of the groups.

“The trip gave me insights into what is working, what isn’t and what plants we need to use more often,” Bergeson added. “Our region is unique, and our needs are not covered by the national gardening media.”

The book is a sequel to Bergeson’s first gardening book, “Successful Gardening on the Northern Prairie,” published in 2017 and in its third printing.

The two books are the first to address gardening and tree planting in the Zone 3 and 4 climate and on the alkaline soils of the northern prairie, according to Bergeson.

“Pictures say a thousand words, and I have always wanted to publish a book which shows in vivid color what we can accomplish planting trees, flowers and fruit on the northern prairie,” said Bergeson.

The book contains over 190 color pictures, as well as dozens of essays on trees, flowers and fruits that thrive in the harsh climate and alkaline soils.

“I wanted to go into greater depth on some of the issues we face, such as the imminent loss of our ash trees,” Bergeson added. “I weigh in on what trees we should turn to now, with an emphasis on hardiness and longevity.”

Bergeson also highlights plants which work well here, but aren’t emphasized by most catalogs and gardening books from outside our area.

“Let’s Grow on the Northern Prairie” is available in Minot at Main Street Books and Home of Economy, and online at www.ericbergeson.com.