bees – East Metro Water

Busy buzzing bees and such

By: angiehongmn February 23, 2023February 23, 2023

Yards and Landscapingbees, butterflies, featured, native gardens, pollinators, waspsLeave a Comment

It is said that one out of every three bites of food we eat is created with the help of pollinators. Unfortunately, many species of pollinators are declining due to loss of habitat and the use of insecticides, including neonicotinoids. Happily, regular people like you and I can help to create pockets of biodiversity and protect pollinators, simply by incorporating flowering native plants into our yards to provide blooms throughout the growing season.

Wildlife-friendly fall gardens

By: angiehongmn September 23, 2021September 21, 2021

Yards and Landscapingbees, birds, fall, featured, gardening, leavesLeave a Comment

In the coming weeks, there are several steps you can take to prep your yard and gardens for winter and continue to support pollinators, birds and other wildlife.

Bee Lawns are Green Lawns

By: angiehongmn July 22, 2021July 22, 2021

Yards and Landscapingbee lawns, bees, Blue Thumb, drought, featured, lawns, pollinators, water conservation1 Comment

Unlike typical lawns, bee-friendly lawns feature a mix of drought-tolerant fine fescue grasses and low-growing flowers such as Dutch white clover, creeping thyme, and self heal.

Give me a home where the butterflies roam

By: angiehongmn July 17, 2019July 17, 2019

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbees, Blue Thumb, environment, featured, gardening, monarchs, native landscaping, Pollinator Friendly Alliance, pollinators, prairieLeave a Comment

On May 11, 1858, the United States of America welcomed its 32nd state to the union – 18 million acres of prairie, 21 million acres of wetlands, 31.5 million acres of forests, and 11,842 lakes, now lovingly known as Minnesota. Over the years, Minnesota has grown and prospered. Settlers drained wetlands to make way for…

New funding coming soon for bee-friendly yards

By: angiehongmn June 20, 2019June 5, 2019

Keeping water clean, Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbee lawns, bees, featured, lawns to legumes, native plants, pollinators, rusty patched bumble beeLeave a Comment

Cheryl Seeman is a Master Gardener and bee-lover who lives on Crooked Lake in Andover. “They call me the Queen Bee,” says Seeman with a laugh, as she leads visitors through her verdant yard and gardens. The lawn is dotted with white clover and dandelion blooms. A wide rain garden borders a curbside city storm…

It’s all about the bees

By: angiehongmn December 4, 2018

Keeping water clean, Local Achievements, Partners and Updates, Wildlifebees, butterflies, Conservation farming, cover crops, featured, habitat restoration, monarchs, pollinators1 Comment

Washington Conservation District recognizes Pam Arnold & Laurie Schneider for their conservation efforts The bee is a curious ambassador for the Earth. They are little. They sting. They tiptoe across flowers on insect legs, waving insect antenna, and peering out at the world through kaleidoscoped insect eyes. The females do all of the work, and…

So long sweet summer! Prepping lawns and gardens for the winter

By: angiehongmn October 2, 2018October 2, 2018

Buckthorn, Yards and Landscapingbees, buckthorn, fall, featured, gardening, lawn care, lawns, leaves, vegetable gardensLeave a Comment

By now, you’ve probably picked the last of the tomatoes, peppers and eggplants growing in your vegetable gardens. The predicted frost never quite made it to my house last weekend, but I know it’s only a matter of time before the winter temps will settle in for good. As you begin to prepare your lawn…

Wild Bees, Rare Plants, and Native Gardens

By: angiehongmn March 13, 2018

Yards and Landscapingbees, native plants, pollinators1 Comment

The St. Croix Oak Savanna Chapter of Wild Ones just released a calendar of spring events that calls to frozen Minnesotans like water in a desert.

Protecting Pollinators – What’s the Latest Buzz?

By: angiehongmn September 28, 2017

Uncategorized, Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbees, honeybees, monarchs, native plants, pollinatorsLeave a Comment

There are 250 native bee species in Minnesota and 140 species of butterflies.

Join the PolliNATION

By: angiehongmn August 23, 2016

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbees, birds, Blue Thumb, clean water, monarchs, native plants, pollinators, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Since your own lawn is small, you might be surprised to learn that turf grass covers more acres of land in the U.S. than the eight largest agricultural crops combined. Imagine what a difference it would make if all of us converted ¼ of our lawn to native plantings that provide habitat for pollinators, birds and wildlife.