Northern Lakes and Forests

Northern Lakes and Forests covers the north woods of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, from Duluth across to Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie. Glacial lakes, sandy and rocky acidic soils, and long hard winters define it, and the growing season is short enough that timing matters more than it does further south. Natives such as Michigan lily, blue giant-hyssop, and Riddell’s goldenrod are adapted to that short season and to soils most garden-center stock will not tolerate.

Conditions: Sandy and rocky acidic glacial soils, 28–34 inches of precipitation with heavy snow, short cool summers and long cold winters.

Cities and areas: Duluth, Marquette, Traverse City, Wausau, Bemidji, Sault Ste. Marie.