Spring sprouted early this year, bringing a bumper crop of nominations in our annual Beautiful Gardens contest.
Looking at gorgeous gardens is always a treat, but with almost 150 entries, choosing just a few was a challenge. We aimed for a variety of styles and sizes, finally selecting the following winners.
Here are samples from the winners' submitted photos. We'll cover one of their gardens in detail, with galleries by staff photographers, each month from October to April.
And a big thank-you to all of our readers who took time to submit nominations.
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More From Star Tribune
More From Variety
Variety
Live video of man who set himself on fire outside court proves challenging for news organizations
Video cameras stationed outside the Manhattan courthouse where former President Donald Trump is on trial caught the gruesome scene Friday of a man who lit himself on fire and the aftermath as authorities tried to rescue him.
Variety
4/20 grew from humble roots to marijuana's high holiday
Saturday marks marijuana culture's high holiday, 4/20, when college students gather — at 4:20 p.m. — in clouds of smoke on campus quads and pot shops in legal-weed states thank their customers with discounts.
Nation
Mandisa, Grammy-winning singer and 'American Idol' alum, dies at 47
Mandisa, a contemporary Christian singer who appeared on ''American Idol'' and won a Grammy for her 2013 album 'Overcomer', has died. She was 47.
Variety
Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' is here. Is it poetry? This is what experts say
Taylor Swift has released her 11th studio album, ''The Tortured Poets Department.''
Business
Here's how Phish is using the Sphere's technology to give fans something completely different
Phish opened its four-night stay at the Sphere Thursday with a four-hour show that used the advanced technology in the $2.3 billion arena to deliver a show that even the band's most ardent fans have never experienced before.