FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Northern Gardeners Owe Debt Of Gratitude To South Dakota Pioneer

June 10, 2005 -- Mention the name “Dr. Niels Hansen” to the average northern gardener and you will likely meet with a blank stare. He may have been born in Denmark and emigrated to a small college town on the rolling plains of South Dakota, but it is for his enormous contributions to the world of plant breeding and hybridizing that northern gardeners owe such a debt of gratitude. As homeowners and gardeners across the North embark on their annual treks to the local nurseries and garden centers this summer in search of trees, shrubs and perennials for their yards and gardens, they have the great plant developers such as Dr. Hansen to thank for the wide selection of choices they will find.

Dr. Niels Hansen was a professor and botanist at the South Dakota State University in Brookings who forever changed the palette of northern gardeners with the countless spectacular fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs he developed in the early 1900’s, many of which still form the basis of most northern landscapes even today. A true lover of plants and highly skilled in the art of plant breeding, this quiet, unassuming and yet world renowned scientist was directly responsible for such time-honored developments as the purple-leaf sandcherry (Prunus x cistena) and the Toka and Pembina plums. His work directly led to the development of the Valiant grape, another SDSU introduction which is still the hardiest grape available for zones 2 and 3 gardens. Without him, there would be no hardy apricots or pears or even some of the basic garden vegetables we enjoy today.

Dr. Hansen’s story clearly speaks to the dedication, perseverance and passion that is required of a great plant developer. He traveled the world over, especially to northern Asia and Siberia, in search of plant materials that would stand up to the vagaries of the summers and winters in the northern plains. Many of the plants he brought back would serve as the parents of today’s popular hardy ornamentals and fruits that we find in our local garden centers. His interest in developing plants for northerners was altruistic, and although he never acquired any wealth from his plant breeding activities, he did derive the satisfaction of knowing that he was able to make life easier and better for the early settlers by providing them with fruits, vegetables and ornamentals which would survive the harsh climates of the North.

Dr. Hansen is just one of the exemplary plant pioneers whose fascinating stories will be celebrated in a special showcase series of articles in the Northscaping e-Zine coming this July. Northscaping (www.northscaping.com), the primary resource, entertainment and community website for northern landscapers and gardeners, is paying tribute to these great developers and their many achievements, without whose efforts and contributions northern homeowners and gardeners would have an extremely limited variety of plants from which to choose. “A trip to your local garden center wouldn’t offer much more of a selection than a hike through the local forest, and neighborhoods and communities would look repetitive and uninspiring” says Stefan Fediuk, Northscaping’s Chief Editorial Director and a professional Landscape Architect. “It is, after all, solely because of their breeding and hybridizing efforts that we have any variegated dogwoods, yellow roses, tall columnar evergreens and gold leaf hostas at all, not to mention the wide range of Asian and European species which add to the diversity of plants available today.”

The development of newer plant varieties for northern yards and gardens is continuing at a breakneck pace today, with the commercial growers and nurseries having taken over much of the breeding and hybridizing activities from the research institutions. “New introductions of trees, shrubs and perennials are pushing the limits of flower and foliage color, shape, size and hardiness that were once not even thought possible, and they are supported by slick marketing campaigns in what has become a very profitable industry” adds Fediuk. He notes, however, that the primary beneficiaries are the homeowners and gardeners throughout the North who enjoy an ever-increasing selection of plants for their landscapes and gardens. Dr. Hansen would surely be proud!

So as you make your pilgrimage to the local nursery or garden center for the plants that will grace your yards and gardens for many years to come, take a moment to reflect on just how important the work of these exceptional pioneers is to your everyday life. If there are more choices than you can shake a stick at, you have them to thank!

* * * * * * * * * *

Northscaping (www.northscaping.com) is a resource, entertainment and community website for northern landscapers and gardeners living in hardiness zones 1-5. It features a powerful set of gardening and landscaping tools including a landscape plant search and interactive climatic map, an informative and entertaining on-line magazine with weekly articles, community discussion forums, and links to other on-line resources of value to northern landscapers and gardeners. Northscaping is featuring a series of articles on the great plant developers for northern yards and gardens in the e-Zine on-line magazine’s weekly Showcase series starting on July 3rd and continuing throughout the month.

-- END --