Yards and Landscaping – Page 2

No Mow May & Slow Mow Summer

By: angiehongmn May 9, 2025May 8, 2025

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, lawns, Minnesota, No Mow May, pollinators, yard careLeave a Comment

Participating in No Mow May is a great entry-level action that anyone can take to help protect the environment, and best of all, it is FREE!

Many people who participate in No Mow May become inspired to take the next step and transition their conventional turf lawn into a low-mow or alternative lawn. Drought tolerant turf-grass species like fine fescues reduce the need for mowing, watering, and chemicals, while low-growing flowers like Dutch white clover, self-heal, yarrow, creeping thyme, and pussy-toes can also be incorporated to provide food for native bees.

Always the right time to plant a garden

By: angiehongmn March 7, 2025March 5, 2025

Yards and Landscapingbirds, Chisago County, featured, gardening, native plants, pollinators, trees, Washington County, workshopsLeave a Comment

To plant a tree or a garden is an act of hope. We hope that the snow will melt and the sun will return. We hope that that neighborhood deer and rabbits will find enough food to eat, though not so much that our garden fails to grow. We hope that the earth will keep spinning, and the rain will fall, that there will be a warm home to live in, and hands to do the work. It’s a small act of courage in an uncertain world, though really, when you think about it, not so small at all.

Lazy gardening tips for chubby bird enthusiasts

By: angiehongmn November 1, 2024November 1, 2024

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbirds, featured, flowers, garden, gardening, native plantsLeave a Comment

Learn how to create a bird-friendly landscape at your home.

New grant funds will help to improve habitat connectivity in Washington County

By: angiehongmn September 27, 2024

Partners and Updates, Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, Habitat, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, native plants, pollinators, WildlifeLeave a Comment

In the coming year, Washington Conservation District (WCD) will receive $185,000 in funding through the Pollinator Pathways program and $246,000 through the Habitat Enhancement Landscape Program (HELP) to restore and improve wildlife and pollinator habitat in more than a dozen priority locations.

Restoring Hay Lake, one prairie at a time

By: angiehongmn August 26, 2024

Local Achievements, Partners and Updates, Yards and LandscapingCarnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District, farming, featured, Hay Lake, prairie, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Water monitoring data has shown a steady improvement in Hay Lake’s water quality over the past ten years as a result of planting projects completed on the land in the surrounding watershed. In 2022, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency officially “de-listed” Hay Lake, meaning it is no longer considered impaired.

Lake Living 101

By: angiehongmn August 13, 2024August 8, 2024

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, lakes, lakeshore rules, native plants, shoreline, Washington County1 Comment

Owning a lake home is the quintessential Minnesota dream, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. Two of the most common “problem scenarios” for lakeshore owners include creating beaches and installing rock riprap. Learn more about the rules.

And it was all yellow

By: angiehongmn July 18, 2024July 15, 2024

Yards and Landscapingbees, birds, featured, gardening, native plants, pollinatorsLeave a Comment

If you peruse the Minnesota Wildflowers online field guide, you will find an impressive 303 species of plants native to Minnesota that all have yellow flowers. Check out this weekend’s Master Gardener Garden Tour or an upcoming event to learn more about gardening with native plants.

A killer in the forest

By: angiehongmn May 24, 2024

Yards and Landscapingeab, emerald ash borer, featured, forests, invasive species, trees, woodlandsLeave a Comment

Want to learn about caring for your trees and woodlands? Join us for a walk in the woods next Tuesday, May 28, 5:30-8:30pm at Belwin Conservancy. Register at tinyurl.com/2024woodlands.

Three ways to help pollinators this spring

By: angiehongmn April 18, 2024April 18, 2024

Uncategorized, Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbutterflies, featured, gardening, Minnesota, native plants, pollinators, prairieLeave a Comment

The single most important thing you can do to protect pollinators is to plant and preserve native habitat on your land and in your community. Washington Conservation District and Blue Thumb – Planting for Clean Water have resources to help you get started.

Pollinator Friendly Alliance, Washington County Parks, Washington Conservation District, and Wild Ones – St. Croix Oak Savanna are also seeking volunteers to help plant more than 1000 native plants at Lake Elmo Park reserve on Saturday, May 4 at 11am. Visit http://www.pollinatorfriendly.org to learn more and register.

Burn Baby, Burn

By: angiehongmn March 14, 2024March 12, 2024

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, habitat restoration, prairie, prescribed fire, wet meadow, Wetlands3 Comments

Prairie, oak savanna, pine barrens, and wet meadows all have something in common – they like to burn, baby burn.
This week’s East Metro Water blog explores the unique habitat found in wet meadows. If you’re interested in learning more about prescribed fire, visit the open house at Lake Elmo Park Reserve on Tuesday, April 2, 4-7pm. Yes! There will be fire!